His body is leaning against the couch, legs spread apart with a lit cigarette in hand. He's wearing his usual black dress shirt and pants, his shirt is unbuttoned at the top revealing a couple of the tattoos on his chest, and Lord is it a sight for sore eyes.

My insides clench from him sitting in front of me, and I quickly snap out of it before anyone can notice just how much he puts me in a trance.

What is he doing here?

His eyes lock with mine before they trail downward towards me and Aiden's intertwined hands. Without thinking, I pull my hand from his grasp and walk over to the other couch to sit down, motioning for Aiden to sit beside me.

"I thought you said he wasn't coming." He whispers in my ear after he sits down.

"I didn't think he was."

The jealousy pouring out of Aiden is something I'm not familiar with. Throughout the entire time we were dating he never acted the way he's acting tonight. It's almost as if his jealousy is laced with anger, and I look around the table eyeing the shot glasses in front of me, already finding myself in need of it.

I reach over and pick one up, I can feel both their eyes on me as I bring the glass to my lips and dip my head back, welcoming the bitter taste. Surprisingly, I don't feel the urge to gag anymore, I think I've grown used to the taste during these past couple weeks.

And honestly, I can't tell if that's a good or bad thing.

I look over at Mason for a second to find his lips curved upwards ever so slightly, then I return my focus on Aiden who's looking at me like he doesn't even remember the girl in front of him.

"Drink?" I ask him.

"I'm driving." He reminds me and I instantly feel foolish.

I nod my head, of course he's driving.

Fuck, why am I acting like this? I can't think whenever he's around, and having Aiden breath down my neck is only making me second guess everything I do even more. I sit up straighter, Mason's eyes burning into me but I refuse to look over at him again.

I keep my attention on the things around me, the strobe lights, loud pounding music, the pungent smell of sweat and sex.

Huh, I guess Aiden was right.

The odor only stirs jealousy inside of me for all the people who are able to really let loose tonight while I sit here with a pile of bricks on my chest.

Aiden's hand finds itself on the top of my bare thigh and I nearly recoil from his touch. I refrain from shifting under him, and instantly feel as though I'm being suffocated by all the noise, by Aiden, by him.

I see Corey, Alec and Jessica already making small talk, drinks in hand and I sit in my seat with Aiden's fingers lightly tapping my thigh.

Why am I acting like this?

Mason has made it perfectly clear he doesn't want anything to do with me, many times actually. It's not only the words he's giving me, it's his body language, the uninterested look on his face whenever he sees me that sends my heart plummeting.

I look around the room at the people in front of us dancing on the dance floor, they all seem to be having such a great time. They all seem happy, and even if they aren't the alcohol in them is sure masking it well. I on the other hand, am not.

I swallow hard, willing my eyes not to to shift towards the piercing green ones I feel on me, but I do anyway. I guess I don't have as much strength as I thought.

His jaw is tense, eyes dark as they zero in on Aiden's fingers on my thigh. Mason's free hand fiddles with the cigarette in between his fingers, while the other is clenched in a ball so tight his fist is a deep shade of white.

He doesn't notice me looking at him while he plants the cigarette in between his lips, and takes a long heavy drag from it.

I hate smoking, I hate what those cancer sticks can do to your body. But, watching Mason now with it in between his lips, eyes focused on Aiden's movements is the sexiest thing I've ever seen.

He exhales, the smoke wastes away into the air as he leans his body in close, elbows resting upon his knees. He extends his arm out towards the burgundy glass bowl piece in the middle of the table, and lightly taps the cigarette on the side of it, the ashes falling inside.

"I don't think that's an ashtray." Aiden speaks up, and I snap my head toward him and mentally wonder why out of all the people he chooses to talk to, he decides on Mason.

"What was that?" Mason asks him, and from where I'm sitting I can already see the anger whirring inside of him.

"I said, I don't think that's an ashtray." Aiden says a bit louder over the music at Mason who still has his cigarette lit over the bowl. "It's a centerpiece. To complete the room."

He uses his free hand to motion his index finger around the room

Mason only stares blankly at him, completely disinterested in his words and his berating glare. Aiden continues to sit up right as if he's the smartest person in the world for distinguishing that the centerpiece is in fact not an ashtray.

Mason glances between Aiden and I, before focusing his attention back onto him. His lips twitch upwards for a moment as he shakes his head, finding this whole situation amusing I bet.

He brings the lit freshly ashed cigarette to his lips and takes out an even longer, harder hit from it before bringing his arm out once again over the centerpiece.

Instead of ashing it, he tips it downward and presses it firmly against the bottom of the bowl, extinguishing it. He takes his time, his hands continuously flicking up and down, pressing the cancer stick deep into the bowl.

The worst part is he never releases his eyes off Aiden while doing so.

Afterwards, he leans back into his chair, his arms extended out on either side of him, resting on the back of the couch. The tapping on my thighs have come to a stop while Aiden's mouth hangs open in shock over what he had just seen.

"Guess it's an ashtray now." Mason shrugs his shoulders unceremoniously and I bite down on my lip to hold back a smile. They both hold their stare on each other until Corey interrupts, motioning everyone to take a shot.

"Alright, everyone dig in." He claps.

I feel Aiden's hand tighten on my thigh for a couple seconds before relaxing, and I tear my eyes away from Mason. I can't deny that what he just did didn't make my core ache because holy cow it did.

Everything he does makes me feel that way.

Him taunting Aiden, thriving on it is actually turning me on.

Woah, is it hot in here?

"Don't have to tell me twice." Jessica says, breaking me out of my thoughts as she reaches over the table to grab not one, but two shot glasses.

Everyone else follows but Mason. Instead, Corey hands him one the moment Jessica looks over at me to find that I never grabbed one. She looks at me confused for a moment, before her eyes trail over to Aiden. Realization hits her and she wastes no time to hand me the second shot glass she grabbed.

"Here, Elle. You look like you could use a drink." She says to me, loud enough for only me to hear.

I hesitate, looking at the glass in front of me before reaching over and taking it.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Aiden asks me and I frown slightly.

"Do what?"

"Take another shot, you wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea."

My shoulders deflate and I look at the shot glass, and up at him again slightly hurt from his words. I press my lips together, giving him a resigned nod before setting the shot glass back on the table in front of us.

I decide to stay quiet, it's easier than causing a scene.

"And what idea would that be? That she's free to make her own decisions?" Mason speaks up and I shoot him a glare, of course when I decide to not cause a scene he steps in.

"Clearly her decision making isn't the best since last time she got drunk she decided to sleep with you." He shoots back, loud enough for only the two of us to hear.

I look at Aiden in disbelief over what he just said. Is that what he really thinks of me? That I can't think for myself? How many times do I have to tell him that it was my choice.

Little does he know that wasn't the last timeI got drunk.

Come to think of it, my decision making wasn't the best those nights either.

The night of the masquerade party, last time at the club. Shit.

Is he right?

The furry in Mason only seems to grow, and before he gets the chance to stand up and tackle Aiden to the ground I open my mouth to speak.

"I'm going to go get us some waters, I'll be right back."

"I'll go with you." Aiden says, positioning himself to stand up.

"No." I say a little too quickly, putting my hand out to stop him from moving any further. "I can manage." I say to him, before walking down the steps to exit the VIP area and make my way over to the bar.

I breathe out a sigh of relief once I'm away from them. The tension was getting a bit too much. And as much as I try to get rid of the hurt inside of me over what Aiden said, I can't.

Now it all makes sense, why he didn't want me coming tonight, why he looked at me with such disapproval over my outfit choice for tonight, all of it.

As I finally reach the bar I feel someone pull my wrists back from behind me. I feel my stomach drop and turn around to see Jessica standing there with a shot in hand. Solace washes over my body at the sight in front of me, and I can already feel my frown lifting.

"Here, I managed to sneak this out for you." She says as she hands me the shot glass in her hand.

I take it, my brow quirked up from her actions.

"As much as it repulses me to say it, Mason was right. You should be free to drink as much as you want." I don't say anything, just nod my head as she goes on, "Do you see how Aiden's acting tonight? What the fuck is up with him?"

I shrug, "I have no idea."

"Well don't listen to him. You're single, and even if you weren't you don't need his permission."

She's right, I don't.

"Now, drink." She demands in a light playful tone and I do as she says.

I lift my head back, savoring the harsh taste before handing the now empty glass over to her.

"I better get back before they somehow get themselves into even more trouble." I can't help but laugh at her words before her small frame walks away from me and back over to the table.

The small bit of alcohol I just consumed is already lightening my dim mood. She's right, I don't need his permission to drink, or do anything.

I order water for everyone at the table, and find myself growing impatient over how long it's taking. I mean sure, it is busy but how long does pouring water into a glass take?

I tap my fingers against the sleek countertop and watch as the bartender finally begins my order.

"Funny seeing you here." I snap my head over to the sound and my stomach churns, "Exactly where I left you last time."

Felix licks his lips in front of me and my stomach is filled with nothing but disgust. He stands there, his long arms crossed over his chest like he owns the place. His hazel colored eyes look down on me and I shake my head, turning my attention away from him and back at the bartender.

"What do you want, Felix?" I ask, my tone sounding unamused.

"Where's that boyfriend of yours?" He asks me, ignoring my previous question.

My heart constricts at him calling Mason my boyfriend but I act like it doesn't faze me. The bartender hands me all the drinks on black tray and I quickly thank him.

"I don't know who you're talking about." I snap back at him, still avoiding eye contact.

"I think you do."

I attempt at lifting the tray but the weight of it is too heavy for me to carry. Fuck, why did Jessica leave? Felix takes notice and brings his hands on either side of the tray, lifting it as though it's as light as a feather.

"I don't need your help." I say to him, my voice firm as I finally meet his eyes. The only thing I see in them is mischief and trouble and it only adds to the knot in my stomach.

"Another lie." He says, and I watch as his eyes rake my body, slowly stopping once he reaches my chest.

I resist the urge to gag.

"Let me take this up so I can say hi to your friends. I'm sure your boyfriend will be pleased to see me. He seemed to be last time, if I remember correctly." Before I get the chance to say anything he darts past me, his body walking towards the last place he should be in this club.

I move my body in front of his, stopping him from going any further.

"Stop." I say, and he smiles down at me. "He's not my boyfriend."

I know there's nothing I can do to stop Felix from going there, especially since it's very clear I don't want him to. But I need to get the point across to him before he creates an even bigger mess.

His eyes move behind me before reconnecting with mine.

"I see," He begins. "Who's that scrawny looking boy over there? Another one of yours?"

I shake my head, my ego faltering once more over what he's implying.

It's the same thing Mason thinks about me too, that I'm a slut.

"When am I going to get a turn?" He breaks me out of my thoughts and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, it seems like everyone gets a turn with you. It's only fair isn't it?" He leans in further into me, "I promise I'll be gentle."

This time, the urge to gag is too strong. I shove him away from me, gentle enough for the waters not to spill, turn around on my heel and walk away from him.

I can hear him laugh from behind me, and it only adds to my rage.

I storm up the three steps to get back into the VIP booth and right when I do I notice how everyone continues on their conversations, except Mason.

He looks at me, eyes black and filled with fury.

I look at him for a moment confused, until I hear the deep enthusiastic voice behind me.

"Mind if I join you?"