Dynasty Boys

Chapter 15

Elle

The hum of the car's engine was the only sound between us as we sat in the quiet of the vehicle, parked in a dimly lit corner of the fairgrounds. The excitement from the rides still buzzed in my veins, but the encounter with Billie and her entourage hung in the air, a reminder of how quickly everything could shift from fun to tense. Despite that, the night had been full of unexpected moments, laughs, adrenaline, shared stories, and a part of me didn't want it to end.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my hands resting in my lap, fingers fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve. "Thank you, Carter," I manage to mutter. "For tonight. It was fun."

My gaze dropped to my lap, my mind spinning as I tried to push down the emotions swirling inside me. I couldn't help but replay the night in my head, the thrill of the rides, the warmth of his hand in mine, the way he made everything feel a little less heavy. Despite the drama with Billie, Carter had managed to make the night feel... almost normal. And for a moment, I'd forgotten about the weight of my own worries.

But there was a part of me that couldn't shake the unease growing in my chest. I was getting too attached to him, and that was the one thing that troubled me most. Carter was a mystery, his moods, his intentions, his past, they were all wrapped up in layers I hadn't even begun to understand. I knew he wasn't like other guys. He was intense, complicated, and when it came down to it, he had the kind of power that made people fear him.

Feelings were weapons. They could build you up, make you feel safe, loved, wanted, but they could also be used to destroy you, to rip you apart when things went wrong. I knew better than to let myself fall too hard, too fast. I had learned that lesson the hard way in the past. But when I was with Carter, it was harder to hold back. He was everything I wasn't supposed to want, and yet, I couldn't seem to stop myself.

I stole a glance at him, his profile illuminated by the soft glow of the dashboard lights. He was staring out of the windshield, but I could sense he was aware of every movement I made.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice steady but there was something indescribable in the way he looked at me. Then, I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything more.

"I'm fine," I managed to say, though I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. Carter leaned in slightly, his gaze shifting from me to my house, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights.

"Tomorrow... there's a party in the woods," he said, his voice low, almost mysterious. "We have it every year. You're coming with me."

A party in the woods? At night?

I hesitated, feeling a flicker of uncertainty. "I don't think it's..." I started, but before I could finish my sentence, his phone beeped, the sound cutting through my words. He glanced down at the screen, his fingers moving quickly over his phone before he looked back at me.

"I don't care," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're coming, and it's not up for discussion."

His words were like a command, and for a moment, I felt the weight of his decision hanging in the air. There was no arguing with him. Carter wasn't the kind of person who left room for negotiation. But there was something about the way he said it, something in the certainty of his words that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, this could be fun.

Before I could respond, Carter's lips were on mine again. It was brief but intense, a soft kiss that left me breathless. When he pulled back, he looked at me with a smile that made my heart race.

"I'll pick you up at 8 PM," he said, his voice low, like an unveiled promise.

I couldn't help but laugh, trying to lighten the moment as I shrugged with a playful grin. "Okay... since you asked so nicely."