REVENGE KISS: FALLING FOR MY BAD BOY STEP BROTHER

Chapter 007: Elixir

~SAFFRON~

The Mustang purrs to a stop in front of a Penthouse, and my heart races as I peer out the window. A penthouse party? I thought house parties were, you know, in actual houses and not up in the clouds where the elite play god. As we step out, Jason tosses his keys to a valet like it’s nothing. My gaze snags on a couple nearby—my age, maybe—pressed against a matte-black Lamborghini. The guy has both hands full of the girl’s ass, her short dress riding up while they devour each other's mouth. It’s so blatantly s****l that heat floods up my neck. I can't look away at first, but then I do, clearing my throat like that's going to erase the image from my brain.

When I glance back, Jason is c*****g his head, watching me, not them. His eyes have gone dark, focused, like he's reading every flustered thought in my head. "First time seeing people making out?" he teases.

I shoot him a glare, "No." It's the truth, but my voice comes out shakier than I'd like.

"Relax, Saffron.” He says as we head toward the doors. It's the first time he's calling my name, and damn if that doesn't make my nerves spark even brighter. “This is a party. Have fun, meet new people.” He turns to face me mid-stride, hands lifting as he says “No one's judging."

The front doors slide open to pure chaos. Crowds are swaying to loud beats, the sound echoing hard in my head. I’m looking at everything and everyone all at once, the penthouse spreading out like a playground for the rich and reckless. Jason's immediately pulled into a bro-hug by a tall blonde guy with a nose piercing and a grin.

His eyes slide straight over to me. “Who’s she?” he asks Jason, shouting over the music, stepping closer as he gazes at me in a way that makes me shift uncomfortably.

Jason hesitates for a moment, "My step sister, Saffron"

The blonde hair guy leans back, openly checking me out. He whispers something in Jason’s ear, then flashes me a smile that makes my skin crawl. “Hi, Saffron. Welcome to my house party.”

Merely looking at him, I can tell he’s a spoiled brat, and this is probably his parents property which he uses to have fun while they're away.

“I'm Alex.” He extends his hand with that entitled grin. I reach for it, but Jason's already steering him away, whispering something in his ear as they clutch shoulders and push into the crowd.

And just like that, Jason disappears into the crowd, leaving me standing alone in a sea of strangers. My stomach twists, and I start feeling dizzy from the crowd. I scan the room for somewhere, anywhere I can stay in the meantime. A dim corner on the left looks promising. I push through the bodies, breathing out in relief the second I reach it.

Then I freeze.

It’s not a chill out spot. It’s a make out zone. Four—no, six couples are making out, their mouths fused like they’re trying to win an award. Heat floods my face, and one guy actually pauses kissing to glance at me. I spin around quickly to bolt, spotting a doorway half hidden by a curtain. Without thinking, I slip through it.

The music dulls to a muffled heartbeat as I step onto a balcony. Cool night air hits my skin, and for the first time since we walked in, I can actually breathe.

I’m still trying to steady my pulse when I hear footsteps.

I turn, and a guy holding a glass of wine stops short the moment our eyes meet.

“Do you mind me joining you?” His voice is so deep, a little rough, having this British accent. It undeniably sucks out breath from my lungs.

And holy hell, he’s beautiful in the strangest, most magnetic way. Long dark-brown curls fall to his shoulders. A prominent defining scar runs across his face, slashing through one of his eyes to give him this dangerous, almost mythical look. He’s dressed head to toe in black—fitted trousers, black denim jacket over a black tee—and the clothes cling perfectly to his tall, big muscular frame like they were made for a runway.

He waits for my response, one brow slightly raised, city lights glittering behind him.

“No,” I manage. “I don’t mind.” I tear my eyes away and grip the railing, exhaling hard into the cool night.

“I thought I was losing my mind,” he says, stepping up beside me and leaning his forearms on the metal of the balcony. His cologne hits me. He smells really good. “That I was the only one finding this house party boring.”

I glance sideways at him, surprised. “Oh.”

He turns his head, the scar on his eye catching the light for a second. I notice his eyes are green. “Or… you don’t think it’s boring?” He asks.

I hesitate, not wanting to scream it's my first house party ever to a guy I just met. “I wouldn’t know,” I say carefully. “I just got here a little while ago.”

He nods, eyes drifting across my face like he’s memorizing it. “You with someone?”

Jason flashes through my mind then. He's probably laughing with Alex, enjoying the party, not bothering to look for me. He might as well have forgotten I came with him.

“Yeah,” I answer. His mouth turns down just slightly. “My step brother,” I add quickly.

His shoulders ease, and then he looks away, toward the city, sipping his drink. “Well, I came with my twin. She's around somewhere”

Oh wow, he has a twin sister. I think, and the word slips out as, “That’s great.”

He sighs, asking, “Do you always hide on balconies, or am I simply just lucky tonight?”

I chuckle at his words, tucking my hair behind my ear “Maybe” I say coyly.

He goes quiet then. When I peek at him again, there’s an amused little tilt to his lips.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re very beautiful.”

The words land so casually I almost choke on air. My cheeks grow warm. “Thanks.”

He smiles, and a dimple carves into his left cheek. God, he’s even hotter when he does that.

“I’m Elixir, by the way.” He angles his body toward me, trying to catch my eyes until I finally meet his eyes. “What’s your name?”

“Saffron.”

“Saffron,” he repeats carefully, “Well, Saffron…” He turns fully now, extending his hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

“Likewise.” I slide my palm into his.

The second our skin touches, I feel an indescribable connection, a jolt shooting through me like a lightning bolt. His fingers linger a beat longer than they should. And when our eyes lock again, his are darker, more intense, and I know he felt it too.