WHISPERED TEMPTATIONS

Big D Energy

「 ✦ Halsey's POV ✦ 」

Hero's warm fingers wrap around mine as he helps me down from the counter. He tugs me gently through the kitchen doorway and into the living room, which throbs with bodies and noise.

The bass from 2PAC's "ALL EYEZ ON ME" rattle the windows, punctuated by whoops from the beer pong table where red cups form neat triangles on each end.

Hazel stands near the fireplace, her cheeks flushed pink as she tosses her head back, cackling at something a tall guy in a red flannel shirt just said.

Across the room, Halo has melted into Niko's lap on the sectional. Her glossy black hair spills across his henley like spilled ink, her mascara slightly smudged beneath heavy-lidded eyes. Niko's muscular arm circles her waist possessively while he gestures with his half-empty Solo cup, his voice booming over the music as the crowd around him erupts in laughter.

Halo's glazed eyes drift lazily around the room, lingering momentarily on Hazel before continuing their unfocused journey.

When her gaze finally locks onto me being led by Hero, recognition sparks in her gaze and she jolts upright, nearly spilling Niko's drink.

Niko's story dies mid-sentence as he follows her stare. His easy smile freezes, his jaw slackens when he spots me with my fingers intertwined with Hero's. Beside him, Halo's expression morphs from surprise to alarm. She lurches to her feet, swaying dangerously before finding her balance and charging toward us, her narrowed eyes fixed on our clasped hands.

Niko's deep voice cuts through the room as he saunters over behind Halo, his muscular frame casting a shadow across the floor. "Well s**t, Hero, when I told everyone back at the house to leave Halo's sisters alone, I never imagined I was warning you away." His booming laugh echoes off the walls.

Halo's full lips press into a thin line as her delicate fingers wrap around my wrist. Her amber eyes, now clouded with suspicion, lock onto Hero's towering form.

"I need to speak to Halsey for a minute," she says, her voice honey-sweet but firm. "We will be right back."

Hero's piercing blue eyes linger on her face before he reluctantly releases my hand, his warm fingers brushing against mine as they slip away.

Hazel trails behind us, her glossy curls bouncing with each step, her cherry-red lips parted in astonishment as she keeps glancing back at Hero's broad shoulders.

She leans in close enough that I can smell her vanilla perfume, her breath tickling my ear as she whispers with theatrical volume, "You'll have to let me know if he's packing." Her eyes sparkle mischievously. "Because that man is walking s*x, and oozes big d**k energy!"

"HAZEL RAE MEADOWS!"

Halo's screech could shatter glass. Heat crawls up my neck like wildfire, spreading across my cheeks until even my ears burn. I risk a glance behind us to find Hero watching, a smug smirk playing on his full lips.

When our eyes meet, he delivers a slow, deliberate wink that makes my stomach flip. Then he turns, his confident stride carrying him toward the couch where Niko waits, muscular arm extended to drape across Hero's shoulders as he leans in, whispering something that makes Hero's expression darken.

Halo's manicured fingers wrap around my wrist as she drags me into the cramped downstairs bathroom, its soft lights casting shadows across our faces.

Hazel follows, her still giggling, echoing off the olive green walls. The door clicks shut, and Halo's golden hoop earrings swing as she whips around, her perfectly arched eyebrows knitting together.

"Girl... what are you doing with Hero James?" she asks, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. "Do you know who he is or what he's about to become? You just turned 18— are you trying to live up to those dog-eared CEO romances hidden under your mattress?"

Hazel erupts into laughter, as heat crawls up my neck and settles in my cheeks.

"Wait, Hero is a CEO?" I stammer, watching my Hazel lean towards the mirror. The lighting accentuating the glitter dusted across her collarbones as she uncaps her expensive lip gloss with a practiced flick.

"Duh, Zi," Hazel drawls, her eyes meeting my reflection. "He' s the heir of Horizon Investments. It was just announced in July. Caused a huge scandal, though I don't know why anyone is surprised since he is the legitimate heir."

The sticky-sweet scent of artificial watermelon fills the tiny space as she traces the wand across her plump bottom lip, then presses them together with an exaggerated pout before pivoting toward us on her stilettos.

"How cool would it be if you ended up with one of the worlds richest heirs? It would be so rad." Hazel says excitedly as Halo frowns slightly at her before looking at me with concern

I look back and forth between my sisters, confused and slightly dazed.

"I thought his name sounded familiar, but he's like a ghost online—no photos, no TV appearances— so it never clicked." My fingers find the collection of silver and turquoise rings adorning my fingers, twisting the largest one around and around until the stone faces inward.

Hazel leans forward with widened eyes while Halo's eyebrows arch skeptically.

"I don't expect him to wife me up, but there is definitely some chemistry there..." The words come out barely above a whisper as I meet Halo's amber gaze, searching for reassurance in her expression.

She nods slowly, her cascade of dark hair, her warm hands envelop mine, stilling my nervous fidgeting.

"Hero is actually a good guy, but he's been with someone for four years now. Never once strayed despite all the opportunities." Her voice softens.

"His family has that old Manhattan money and those old-fashioned values. So if you want to explore this spark between you, I won't lecture you, but please..." She squeezes my fingers gently. "Don't build castles in the air. Niko told me he' s heading back to New York by September to step into his father' s shoes at the firm."

I nod in understanding but still feeling faintly disappointed by the news.

"I don' t expect anything, but I do want to spend more time with him. He asked me to come home with him..." The heat crawls up my neck and blooms across my cheeks.

Hazel's silver bangles jangle as she claps her hands, her glossy lips parting in a wide grin. "See, you'll have to tell me if he's got a big d**k or not!" she whispers, leaning in close.

Halo's palm connects with the back of Hazel's head with a satisfying thwack. "Why are you so horny for a sixteen-year-old?" Her amber eyes narrow in disdain, nose wrinkling before she turns to me, her expression softening.

"Don't feel pressured to have s*x, Zi, but do what feels good and right for you." Her slender fingers squeeze mine, cool and reassuring, before she reaches for the doorknob.

"I'm not Mom or Dad, but keep your phone on you. Let me know if you need me or Hazel to come get you, and check in so I know you're safe."

Still blushing I nod, and follow my sisters out lagging slowly behind them lost in thought.

Was this a good idea? I know nothing about Hero and yet I can't stop myself from wanting to be close to him? Maybe I should just go home... if he just broke up with his girlfriend, I'm just a rebound, and when he heads back to New York, he won't remember me... not like how I'll remember him..

So lost in my swirling thoughts, I didn't even notice that Hero had come up behind me until the warmth of his muscular arm wrapped around my waist, his calloused fingers resting just above my hip bone.

"Hey Mi Pequeña Hada, you okay, you look like you're off in LaLa land?" he says teasingly, his deep voice rumbling against my back. His blue eyes trace over every inch of my face—from my flushed cheeks to my parted lips— as if committing each freckle and curve to memory.

I nod shyly and lean against his solid chest instinctively, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat, before jerking back after realizing what I' d been doing. Hero's full lips turn down into a frown before he pulls me tightly against his body again, his scent enveloping me.

"Why are you pulling away? I like having you close, Halsey," he says, wrapping his strong arms tighter around me as my heart races wildly beneath my ribcage, threatening to burst through.

"I don't want to seem too clingy especially since we just met," I whisper as his hand comes up and starts combing through my long, wavy hair, his touch so soft and affectionate it sends tingles down my spine.

He opens his mouth, revealing perfect white teeth, but before he can speak, I softly add, "Also because after tonight we won't see each other again, since we're both going to different parts of the country after tonight. Me to school and you to work... I don't want you to think I'll cling to you afterwards like some lovesick teenager."

Hero's brow furrows, confusion flickering across his face like a shadow before his features harden into an inscrutable mask. His eyes, reflecting the dim party lights, reveal nothing as they bore into mine.

The air between us grows thick with tension as we stare at each other in the cramped hallway. The bass from the speakers vibrates through the floorboards beneath us.

Finally, he reaches for my hand, his calloused fingers wrapping around mine with surprising gentleness.

Those same guarded eyes search my face as he leans in close, his voice barely audible above the pulsing music. "If that's the case, are you still coming home with me tonight? I'd like to spend more time with you."

I glance down at our intertwined hands — his thumb tracing small circles on my wrist. When I look up, meeting his gaze through the haze of smoke hanging in the air, I give a small nod. The tension in his shoulders visibly releases, relief washing over his face like sunrise breaking through clouds.

He tugs me toward the front door, navigating through the crush of sweaty bodies.

As we pass his friends lounging against the living room wall, their red Solo cups tilted precariously, Hero raises his voice over the thundering bass. "Find your own way home tonight." Their eyebrows shoot up in unison, exchanging knowing glances before raising their bottles in mock salutes, amber liquid sloshing inside as we push past the front door and into the cool night air.

The quiet street stretches before us, lined with parked cars and illuminated by the amber glow of streetlights. Neither of us speaks as we approach a sleek black Audi, its polished surface reflecting the moon overhead. He releases my hand to open the passenger door, the leather seat cool against my skin as I slide in. The door closes with a solid thunk before he circles around, his silhouette momentarily framed against the distant party lights.

Inside the car, the scent of leather and his subtle cologne fills the enclosed space. As he inserts the key, the engine purrs to life. In the blue glow of the dashboard lights, I catch him opening his mouth, hesitating, then pressing his lips together in a thin line.

Whatever he wanted to say, remained unspoken as he shifts into drive and pulls away from the curb, tires crunching softly on asphalt as we pull away from the sorority house.