Ben's glare finally snapped. He shoved past Connor, making his way toward Aiden and Angela with a mix of anger and determination burning in his chest. "What the hell are you doing over here?" he barked, voice rough over the bass.
Aiden smirked, stepping slightly closer, letting the shadow at the back of his mind stir. Go wild. Show him. The whisper coiled in his chest, dark and daring. He didn't listen fully, he wasn't about to lose control, but he let it fuel his confidence.
"Just dancing," Aiden said smoothly, stepping into Ben's space, egging him on. "Is that a problem?"
Ben's jaw tightened, and in a flash, he lunged, aiming to shove Aiden back. Aiden sidestepped with ease, taller and steadier on his feet, his body still sharp and unloosened by the drinks everyone else had taken.
Angela jumped forward, hands out. "Stop! Both of you!" she pleaded, her voice rising above the music, but her protests fell into chaos.
Aiden grinned, letting Ben come at him again. He dodged, countered lightly, and used his height and skill to maneuver Ben off balance. Every push and feint was calculated, measured, the dark entity urging him to go further, to lose himself, but he kept it in check, letting the game play out strategically.
The fight drew the attention of the crowd, whispers turning into cheers as Ben struggled to keep up. Aiden feinted left, then pivoted, guiding Ben toward the pond at the edge of the field.
"Time to cool off," Aiden said with a grin, the whisper in his mind hissing, Finish it. Make him regret it.
With a deft move, he leveraged Ben's momentum and tipped him into the pond with a splash that sent water flying everywhere. The crowd erupted, laughter and cheering echoing through the forest as everyone stopped dancing, staring at the scene.
Ben sputtered and clawed at the water, cursing, while Angela rushed forward, wading in to help him out. Her hair plastered against her face, her clothes soaked, but she ignored it, focused on Ben.
Aiden stepped forward swiftly, grabbing Ben as he reached the edge. He held him firm, chest to chest, letting Ben struggle against his grip for a moment before speaking, voice low but razor-sharp:
"Listen to me. That… all of this? It wasn't me trying to mess with you. It's Angela. She likes you. She's been trying to get your attention. But you... you're too stupid to see it."
Ben froze, water dripping from his hair, his chest heaving, eyes wide in disbelief.
"So here's the deal," Aiden continued, tightening his hold for emphasis without hurting him. "Don't waste your chance with her. You screw it up, I'll take her from you. And if you ever hurt her…" His gaze sharpened, dark and warning. "…I will come for you."
He released Ben, letting him collapse onto the ground, drenched and shivering. Aiden straightened, the neon lights catching the faint glitter on his skin, and walked away without another word, leaving Ben stunned and silent, while Angela knelt beside him, helping him recover.
The forest buzzed with whispers and murmurs as the crowd slowly began to resume dancing, but the moment hung in the air, intense, electric, and unforgettable.
A flicker of movement at the back of his mind stirred, the dark entity, whispering like a predator in the shadows. That wasn't enough. You could've gone further. See blood. Make him pay. Make them all fear you.
Aiden's jaw tightened, the whisper coiling in his chest like a living thing. He looked around the clearing at the crowd, at Angela still helping Ben, at the neon chaos pulsing through the forest, and snapped his eyes shut for a moment.
"Fuck off," he muttered, voice low but firm. Not tonight. Not now. The dark presence hissed and recoiled, silenced, for now, but Aiden felt its lingering heat at the edge of his awareness, hungry and impatient.
He exhaled, shaking his head, and stepped aside, letting the rush of adrenaline ebb. That was enough chaos for one night.
A sudden, bubbly voice cut through the haze. "Oh my god! Aiden! That was insane!"
He turned to see Jessica bounding toward him, her wide eyes sparkling with energy and excitement. Her hair caught the neon light as she skidded to a stop beside him, barely able to contain her laughter.
"What happened?!" she asked, bouncing slightly on her heels. "I mean—I heard screaming and splashing and then… wait—Ben? In the pond?"
Aiden raised a brow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "You heard right. He got a little… cooled off."
Jessica's laughter bubbled over, high-pitched and delighted. "Oh wow. I did not expect that! I mean… holy crap! Angela's amazing, and you… wow! That was actually impressive. Not that you care, right?"
He chuckled, shaking his head. The dark entity still lingered faintly, its presence a dull thrum in the back of his mind, but he ignored it, letting the neon chaos and Jessica's energy ground him.
"Yeah," he said lightly, smirking down at her. "Pretty insane night."
Jessica bounced in place, still full of energy. "I knew something was going on with Angela and you! I knew it!" She grabbed his arm briefly, eyes sparkling. "But man… you handled that better than I would've. I swear, you were… like… tactical or something. Totally."
Jessica's eyes flicked toward Angela, still helping Ben out of the pond, and her smile faltered just a fraction. A flash of something sharp, jealousy, crossed her features before she shook it off and turned back to Aiden.
"You know," she said, voice teasing but with an edge, "you look way too smug standing there after all that. Come dance with me. I've been waiting all night to see some real moves."
Aiden shook his head, grinning. "Nah, I think I've done enough running around for one night. Plus…" He gestured vaguely at the chaos around them. "I've had my fill of excitement."
Jessica didn't take no for an answer. She bounced on her heels, a playful frown forming. "Oh, come on! Don't give me that excuse. You know you want to. I saw you out there with Angela… you're practically glowing. Let me see what all the fuss is about."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Glowing, huh? Pretty sure that's just the neon lights."
"Nope," Jessica insisted, stepping closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "That's all you. And don't think I didn't notice how you handled Ben. I mean… wow. Honestly, I don't know if I should be impressed or slightly scared."
A small chuckle escaped Aiden. "A little of both, probably."
Jessica leaned closer, brushing her hand against his arm. "So what do you say? One dance. Just one. I'll even make it fun, promise."
He hesitated, his gaze flicking toward Angela and Ben, the dark whisper lingering faintly in his mind, still pushing for chaos. Go on. Stir it up. See what happens. But he ignored it, holding himself back.
"I don't know…" he started, voice casual but firm.
Jessica pouted dramatically, her wide eyes sparkling. "You don't get to say no, Aiden White. I'm persistent. Deal with it."
Aiden's smirk widened. "Persistent, huh? Alright, alright. One dance."
Jessica beamed, grabbing his hand and tugging him into the thrumming crowd. "That's what I like to hear!"
As the music enveloped them, neon lights flickering across their skin, Aiden let himself move with the rhythm, the dark entity still murmuring faintly in the back of his mind, eager for trouble, but he kept it contained, focusing instead on the teasing energy and playful challenge that Jessica brought.
Aiden felt the bass in his chest as Jessica pulled him into the crowd, their movements syncing with the pulsing lights.
His eyes couldn't help but wander over her outfit, tiny daisy dukes hugging her hips, showing off toned, thick legs, cowboy boots that added a playful swagger, and a cropped bikini top that revealed just enough to make him catch his breath.
The white fabric cut just above her under-boob, teasing without overstepping, and she leaned into him just enough for him to feel the curve of her body against his.
Jessica's grin was mischievous, almost daring. She knew the effect she was having and wasn't shy about it, brushing her hands along his arms, hips, and shoulders as they moved together in the neon-lit chaos.
"Like what you see?" she teased, her voice sultry and playful.
Aiden swallowed, a low chuckle escaping him. "You're… bold," he said, eyes flicking to hers, noticing how she wanted him to look, to be aware, to be tempted.
She leaned closer, her body pressing more deliberately against his as the song thumped around them. "You gonna stare all night, or are you gonna do something about it?" Her hands lingered provocatively, teasing the edge of his restraint.
Aiden felt the dark whisper at the back of his mind stir, eager and hungry: Go further. Take it. Show her who's in control. He ignored it, letting his control add to the tension, letting her boldness draw him in without losing himself.
"Careful, Jessica," he murmured, smirking down at her. "You're testing me."
She laughed, leaning back just enough to wink at him. "Good. I like a challenge."
Every movement, every brush of skin, every teasing glance was deliberate, an electric game of tension, power, and flirtation pulsing with the neon beat of the forest rave.
The bass slowed, the tempo shifting to a heavier, more deliberate rhythm, and Jessica's grin widened. She pressed closer to Aiden, letting her body move with his as the neon lights flickered across the forest clearing. Her hands slid along his arms and chest, tracing the lines of his shoulders and teasing him with just enough contact to keep his attention fully on her.
She twerked with exaggerated confidence, letting her hips grind against him in rhythm with the music, and leaned in close enough for him to feel the warmth radiating off her. Her cropped bikini top hugged her curves perfectly, and the curve of her hips in those daisy dukes made his chest tighten with awareness.
Aiden let himself respond, not losing control but meeting her boldness with a smirk and a slow, teasing brush of his hands against her waist, sliding lightly down to her hips before pulling back just enough to keep the tension alive. His height and steadiness gave him an advantage, and he used it to guide the dance subtly, countering her boldness with controlled flirtation.
"Feeling confident tonight, huh?" he murmured, voice low, letting the words brush against her ear.
Jessica laughed, a breathless, mischievous sound. "I'm just seeing if you can handle it," she teased, grinding closer again, eyes locked on his, daring him to take notice, to react.
The dark presence at the back of Aiden's mind stirred, whispering for chaos, for dominance, but he silenced it easily, letting his control sharpen the tension instead. He enjoyed the game, the teasing, the electricity between them, and he leaned closer, brushing a hand lightly over the small of her back while maintaining just enough restraint to let her boldness shine.
Jessica tilted her head back, letting the movement of her hips and the sway of her body draw him in further, daring him to give in, teasing with every motion. Aiden let a low chuckle escape him, eyes gleaming, a controlled smirk on his lips.
"Not bad," he murmured, leaning close, his hands guiding her slightly in rhythm with the music, keeping the playful battle of flirtation alive. "But you're not the only one who can play this game."
Jessica's laughter rang out over the slowed beat, bold, confident, and slightly breathless. "Oh, really? Prove it."
The neon-lit forest seemed to pulse around them, every eye briefly catching the duo as they moved together, a dance of daring, teasing, and flirtation that left the rest of the party fading into the background.