The living room had turned into a mess of bodies and noise, bass rattling the floorboards like the whole building might collapse. Strobes of violet and crimson made everything look sharper, louder, more dangerous.
Noah let Tyler drag him into the chaos, a beer shoved into his hand, a girl already laughing at something he didn't hear. He flashed her a grin anyway, leaning close, his arm settling too easily over her shoulder.
It was muscle memory at this point—charm, swagger, distraction. He needed it. Needed something to drown out the ghost of Julian's words in that kitchen. Maybe I don't care.
The problem was, even surrounded by bodies, his gaze kept drifting.
And, of course, Julian was impossible to miss.
Julian hadn't planned to linger. He'd thought about leaving after the kitchen. But then he saw Noah out there—laughing too loudly, hands too casual on the girls he barely knew.
It was infuriating.
It was magnetic.
And suddenly Julian's spine straightened, something reckless curling in his chest. If Noah wanted to play a game, fine. Julian could play too.
So when a tall, broad-shouldered guy in a backwards cap approached him with a smirk and a casual "Hey, you're Julian, right? You're in my chem lecture" Julian didn't brush him off.
Instead, he smiled. Sweet. Angelic. Lethal.
"Yeah. I remember you," he lied, tilting his head just so, letting his glasses catch the neon glow.
The guy leaned closer. Too close. And Julian let him.
Noah caught it instantly, even through the crowd. Julian standing there, smiling at some guy like he wasn't the coldest bastard alive five seconds ago.
Something ugly twisted in his gut. He tried to ignore it, pulling the girl in closer, letting her laugh ring in his ear. But his eyes kept snapping back, like magnets refusing to let go.
Julian laughed at something the guy said. A soft, genuine sound.
Noah nearly crushed his beer can.
Julian could feel Noah's stare even before he looked up. It was scorching across the room, heavy with something raw. Possessive.
Good.
Julian leaned in closer to the guy, pretending to listen to whatever nonsense he was saying. His hand brushed the guy's arm casually.
Across the room, Noah slammed his drink down.
He pulled the girl into a clumsy dance, his hands low on her hips, his grin sharp, eyes locked only on Julian. Every touch was exaggerated, every laugh too loud, like he was putting on a show.
Julian's blood heated.
Two predators, circling.
"Dude," Tyler said, stumbling up beside Noah mid-dance. "What's going on with you? You're—Jesus, you're staring holes into Julian."
"Shut up," Noah snapped, spinning the girl lazily.
Tyler squinted, then laughed. "Oh my god. You are. Holy shit. You like him."
Noah's chest clenched. "I don't."
"You so do. Look at you—"
"Tyler," Noah growled, voice sharp enough to cut. Tyler raised his hands, grinning but backing off.
Noah didn't want to hear it. Couldn't. Not when Julian was still letting that idiot lean into him like he belonged there.
Julian's friend Ethan finally found him, tugging at his sleeve with a wary look. "Uh, Jules. You do realize Noah's about to combust, right? He looks like he wants to murder Chad over there."
Julian's lips curved. "Good."
Ethan blinked. "Good? You're enjoying this?"
Julian's gaze flicked back to Noah—green eyes burning under neon light, jaw clenched, hands restless. It was intoxicating, seeing him unravel.
"I'm more than enjoying it," Julian murmured.
Ethan groaned. "This is gonna end in blood or sex. Maybe both."
The guy—Chad, apparently—put a hand on Julian's lower back. Too casual, too familiar.
That was it.
Noah shoved past two people without thinking, his chest burning, his blood a wildfire. Before Julian could react, Noah's hand clamped around his wrist.
"Kitchen. Now."
The words were low, dangerous.
Julian blinked, masking the jolt of heat that shot through him. He could've resisted. Could've pulled free. But he didn't.
He let Noah drag him through the crowd, heart pounding.
The kitchen was emptier now, just the hum of the fridge and faint music leaking through.
Noah dropped Julian's wrist but stayed close, too close. His chest rose and fell fast, his glare sharp enough to cut glass.
"What the hell was that?" Noah snapped.
Julian tilted his head, calm, infuriating. "That was me having a conversation. You know, like normal people do."
"Bullshit. You were—" Noah broke off, dragging a hand down his face. "You were letting him touch you."
Julian's lips quirked. "Jealous?"
The word landed like a blade.
Noah froze.
Julian stepped closer, glasses glinting, voice soft but lethal. "You can grind on half the girls here, but I can't let someone talk to me?"
"That's not the same," Noah shot back.
"Why not?"
"Because—" Noah stopped himself. The words were too dangerous, too close to the truth. His grandparents' voices rang in his skull. Disgusting. Wrong. Shameful.
Because if he said it, there was no turning back.
Julian's gaze sharpened, watching the war flicker across Noah's face. For the first time, he realized how much power he had here. And it was… addicting.
Julian leaned in, voice a whisper. "You can't stand it, can you? Someone else looking at me. Touching me."
Noah's pulse thundered. His mouth went dry.
Julian's smile was small, dangerous. "Admit it."
Noah's fists clenched at his sides. He wanted to deny it, to shove Julian away, to laugh it off. But his body betrayed him—leaning closer, breath catching, heat flaring between them like it was alive.
Julian felt it. And something inside him snapped, tangled between triumph and hunger.
He wanted Noah Blake. Wanted to consume him, tear down every wall, own every crack Noah tried to hide.
Obsession had taken root.
The door banged open.
Ethan stood there, wide-eyed. "Uh. Am I interrupting… something?"
Noah jolted back like he'd been burned, running a hand through his hair, muttering a curse under his breath.
Julian didn't flinch. His gaze stayed locked on Noah, sharp, hungry, unyielding.
"No," Julian said smoothly. "Nothing at all."
But they both knew that was a lie.