The black turtleneck Cole was wearing was even worse than he had thought. His nipples were visibly imprinted through the thin fabric, and he felt like a male stripper.
"I have to say, Cole, you look hot as fuck. People will be all over you tonight. Damn," Marie said, licking her lips. "Times like these, I wish I was a man, because friends or no friends, I'd bend you over the nearest table and—"
BEEEEEP.
The sound of a car horn blaring outside cut her off. Much to Cole's relief—and Kylie's.
"Your boyfriend is here, Kylie, so let's just get going," Cole muttered, eager to escape Marie's shameless teasing as he made his way toward the door.
"He's not my boyfriend," Kylie shot back.
Cole ignored her and focused on getting out of the house, but just as he reached the front hallway, an intense sensation spread across his back. It was the feeling of being watched—closely.
Turning slightly, he caught sight of Michael standing there, hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants, his hooded eyes fixed on Cole's chest.
Cole felt his skin heat under that gaze. He wanted to cross his arms, to shield himself from the weight of Michael's stare.
"The fuck you wearing?" Michael demanded, his voice sharp but his expression unreadable. And then, as if realizing his own words, his mouth snapped shut—like he hadn't meant to say it aloud.
Before Cole could respond, Kylie and Marie's footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Cole tore his eyes away from Michael and grabbed the door handle, stepping out without another word. His pulse was unsteady, but he told himself it was just the cold air hitting his skin.
Yeah. That had to be it.
"We won't be back late Michael" Kylie said while kissing her brother's cheek.
Michael locked eyes with his sister, holding her gaze for a few tense seconds before letting out an exaggerated sigh. With a sharp exhale, he reluctantly mouthed for her to go.
Outside, the matte black G-Wagon idled at the curb, its sleek exterior gleaming under the streetlights. Leaning against the vehicle, Alec exuded effortless cool in a black leather jacket, a fitted t-shirt, and dark jeans tucked into well-worn black boots. A simple silver dog tag hung from his neck, catching the light as he straightened up.
Without a word, he pulled open the passenger door for Kylie. She stepped inside, murmuring a soft, "Thanks."
Marie and Cole slid into the backseat, Marie making a valiant effort not to sprawl out and get too comfortable. As the G-Wagon smoothly rolled away from the driveway, an awkward silence settled over the car. At least, that's how it felt to Kylie.
"Sooo," Marie began. "Who's gonna call Angie"
Before she could say more Cole was already darling the number. The phone was answered but the only thing they could hear was the base of the music and the sound of Angie screaming to the lyrics.
"You guys should hurry and come it's so much fun." Then there was the sound of the call cutting off.
"What the fuck? Don't tell me she's wasted already?" Marie said.
Kylie just sighed. It's going to be a long night.
---
Pulling up to the two-story mansion, they could hear the bass pounding from inside, contained by the building's walls. No wonder Ryan could pull off such massive parties with underage kids—the soundproofing was impeccable.
Other cars arrived alongside them, students spilling out in cliques and groups. Some of them didn't even attend their school.
Marie and Cole exited the vehicle first, eager for fresh air. Kylie was about to follow when she realized her door was locked. Turning to the culprit, she found him staring at her thighs, his gaze dragging slowly upward until it met hers. The intensity in his eyes nearly made her flinch.
His breathing quickened as he took in the curves of the girl before him, his jaw tightening. Groaning, he shifted in his seat—he was dangerously close to a hard-on.
"You were going to come to the party looking like that… without me?" His voice was low but clear, sending a tingle straight to her stomach.
His hand moved, closing the distance, landing on her thigh where her dress had ridden up. His fingers slid higher, almost reaching her core before giving a possessive squeeze, as if he couldn't help himself.
Kylie grasped his hand but made no move to push him away. She couldn't bring herself to stop him.
"Ah, fuck." With a frustrated sigh, he pulled back, raking a hand through his hair. His gaze lingered, dark and smoldering. "Let's go, princess."
As Kylie stepped out of the car, a deep blush painted her face.
Marie stood outside, arms crossed under her chest, an amused smirk playing on her lips. Unlike Cole, who looked unimpressed, Marie seemed thoroughly entertained.
"Maybe if you stayed in there a few more minutes, I'd have thought you two were about to start fucking," she quipped, her signature lack of filter on full display.
Mortification hit Kylie like a truck. "Shut up," she mumbled, clearly embarrassed.
"Well, let's get this party started," Cole interjected, turning toward the entrance.
Through the glass doors, he could see them vibrating from the bass, bracing himself for the sheer volume of noise waiting inside.
---
Kylie was acutely aware of the hand resting on her lower back, subtly guiding her forward. His cologne surrounded her, and his larger build made her feel completely engulfed in his presence.
Ahead of them, Marie walked with her head held high, exuding confidence, while Cole, noticeably hesitant, stayed close behind her, almost using her as a shield.
Reaching the door, Marie knocked. It was answered by a guy Kylie recognized as one of the football players. His eyes raked over Marie, his attraction evident as he took in the brunette standing before him.
Then, his gaze shifted past her, landing on Kylie. He eyed her with the same intensity before his expression briefly changed—his eyes widened slightly when he caught sight of Alec standing behind her.
Quickly, he pulled the door open, almost a little too hastily. No one said anything unnecessary. Cole, still using Marie as cover, slipped past unnoticed.
The scene inside was exactly what Kylie knew Cole dreaded. A mass of sweaty bodies moved to the music in the center of the room, lost in the rhythm.
Around them, familiar classmates mingled with unfamiliar faces, some engaged in drinking games and taking shots. Kylie's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her friend Angie, but she was nowhere to be found.
Unbeknownst to Kylie, their group had drawn quite a bit of attention—some eyes lingered with not-so-innocent intentions.
Here's a refined version of your passage with improved flow, grammar, and clarity while keeping the scene's tension intact:
---
"I'll go find Angie," Marie announced, grabbing Cole's arm and pulling him away despite his protests.
"Um, guys—" Kylie started, but they were already swallowed by the crowd.
A warm breath brushed against her ear as a voice murmured, "Let's find somewhere to sit."
She barely had time to react before Alec guided her toward a quieter area where fewer people lingered. They found a couch positioned in front of a low table, mirroring another couch where two people were already seated.
Alec led her to sit in the corner, settling beside her with one arm draped over the back of the couch behind her.
As she sat, her dress rode up, and she quickly tried to tug it back down.
Maybe this dress wasn't such a good idea, she thought.
"Do you want something to drink?" Alec asked, his green eyes flickering toward her.
"Yeah, a Sprite, if they have it," she replied.
"I'll be right back. Don't take anything from anyone."
Kylie simply nodded, watching as he disappeared into the crowd.
The moment Alec was out of sight, someone flopped down beside her, making her jump slightly.
"Man, I thought he'd never move," a blond guy said, invading her personal space.
A group followed him—both guys and girls, some of whom Kylie recognized from school.
"Tell me about it," another guy chimed in, dropping onto the couch across from her. "Such a gorgeous thing, all tucked away just for himself."
"Hey, Red, want something to drink?" one of the girls asked, her bright smile not quite reaching her eyes.
The girl held out a drink toward Kylie, her smoky eye makeup darkening her sharp gaze.
"Um, no thank you," Kylie said as politely as possible, raising her voice slightly over the pounding music.
"Oh, come on. You're really gonna come to a party like this and not drink?" the blond guy beside her scoffed, mockingly nudging her.
"Maybe she's just lame," another girl sneered, her jealousy and disdain practically dripping from her words.
Before Kylie could respond, a deep voice cut through the conversation.
"Maybe she doesn't want anything from trash like you."
The words came from above them, and everyone tensed—everyone except Kylie.
Alec.
His imposing presence was enough to make the group falter.
"Yeah, wh-whatever," the girl with the drink stammered, suddenly uninterested. One by one, they scattered, vanishing into the crowd like startled insects under Alec's unrelenting glare.
But Alec still caught sight of the girl tossing out the contents of the cup she had tried to hand Kylie. His jaw tightened. Something fishy was going on.
Still, he said nothing as he sat down beside Kylie again, handing her the drink she had asked for.
Before she could take a sip, her eyes landed on a familiar figure in the crowd—Angie. And she looked wasted.
"I think I see Angie. I'll be right back," Kylie said, already starting to move.
Alec began to rise. "I'll come with—"
"She's just over there. I'll be right back. You don't have to come," she assured him, disappearing into the throng before he could argue.
Alec exhaled sharply, instantly regretting not following her as his gaze tracked her through the crowd.
Unbeknownst to Kylie, several eyes followed her figure as she made her way toward Angie.
The unmistakable mop of purple hair confirmed it—definitely Angie.
"Angie!" Kylie called out over the music, pushing forward as she saw her friend disappear around a corner.
At the same time, Alec, still watching her every move, suddenly lost sight of her when someone stepped into his line of vision.
"Hi, Alec," a sultry voice practically purred.
He tore his eyes away from the crowd to find Haley, the cheer captain, standing in front of him. She bent forward slightly, making sure he got a full view of her barely-contained cleavage.
Alec's patience snapped. "Fuck off, Haley."
But his focus was elsewhere. His eyes flicked past her shoulder, scanning frantically for Kylie—only to realize she was gone.
His entire body tensed.
Haley smirked, twirling a strand of her bleached-blonde hair around her finger. "Looking for your sweetheart?" she teased in a sing-song voice.
Alec's glare was lethal. If looks could kill, she'd be six feet under.