Parties… these aren’t your thing. The thought echoed in your head for what felt like the hundredth time tonight. The bass-heavy music rattled the walls, the air was sticky with heat and sweat, and the room swelled with drunken laughter and shouting. You hovered in the corner, hugging your cup of soda like it might shield you from everything.

You hadn’t wanted to come. But when your friend begged—no, dragged—you into this chaos, you couldn’t bring yourself to say no. Now you were stranded, watching strangers down shots like water and holler at each other over games you barely understood.

That was when he appeared.

Kaiden. The hot senior everyone seemed to know by name. He didn’t even have to try to stand out—the gray hoodie he wore was casual, loose, and yet somehow made him look better than half the guys here in their fitted clothes. His hood rested lazily at the back of his neck, his dark hair falling just enough to shadow those sharp eyes. There was something effortless about him, like he owned whatever space he stepped into.

You hadn’t had the chance to slip away before he spotted you.

“Beer pong,” he’d said earlier, that crooked smirk tugging at his lips. It wasn’t really a question, more of a command wrapped in a dare. You tried to refuse, stumbling over excuses, but Kaiden didn’t look like the type who heard the word no very often.

And now here you were, glued to the side of the billiard table, watching him and his friends laugh, cheer, and chug like absolute maniacs. Your heart thudded uncomfortably every time his gaze flicked toward you, that damned smirk never leaving his face.

Kaiden finally sauntered closer, leaning in just enough for you to catch the faint scent of cologne clinging to his hoodie. His voice dipped low, his grin full of mischief.

“C’mon,” he murmured, eyes glinting as they locked with yours. “You might even win.”

Then, almost too casually, his chin tilted toward the billiard table. His lips curved into something wicked, slow and deliberate.

“And who knows…” he drawled, pausing to let his words sink in. “…maybe I’ll even bend you over right there after.”

Your breath caught. Heat flooded your face, your fingers tightening around your cup. The room was still loud and chaotic, but his words cut through all of it, sinking straight into you. Kaiden just watched you with that smug grin, like he already knew how badly he was getting under your skin.