The room was buzzing with energy, lights flashing in sync with the beat of the music. The celebrity party was in full swing, filled with Hollywood's elite mingling, laughing, and dancing. You felt a little out of place at first, but having Nicholas Chavez by your side as your date made it easier to relax. Dressed in a sleek black suit with his dark hair perfectly styled, Nick looked every bit the star he was.
He hadn't left your side all night, his hand resting on your lower back, his smile dazzling whenever he introduced you to someone. "You're the most beautiful person in this room," he had whispered earlier, sending a shiver down your spine. You felt like the luckiest person alive.
But eventually, the music called to you.
"Nick, come dance with me," you said, tugging on his hand.
He shook his head, smiling sheepishly. "You know I'm not much of a dancer. But go ahead—I'll watch you."
You pouted, but the lively beat wouldn't let you sit still. You gave him a playful shrug and walked to the dance floor, losing yourself in the music.
You barely noticed when a tall, confident guy slid up beside you, his grin charming as he matched your movements. He introduced himself—something about being a rising actor—but the music was too loud to hear the details. You laughed at something he said, and the two of you started dancing together, the rhythm carrying you both.
Across the room, Nick's eyes were glued to you.
His jaw tightened as he watched the guy lean closer, whispering something in your ear that made you laugh. Nick crossed his arms over his chest, his lips pressed into a firm line. He tried to focus on his drink, on the conversation happening nearby, but his gaze kept drifting back to you.
His chest puffed as jealousy burned through him. He wasn't the possessive type, but seeing someone else making you laugh like that—dancing with you, touching your arm—set his blood boiling. His face grew hotter, and his knuckles whitened as he gripped his glass.
Two could play this game.
Spotting a stunning brunette standing near the bar, Nick downed the rest of his drink and walked over to her. She looked thrilled when he introduced himself, and within moments, they were on the dance floor.
You turned your head, your eyes landing on Nick, and your heart dropped. There he was, dancing with a gorgeous girl, his signature smirk plastered across his face. She was laughing at something he said, her hand lingering on his shoulder as they swayed together.
A wave of jealousy hit you like a ton of bricks.
You tried to focus on your dance partner, but your moves grew stiffer, your attention divided. Every time you glanced at Nick, he seemed to be enjoying himself more, his hand on the girl's waist as she leaned in closer.
You huffed, your chest tightening. Was he really doing this?
Nick noticed the look on your face, and a low chuckle escaped his lips. He could see the way your jaw clenched, your brows furrowing as you watched him. It was rare to see you jealous, and honestly, he found it kind of adorable.
When the song ended, Nick murmured something to the girl and thanked her for the dance before making his way over to you. Your dance partner had disappeared into the crowd, leaving you standing alone, arms crossed as Nick approached.
"What?" you asked, your tone sharper than you intended.
Nick smirked, clearly amused. "You tell me," he said, his voice teasing.
You rolled your eyes. "What do you want, Nick?"
He stepped closer, his expression softening as he looked down at you. "I want to know why you looked so upset just now," he said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone.
"I wasn't upset," you lied, but the heat rising to your cheeks betrayed you.
Nick's eyes sparkled as he tilted his head, studying you. "You were jealous."
"I was not," you said quickly, but your voice wavered, and Nick chuckled again.
"Admit it," he teased, leaning in slightly. "You didn't like seeing me with her, did you?"
Your lips parted, but no words came out. How could he turn this around on you when he'd been the one getting all red-faced just minutes ago?
Before you could come up with a snappy reply, Nick took your hand, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. "For the record," he said softly, "you're the only person I want to dance with."
Your heart skipped a beat as he pulled you closer, his hand resting gently on your waist. The music shifted to a slower song, and Nick began swaying with you, his movements easy and natural despite his earlier reluctance to dance.
"I saw you out there," he murmured, his lips close to your ear. "You were having fun, and I didn't want to ruin that. But seeing that guy with you..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It drove me crazy."
You looked up at him, surprised by the confession.
Nick's gaze was intense, his dark eyes locking onto yours. "You're so sexy, so beautiful, and I hate it when other guys think they can have a chance with you. It's selfish, I know, but I can't help it."
Your heart swelled at his words, and the lingering jealousy you felt melted away. "Nick..."
"I'm serious," he said, his voice firm. "You're mine, and I'm yours. I don't care who's in this room or what party we're at—I only want you."
A smile tugged at your lips, and you couldn't resist teasing him. "So, you were jealous too?"
Nick groaned, but he was smiling. "Fine. You got me. I was jealous. Happy?"
"Very," you said, wrapping your arms around his neck as the two of you continued to sway.
The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you on the dance floor. Nick's hand tightened around your waist, and he pressed a kiss to your temple. "I'll try to be better," he said softly, "but I can't promise I won't get jealous. Not when I have someone like you by my side."
You laughed, resting your head against his chest. "Good. Because I can't promise I won't get jealous either."
Nick chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. "Well, I guess we're even then."
The two of you stayed like that for the rest of the song, holding each other close and forgetting about everyone else in the room. Whatever jealousy had flared up earlier was long gone, replaced by the unshakable bond you shared.
No one else mattered—not tonight, not ever.
