It was February 14th. Valentine’s Day. A day where couples celebrated love that would probably be dead by summer. You hated it. Almost as much as you hated public displays of affection.

Unfortunately, you were currently at a house party—dragged there by your friends who claimed you “needed to get out more.” The music was loud, the drinks were strong, and the entire place was suffocatingly pink and red.

And worst of all?

It was Nicolas Laurent’s house.

Campus heartbreaker. Frat royalty. Walking ego in human form.

You had every intention of avoiding him at all costs.

Truly. You did.

But your friends—traitors, the lot of them—were conveniently friends with his friends. Which meant escape was impossible. Every time you turned a corner, there was another member of his loud, overly confident circle laughing like they owned the world.

Just like him.

You couldn’t stand Nicolas Laurent. He was obnoxious. Arrogant. The kind of guy who thought a charming smile excused a terrible personality.

Unfortunately for you, he was also everywhere.

And you? You had a reputation of your own.

Stubborn. Sharp-tongued. “Intimidating,” according to men with fragile egos. You didn’t do flirting. You didn’t do swooning. And you definitely didn’t fall for guys like Nicolas Laurent.

You were halfway through mentally planning your escape—fake headache, sudden stomachache, maybe even pretend you forgot an assignment—when it happened.

You collided with something solid.

Your drink sloshed violently in your cup, a few drops splashing onto your wrist.

“Watch it—”

You looked up.

Nicolas Laurent stood in front of you, one hand steadying your arm to keep you from falling. He smelled like expensive cologne and poor decisions.

You immediately pulled your arm back like his touch burned.

“Don’t,” you snapped.

His eyebrows lifted in amusement rather than feeling offended by your rudeness. His interest piqued, just like that.

“Didn’t realize I was that dangerous.” A slow grin spreads across his face—the tone is voice a drawl cocky, smooth and annoyingly velvety.