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my gray-eyed princess again—“table’s set up, you ready for beer pong?”
    “Yeah sure—” I instantly took off toward the living room and saw Harper and Brandon sitting on one of the couches. They were close, too damn close. They both started leaning in toward each other, and I was glad she’d sat on this side of the couch. I leaned over the arm, grabbed her around the waist, and hauled her away from him and over my shoulder. “LET’S GET THIS BEER PONG TOURNAMENT STARTED!”
    “CHASE! Put me down!”
    “No way! The princess needs her throne!” And besides, I was enjoying having her ass directly next to my face and my hands high up on her thighs.
    I swear she growled, and I couldn’t help but laugh, especially when her tiny fists started pounding on my back and her whole body wiggled as she tried to get down. I couldn’t resist anymore, it was right there and shaking; I smacked her butt, and she froze for all of two seconds before pounding both fists at the same time, all the while yelling, “If you don’t put me down, I will make good on my previous threat!”
    Brandon walked into my line of sight and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched us, and my laughter died as I set Harper down. I hated seeing that possessive and concerned look in his eye when he looked at her. I hated that he was looking at her at all. I pulled her away from everyone in the kitchen and waited until we were in the entryway before turning around and pulling her close to me. “I don’t want you with him.”
    “What is your deal with him? Is there something he did that you’d like to share?”
    He looked at you! “He’s not good enough for you.”
    “How do you know what is and isn’t good for me? You don’t even know me!”
    All of a sudden, Brandon’s hands were on her shoulders, and I realized I’d been holding her against me. I dropped her arm and took a step away as my eyes burned holes in his hands, which were by then going up and down her arms.
    “I thought I told you to back off, man?”
    “I don’t really think that’s up to you.”
    No, but God I wish it were. I glanced up at Harper’s innocent face as I fought with myself over what I wanted and what I knew she needed. “You hurt her, I swear to God, I’ll break your neck.”
    I stalked past them and into the kitchen, grabbing a new bottle of Patron and walking over to one of the many hallways off the main room. I didn’t bother with a glass; there wasn’t much of a need at this point. That girl in the entryway with one of my best friends was driving me absolutely insane, and I hated it.
    “You don’t know what I’m talking about, huh?”
    Glaring up at Natalie, I kept my eyes on her as I took another swig out of the short bottle. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the heat as it made its way through my chest. “Shut up, Natalie.”
    “I’m just saying—”
    “I don’t want to hear it!”
    People started cheering in the kitchen, and I rolled my eyes as I took another large gulp before wiping my mouth on my forearm.
    “Do you want me to help you relax?” she asked huskily, and began pulling at the buttons on the top of her shirt.
    I let my eyes fall over Natalie’s tall, slender frame. “Later,” I said as I made my way back to the kitchen to make sure they weren’t letting my princess play. Of course they were, and Brandon was playing against her. How is this protecting her? I watched her laugh outrageously with everyone and flirt way more than was necessary with Brandon. Who taught her to look up from under those insanely long eyelashes? And who gave her those shorts? I would kill Bree for taking her to the mall if this is what came from it. No one else needed to be looking at her. I thought about Natalie’s barely there skirt and thanked God that at least she wasn’t wearing one of those.
    I took another long gulp of the liquor and almost choked on it as Brandon walked right up to my princess and kissed her, picked her up, and took her