Sebastian bit down on his lower lip, a slow groan slipping out as the blonde on his lap rolled her hips to the pounding bass. His hand gripped her waist, knuckles white, his nose still dusted with the faint white residue of the line he'd done twenty minutes ago.
Everything was loud. The music, the voices, his pulse. And the girl's tongue tracing his neck only made the high shimmer hotter through his veins.
Kai's parties were always insane, and tonight was no different. Kai was right in front of him, phone up, recording everything, yelling hype like a man possessed. They were definitely live on the gram. Sebastian didn't even need to check. Zion hung behind them, an arm slung over his shoulder, both of them shouting the lyrics to Dumb Dick like it was a national anthem.
But even with all the noise, something felt off.
It took Sebastian a while to realise what it was. He hadn't seen Niko.
At all.
The entire motorsports club was here, Penny, Hunter, everyone, except Niko. And Niko missing a party? That never happened. Sebastian had already texted him, called him ten times, but nothing. Not even a "fuck off."
The blonde was still grinding on him when he pulled out his phone again.
"Who you texting?" Zion slurred, throwing back a shot. His eyes were already glazed, his grin stupid and loose.
"Niko isn't here," Sebastian said, frowning as he scrolled through unanswered calls. "It's not like him."
"Oh." Zion blinked. "Right. Niko."
Penny and Kai were practically devouring each other beside them, and no one reacted. Hunter had a guy between his legs, head buried, giving him a blowjob that made him groan loud enough to shake the couch.
"I… uhhh… haven't seen Quinn either," Hunter managed to get out between breaths, his fingers tightening in the guy's hair.
That snapped Sebastian out of his haze.
"Quinn is here?" he said sharply.
The blonde barely had time to gasp before Sebastian shoved her off his lap and shot to his feet.
"And you didn't fucking tell me?"
The fury in his voice cut through the music. For a moment, everyone around him froze, turning to look at him.
Hunter blinked, swallowing hard. He tapped the guy between his legs, and the guy pulled off him with a wet pop. Hunter tucked himself back in, his chest rising and falling.
"We finished the car today," he said slowly. "We talked about the party, so… yeah. Quinn must be here."
Sebastian clenched his jaw so tightly it hurt. He turned away without another word and pushed into the crowd, his phone already ringing as he tried to call Quinn.
No answer.
The music thumped, lights flickering red and purple over his vision, but nothing drowned out the sick twist in his gut.
He hated this. He hated this so much.
And then, it got worse.
He stopped breathing.
Across the room, at the bar, Quinn was kissing Niko. A deep, breathless kiss. Hands tangled, bodies pressed together. Niko's hand wrapped around Quinn's neck. His other hand resting high on Quinn's thigh. Quinn's fingers curled on Niko's shoulder, pulling him closer.
Something in Sebastian snapped. He didn't think. He moved.
A blur of fury, he stormed toward them, yanked Quinn away, and without hesitation, smashed his fist across Quinn's cheek.
The crack echoed.
Quinn stumbled, hand flying to his face. Blood streaked his bottom lip, ruby against pink. His mismatched eyes, one green, one molten gold, went wide, glassy with alcohol and shock, like his brain was still booting up.
"Seb! Dude, come on!" Niko grabbed Sebastian's arm, spinning him around.
Sebastian was panting, his chest heaving, eyes wild. He shoved Niko away so hard he nearly fell.
"How many fucking times have I told you to stay away from him?" Sebastian shouted, jabbing a finger at Niko's face.
He grabbed Quinn's arm, too rough, too fast, and Quinn swayed, struggling to stay upright.
"He's drunk," Sebastian snarled. "He won't remember shit tomorrow, and you're kissing him?"
Niko went pale, guilt washing over him. "I..I didn't… Seb, I'm sorry. I swear—"
"Fuck off," Sebastian spat.
He dragged Quinn away, up the stairs, ignoring Quinn's stumbling and protests. They reached one of the bedrooms; Sebastian shoved the door open and practically threw Quinn inside.
Quinn hit the floor hard, landing on his ass with a painful groan. The door slammed shut behind them.
Sebastian stood there, chest rising and falling, running a shaking hand through his hair, anger radiating off him in waves.
Quinn blinked slowly, trying to focus. The room lights were too bright. The world was spinning. He tasted blood.
He swiped his tongue across his lip, then lifted his dead-eyed, glassy, angry gaze.
He pressed a hand to his aching cheek.
"Are you fucking insane?" Quinn rasped, pushing himself to his feet and nearly stumbling again.
Sebastian scoffed, crossing his arms. "You know how you get when you even sip alcohol. And you were drinking with Niko?"
Quinn let out a breathless laugh, half scoff, half disbelief.
"Oh, you can talk now? That's rich," he snapped, and the dismissal only made Sebastian's temper spike.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"I don't understand," Quinn's voice rose. "Who the hell died and made you my protector? Do I look like a child? I came here with him willingly. I drank willingly. And I kissed him first. So what the hell is your problem?!"
Sebastian's jaw clenched so hard it twitched. "Niko is not for you."
"And how would you know that?" Quinn shot back, his cheeks flushed. "He told me he likes me."
Sebastian groaned and stepped forward to grab him. Quinn immediately latched onto his wrist and bit down hard. Pain shot up Sebastian's arm, but he still dragged Quinn anyway, shoving him onto the bed. He yanked his arm back, cradling the bite mark, staring at Quinn like he was feral.
Quinn glared up at him, his eyes glassy but burning. "Fuck off! Can't a gay guy wish for a fuck in peace?"
Sebastian sucked in a deep breath. "Not Niko."
"Why?" Quinn's voice cracked with something raw. "Why do you care? Because he's your best friend? Because I'm not good enough for him? Because you think I'm some slut who'll taint him?"
Sebastian flinched. "Niko has a boyfriend. They're fighting, but they're still together. It's toxic as hell, and he's probably… doing whatever he's doing with you to get back at him."
Quinn froze. His face fell so fast it almost hurt to watch. All the anger drained out of him, leaving him small, sad, betrayed.
"What?" he whispered.
Sebastian didn't know why his chest tightened. Why he suddenly felt guilty, or why Quinn's expression made something in him sink.
He also didn't tell him the rest... not tonight.
Not the part about Niko knowing Quinn had no tolerance for alcohol. Which meant Niko intentionally feeding him shots.
Fuck. Drunk Quinn…
Drunk Quinn was unpredictable. Emotional. Vulnerable. And Sebastian wasn't about to let him see the full picture like this.
Not when Quinn was looking at him like his whole world had cracked.