A Game of Cat and Mouse

T H I R T Y O N E

Elio sighed and took another swig of soda as he watched Annie dance with Rose. He could really use a Butterbeer right now yet he wouldn't allow himself, not when he promised James. His control, though, was thinning. He watched his girlfriend dance in that skimpy, tight dress—long brown hair flying everywhere as her hips moved in ways reserved for the bedroom and her arms traveled along her body. It was taking every ounce of strength in Elio Nott not to go out to the dance floor and drag her upstairs, especially after that sexy display with Palmer earlier.

Watching Annie get jealous was like the biggest aphrodisiac. Well, the second biggest because the first was watching her move like that out in front of everyone...

Knowing that Annie wanted him as badly as he wanted her made him feel on top of the damn world.

"Mate, you're going to crush your drink," Scorpius remarked with a sly grin as he, too, watched Annie and Rose dance, though for an entirely different reason. To make fun of Elio, of course, but also to check out Rose unabashedly from the dark edge of the room.

"They're all staring at her," Elio said with a scowl as his eyes traversed the room. "They all saw me walk in with her. What the fuck is wrong with them?"

"I dunno. They've never noticed Annie before, I guess. I mean, she was kind of a wallflower who didn't come to much. A pretty one, yes, but not one that catches your eye unless you have a closer look and realize she's actually one of the most beautiful girls in the room. And you gave them a reason to take a closer look. They're realizing how gorgeous she is and they want a taste." Elio glared at him and Scorpius held up his hands defensively. "Hey! I'm her cousin. I'm the one you don't have to worry about. I'm just relaying what at least half of these blokes have said about her."

"What the fuck have they said about her?"

"That she's beautiful, that she's sexy, that she's hot, that she has 'nice tits', that she has a 'great ass', that she has soft-looking hair..." Scorpius continued on and on as he counted on his fingers while Elio's scowl deepened and his fists clenched even more. Damn right, Annie was all of those things. She was more. But he was the only one who should know how soft her hair was. He was the only one who should be looking at her ass or admiring her tits. He was the only one who should be witnessing those moves.

"Mate, if you don't like what she's wearing, you can summon something else. Borrow from Palmer. The girl would probably love to get back in Annie's good graces now that she knows she's deadly."

"Of course I like what she's wearing," Elio bit back. He more than liked it if the tightening in his pants was anything to go off of. Were these bloody skinny jeans? "She looks fucking incredible."

"But you don't want her to look incredible?" Scorpius asked, now confused.

"I don't need other guys remarking on how incredible she is. She's my girlfriend!" Elio exclaimed as he ran his hands through his hair.

"So then ask her to change or not dance like that."

Elio pinched his forehead. Merlin, Scorpius knew nothing about women and it showed. It was a good thing Rose could train him, as bossy as she was. "I like what she's wearing. I like how she's dancing. She can do whatever she damn well wants. I am perfectly capable of fighting. But I don't like how they feel like they can objectify her and watch her when she's having fun with her friends or make comments about my girlfriend's sexiness to my best friend!" Elio finally exclaimed, his voice raising more and more as he got to the end.

He sighed and looked at the smile on Annie's face. Yeah, he wasn't going to ruin that for her. Looks like he needed to shove his annoyance—and his dick—to the side until he could show everyone who was taking her home.