Rhett clears his throat, a perceptive smile creeping across his face. “You were saying?”
Shit. I knew it was my turn. Think, Korie, think. “It’s really hot in here.”
“It’s just me.”
“Huh?” I ask, still feeling dazed and confused. It’s as if English is no longer my first language, because none of the words coming out of his mouth are registering, only the seductive way his lips move around the syllables.
“You okay, Stick?”
“I…uh.” I blow air up toward my eyes, trying to cool myself down. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” My hand moves to my throat, pulling the zipper of my jumpsuit down a few inches, hoping it helps with the breathing issue I seem to be having.
He sucks in his lower lip, slowly gliding it through his teeth. The fucker knows I’m staring, and not even that knowledge is enough to make me look away. I’ve never witnessed a lip tease. I have the urge to shove dollars down his pants as a reward for his services.
“Did they teach you that?”
“Who?” he asks, tipping my chin up so my eyes are forced from his mouth to meet with his blue-green orbs, which are glowing with amusement and dare I hope, maybe a little desire as well. “Teach me what?”
“Lip seduction…is that a Hollywood thing?”
Chapter 13
Rhett
“What?” I ask, a little stunned and also very turned on by the way she’s been eye-fucking me for the past few minutes.
Korie swallows hard. “Nothing…forget it.”
I run my tongue to the corner of my mouth to screw with her a little. I feel like a damn fool, biting and licking and sucking my lips, but I can tell it’s turning her on, so who the hell am I not to abuse this sudden lip-porn power I seem to have over her?
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?” I ask, nibbling obnoxiously on my lips.
That seems to break the trance. “Why’d you bring me in here?” she asks, planting her hands on her hips. Her emerald eyes implore mine for answers? For relief?
“To explain.”
Her throat clears. “What’s there to explain?”
“You were drunk,” I answer, thinking it’ll be enough.
Heat flames in her cheeks. “It’s a booze camp, Rhett…everyone was drunk.”
“I don’t take advantage of girls. Jesus, do you have any clue how many women would love nothing more than to cry rape and sue my ass?” But the truth is, it isn’t even that. She wasn’t that sloppy, and I know Korie isn’t out for my money. I wanted to be sure her decision wasn’t influenced even the slightest.
Her features soften to almost sympathetic, and I find myself missing the way she ogled my mouth a moment ago. “I’d never.”
The honesty in those two words has my chest feeling tight. “I wanted to,” I admit, lowering my mouth to a breath away from hers. “I’ve never wanted to fuck anyone so badly in my life.”
She huffs out a laugh, reaching those long fingers up around my neck, smearing the paint into my hairline. “So, what’s stopping you now?”
I gulp, placing my fingers on the metal zipper hovering just above her breasts. “Permission.”
She peers up at me through hooded eyes. “Granted.”
I instantly yank the zipper down to her belly button, and she steps out, letting the once-gray jumper fall to the ground. “Be quick,” she warns, pulling the cropped tank over her head and shimmying out of her shorts while I strip down to my boxer briefs.
“Last night you said you were on the pill?”
“Have been for years…I’m not using you for your sperm either, Hollywood.”
I nod, reaching both hands to her sides, cradling her rib cage as I roll my thumbs over her rosy nipples. “You’re beautiful.” I’m not usually one for pleasantries, but my God, I can’t hold the words back.
She giggles, trailing her fingers over my chest, leaving a trail of red and green. “It’s like finger painting.”
I nod in agreement, enjoying her touch too much to form a coherent thought.
“You think it’s toxic if we…” Her hand moves to my underwear, a finger trailing beneath the band.
“Nah.” I swallow hard, and my dick thickens, straining for release.
“No fingers,” she warns, eyeing the caked-on paint and dirt on my hands.
“Turn around for me, Stick,” I order. “Put your hands on that crate.”
For once the girl does as she’s told, glancing back at me over her shoulder. I try not to laugh at the rainbow of color dotting her cheeks, nose, and lips.
“I’m going in dry.” I hesitate, afraid I’ll hurt her. All joking aside, I’m not a small guy.
She traps her lower lip between her teeth, her eyes fixed on mine. “No, you’re not.”
Korie stares wantonly as I drop my briefs and my cock springs free. Tugging her thong to the side, I line up with her entrance, running the tip along her slit. I spread the wetness dripping out of her pussy from her clit to her ass, teasing the tight, puckered hole.
Korie stiffens, hissing low in the back of her throat. “Rhett,” she warns.
“One day,” I assure her before sliding back to her slick opening and pushing slowly inside. Her warmth squeezes my cock, and I pause for a moment, enjoying the tight fit—the feel of her clenching around me.
A loud crashing sound startles us both, and for a moment I think we may be caught.
“It’s just a rake,” she sighs with relief. Reaching between her own legs, she begins massaging her clit in slow circles. “Don’t stop, please.” Korie rocks back, rolling her hips against me, practically begging me to move. And as good as it feels, there’s no chance in hell this ends before we’re both satiated. I’ll take an ambush of paintballs to see this through.
We’re like two wild animals, fucking in the wilderness, both seeming to forget that we could be busted at any moment. That there are literally two dozen other people navigating these same woods. It’s pure, unadulterated need.
“Like that,” she moans when I pull all the way out and ease back inside. With a tight grip on her hips, I control her frenzied movements, forcing her to slow down and savor this moment. Her legs shake with desire, and I feel her climax coming on. “J—Just like that,” she whimpers, rolling her fingers faster.
Pressure builds in my groin as every cell of my body comes alive, buzzing with desire. Her body goes limp in my hold, and her knees begin to buckle.
“Not yet, Rhett,” she moans. “Oh God, I’m so close.”
With an arm wrapped around her waist to help keep her upright, I lick the thumb and pointer finger of my other hand and tease her nipple between them while pumping in and out in a steady rhythm.
Her pussy clenches tighter, priming me for release. Every muscle in my body tenses as I fight my own climax, trying to hold out for hers.
“I’m coming!” she shrieks, with a white-knuckled grip on the wooden crate.
Quickening my pace, I slam into her. The heat builds to unbearable just as her orgasm hits, the spasms milking my own release.
It’s the first time I’ve ever gone bare, and I tell myself that’s the reason this feels so different. Try to convince myself that somehow, it’s that rubber barrier that blocks the sensations currently swirling in my chest. That it has nothing to do with the sated blonde in my arms.
That I haven’t just gone and fucked up royally.
Chapter 14
Korie
“Now, don’t you go falling in love with me, Hollywood,” I whisper, slinking out of his arms to retrieve my clothes.
He’s strangely quiet, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it. I just want the protection of my jumper and to get the hell out of this sweatbox before we’re discovered.
“That’s my line,” he finally says, seeming to regain his senses, and it eases a little of the insecurity I’m feeling.
“Still good,” I lie, trying to ignore the butterflies swarming in my chest. “Let’s get out of here,”
I add, not giving him the chance to say anything else that may add to the unease that’s swiftly descending upon me.
Without waiting for him to finish dressing, I crawl back through the opening, standing guard at my corner. My heart is damn near beating out of my chest. It’s all I hear, the echo in my head overwhelming my senses.
“You ready?” he growls into my ear, scaring me half to death.
“Jesus, Rhett…don’t sneak up on me like that!”
“Hey,” he whispers, spinning me around in his arms to face him. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” A knot of emotion lodges in my throat. I don’t understand the contradictory feelings between my head and my heart. I hate him and everything he stands for. What’s with this sudden vulnerability?
“Don’t make things weird, Stick. We had great sex. We both wanted it. Both enjoyed it?” He quirks a brow, and I can’t help but smile that he, of all people, seems to need confirmation.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“Well, then. Let’s go bust some balls!” He cocks his weapon in the air like a soldier in the movies getting ready to head out to battle.
“Let’s do this.”
“Well,” Essie announces after all of the teams line up for inspection. “I think it’s clear who our winners are—Rhett and Korie!”
Compared to everyone else, the two of us are squeaky clean. I almost feel bad about accepting victory, but there was no specific rule that you couldn’t spend the hour hooking up in a tool shed, and I really hate losing, so I’m considering this a double win. I got the D and the V. Go team!
“What’d you two do?” Raven asks, breathing heavy and covered in every color of the rainbow from her hair to her shoes. “Hide in an underground bunker?” She laughs before throwing her arms around me and tackling me to the ground.
“Get off!” I can’t catch my breath from laughing so hard as she rolls us around in the dirt.
“Much better,” she says, clutching my cheeks in her hands and planting a big kiss on my forehead. “Now we match.”
“Why the hell are you so happy?” I push up from the ground, dusting myself off, and can’t help but smile because she’s simply exuding joy.
“I think I’m in love,” she sings, making goo-goo eyes at my cousin, who’s presently paying her no mind, celebrating Rhett’s win with the rest of their bandmates.
“Ew.” I shove her playfully in the chest.
“I know you don’t wanna hear this, but too bad. We’re gonna be cousin-in-laws, Kore!” she squeals, and I blanch.
“Oh, fuck my life.” I wave her off, heading toward Joe and Essie to collect my trophy. “Stop.”
Raven skips alongside me. “It could happen.”
“What’s going to happen,” I tell her, under my breath so no one else overhears, “is we’re going to go back to Texas and graduate. We’re going to get real, grown-up jobs, and they’re gonna go finish recording an album. And go on tour. And fuck groupies.”
Raven’s mouth falls open, like it’s the first time she’s heard any of this. “You don’t know that.”
“I do,” I argue. “Because I’ve lived it, remember?”
Her face softens, and I don’t even feel bad for squashing her dreams, because I never want to see her put herself through what my mother did.
“Now, let’s go get my trophy and enjoy one last night with the rock stars before releasing them back into the wild.”
Chapter 15
Rhett
“Joe and I would like to thank you all for choosing to spend your spring break with us.” Essie looks around at the group, tearing up. “We hope you had a memorable time and made friendships that you’ll carry with you beyond this trip.”
I wonder if she cries like this at the end of every camp session, or if she’s just feeling extra emotional today. Maybe she really is on her period.
“And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” Joe says, taking over before his wife completely loses it. “You are free to retrieve your electronic devices, kids. Be sure to exchange numbers and remember to disconnect from time to time. True bonds aren’t formed behind a screen.”
Everyone rushes to the wall of lockers, collecting their belongings. I can’t say I’ve missed mine all that much. I usually don’t care to see the shit floating around on the web anyway. And to be honest, it was nice not having to worry about being secretly recorded and waking up on the cover of the Enquirer or blasted on TMZ.
“You gonna get her number?” Raven asks, brushing past me to hang all over Nick.
In all my life, I have never been so nervous to ask a girl for her phone number. But I know damn well she won’t be soliciting mine. I could probably get it from Nick, but I figure I should at least try going through her first.
“Hey, Stick,” I say, coming up behind her in the parking lot, where she’s already exchanging numbers with a few of the other girls.
“Hollywood,” she returns, a slight flush filling her cheeks. I’d bet anything she’s picturing me naked.
“So, I was wondering…”
“Yeah?”
“If I could maybe call you sometime?”
“Why?” she asks, crossing her arms on her chest, scrutinizing my face like she truly can’t understand it.
“What do you mean, why?” I knew she’d give me a hard time.
“It was fun,” she says. “I’ll never forget the shed.” The blush in her cheeks spreads down her neck. “Or last night,” she adds, clearing her throat, “but we both know this isn’t going to go anywhere.”
“Didn’t ask to be your boyfriend, Stick,” I tease. “Just need a way to send you dick pics.”
She snorts, and I know I’ve got her.
“You’ll be thankful for them when you’ve had a long day saving the world at your new job and need to unwind.”
“Will you be expecting twat shots in exchange?”
I shrug, leaning in. “Maybe a tit pic when you’re feeling generous?”
She blows out a long breath. “You drive a hard bargain, Rhett Taylor.”
“I’m not gonna beg for it.”
She rolls her eyes, and I drop to my knees. “Okay, maybe I will.”
“Jesus Christ, Rhett, get up,” she hisses, looking around at everyone watching us.
“Can I pretty please get your digits, milady?” I steeple my hands in front of my face and hang my lip for effect.
“Okay. Okay. Fine…just get up!” She looks around at all the camera phones flashing away. “We’re gonna be all over the internet by this afternoon,” she warns, gritting her teeth.
Remaining on my knees, I unlock my phone, creating a new contact right there at her feet, Stick. I look up at her expectantly and begrudgingly she gives it up.
“Happy now?”
“Not yet,” I say, pressing the green call button. I’m not at all surprised when the phone in her hand doesn’t ring. “Cute…now give me your real number.”
“Busted,” Raven jeers from the sideline. Then her best friend proceeds to rattle off a set of numbers, and lo and behold, when I hit the call button, it buzzes in Korie’s palm.
“All right everyone, time to load up in the vans. They’ll take you to your pick-up stations and have you on your way,” Essie announces.
“I gotta go,” Korie says when the van beside us revs its engine. “Thanks for everything.”
“Did you just thank me for sex?” I drop my jaw in mock surprise, ignoring the tight uncomfortable feeling in my chest.
“Yeah,” she snarks, slapping my arm. “Nice doing business with you.”
“I’d do business with you anytime.” I waggle my eyebrows at her.
A huge grin spreads across her face. “Are you ever serious?” she asks, lifting her backpack to her shoulder.
I grip her chin in my hand, turning her face up to mine, and plant a long, wet kiss on her lips for all to see. She doesn’t fight me on it. In fact, it’s me who has to pull away when the driver honks the horn.
&
nbsp; “I’ll see you soon,” I whisper against her lips.
She starts for the van, turning back just as she reaches the door to answer, “No, you won’t.”
“We’ll see,” I call out just before it slams shut and she rolls out of view.
Chapter 16
Rhett
“How long have you been sitting there watching me sleep, creeper?” I don’t need to open my eyes to know it’s her; I’ve been woken by the weight of that glare so many times, I’d recognize the eerie feeling anywhere. I imagine this is the exact sensation my sister Judy complains about when being woken up with my three-year-old niece Autumn’s face an inch from hers. Add in the sound of her labored breathing, and I’m mentally preparing to get my ass reamed.
I can’t wait to hear what I’ve done this time.
“Could you at least have the decency to sit up and…I don’t know?” She throws her hands in the air, exasperated. “Maybe pretend to actually give a shit, Rhett?”
Yep. She’s pissed.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company so early in the morning, boss?” With a loud yawn, I stretch my arms above and behind my head, clutching the headboard to haul myself to sitting.
“I take it you haven’t been online yet today?” she snips, drumming her fingers on the tablet clutched tightly in her lap.
Scoffing, I circle my hand around the bed, gesturing to my current state of half asleep. “I don’t make a habit of browsing entertainment news sites in my dreams.” My tone relays just how ludicrous that would be, although I wouldn’t put it past her to do exactly that. Sweet Anika lives and breathes damage control. It’s why we make a great team. I give no fucks. She gives too many. It’s all about balance, right?
“Have a look,” she says, rolling her eyes as she shoves an iPad, which is unsurprisingly opened to a gossip rag, at my face. The photo is one of me kneeling at Korie’s feet in the parking lot of Pour Judgment. It was taken just before we parted ways yesterday, probably by one of my new so-called friends. I find myself sighing in disappointment even though I, of all people, should know well by now that everyone has a price.
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