by J. M. Walker
“That’s a pretty shitty dream,” I teased.
“Truth.” He winked, taking a swig of his beer. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two,” he said, nodding toward Zach. “And I know your father is a scary fucker. All of ours are, but it’s holding Zach back.”
“What? Are you a relationship expert now?” I mumbled.
“Hardly.” Ashton grunted. “Listen, I have my own shit to deal with but just know, I’m here. If you need to talk. Or have sex.” He waggled his eyebrows. “I can help you with that too.”
I coughed, choking on a laugh. “Excuse me?”
“It’s just sex, Luna.” He shrugged. “It’s not like we’d be getting married. Think about it. I’m willing to teach you all I know too. I don’t pass that information on to just anyone.”
I gaped at him. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“This is a very important subject, Luna. A girl has to know how to please her guy. Well I can be that guy. And you can be that girl. I’ll teach you.”
“I don’t know what to say right now.” There was no way I would have sex with him. All the power to people who could have random hookups, it wasn’t my thing. And even if it was, it definitely wouldn’t be with Ashton.
He finished off his beer before he stood. “The offer is there for whenever you’re ready.” A hint of amusement flashed behind his eyes. “Just saying.”
“Go get me a beer.” I shook my head, laughing to myself.
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted me and headed back into the house.
“What was that about?” Gigi asked, coming toward me.
“I’m not sure you want to know.” My cheeks burned even more at the mere idea of sleeping with Ashton. I had never considered it before. The twins were hot yeah, but they were friends. Was Ashton right though? Could sex just be sex?
“Luna?”
“Sorry,” I muttered, meeting Gigi’s gaze. “What were you saying?”
“I was just asking what Ashton wanted. Although with him, it probably had something to do with sex, didn’t it?”
I scoffed. “Now why would you think that?”
She laughed, gently nudging me in the shoulder. “Because I know him. We all know him.”
Ashton took that moment to come back with two beers. He handed me one before sitting down right beside me. He was so close, he might as well have been sitting on my lap.
I glanced up, finding Zach staring directly at us. Although he stood across the yard, I could see that familiar tick in his jaw. His body was rigid, his back stiff. My heart stuttered.
I inched away from Ashton. “Thank you for the beer but you really need to learn to give a girl some space.”
“Why?” He leaned down to my ear. “Do I make you nervous?”
His hot breath tickled the side of my face, sending a shiver down my spine.
He chuckled.
I glared up at him. “Ass.”
He moved away from me, leaving a few inches between us but placed his arm on the back of the couch behind me.
“What are you doing?” Gigi asked, leaning forward and looking between us.
“I have no idea.” I took a sip of my beer. “I’m just drinking.”
“I meant what I said,” Ashton said as he brought the bottle up to his mouth.
“What did you say?” Gigi pointed at him. “Did you ask her to have sex with you?”
Ashton frowned. “How could you know that?”
“Because I know you.” She looked at me then. “What did you say?”
“She didn’t say anything so that means I still have a chance.” He kissed my cheek. “Isn’t that right, Luna?”
“Oh God.” I pushed him back. “Stop. I am not having sex with you.” I met Gigi’s gaze. “He offered to teach me.”
Gigi gagged.
Ashton’s head whipped around. “That’s fucking rude.”
Gigi and I laughed.
“You know we love you,” I told him once I calmed down. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not having sex with you.”
“Yet,” he corrected. He nodded once. “Think he would be pissed?”
“Uh…” I cleared my throat.
“On that note.” Gigi stood. “I’m going to go get another drink.”
When we were alone, Ashton continued, “I mean it, Luna. You’ve had a crush on the guy since we were kids. And he hasn’t made a move. I don’t know what his deal is but he better do something before it’s too late.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be pissed at Ashton’s honesty or agree with him. I sighed, pulling the label off the bottle.
“I heard he’s going on a date,” I murmured.
“What?” Ashton’s head whipped around. “Where did you hear that?”
“I overheard people talking about it.” I shrugged.
“I think you should talk to Zach about that before you start believing what everyone else is saying. Whatever you’re thinking, Luna, it’s not true.” Ashton stood from the couch just as Aiden came toward us. He greeted his brother, then both of them headed over to where Zach stood with a few other guys.
Could Ashton be right? Was there no date at all?
“I think he’s checking you out,” Gigi said, rejoining me on the couch.
“What?” My cheeks burned. “He’s not.” But Zach was staring our way.
“Well let’s find out.” Gigi stood from the couch and held out her hand.
I took it, letting her pull me to my feet.
“Do you trust me?” she asked, her gaze landing on another group of guys that I had seen before at previous parties.
Brody Davies was included in the bunch. Being the mayor’s son, I hadn’t seen him in a while. He caught my gaze, giving me a little wave.
I waved back.
He ran a hand through his short brown hair, turning back to the guys he was standing with.
“I’m surprised he’s here,” I told Gigi.
“Who?” She followed my line of sight. “Oh yeah. Brody needed a break from whatever it was that his father was trying to get him to do. Anyway.” She tugged me along. “Do you trust me?”
“That’s the second time you asked me that,” I said, following beside her. “Of course, I trust you. But what are you—”
Gigi pulled me to the group of guys I had only met in passing because of her.
“What are you doing?” I tried tugging my arm from her grasp but her hold only tightened.
“Hey guys,” Gigi said sweetly, stepping up beside a tall blond.
“Hey, Angelica,” he crooned, licking his lips.
“This is my girl, Luna.” She tugged me beside her, ignoring him eye-fucking her. “She’s shy.”
I snorted.
Gigi winked at me.
I had no idea what kind of game she was playing but I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.
Zach left the twins, coming toward me, his hands clenched at his sides. While he stalked toward us, he stared me down.
My heart jumped to my throat.
Oh. Crap.
***
(Zach)
These feelings coursing through me were new. Even though we had kissed already, I had never felt possessive of her. She was friends with guys. I knew that. Hell, she was friends with Ashton and Aiden. But when it came to someone I didn’t know, I turned into a damn caveman.
Luna had been the first female that I became friends with. Although I was friends with the other girls in our circle, it was never the same with them as it was with her. But now, as I watched Gigi pull her to a group of guys, my feet carried me to her before I knew what I was doing.
I shouldn’t care. We weren’t official. I wasn’t good enough for her. She deserved better.
“You’re pathetic. You deserve to spend the rest of your life alone, Toy.”
Memories from my past tried to force their way into my head but I shoved them back and let them give me the strength I needed to confront Luna. And why the hell had she been glaring at
me? She must have heard something. Or she believed the rumors. I couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t like I ever denied them.
As I approached the group, Luna saw me first. Her eyes widened, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.
A tall bastard who was staring down at her lasciviously, followed her line of sight.
“What the hell do you want, Porter?” he asked. What was his name? Brian? John? I couldn’t remember, and I also didn’t care.
You’re talking to my girl .
“I need to speak to Luna,” I said and walked away, knowing she would follow. The tone of my voice left no room for questioning.
“You didn’t have to be rude, Zach,” Luna said from behind me.
The fact that she followed me, stirred something inside of me. That alpha side. That side that wanted to protect her and ravage her all at the same time. The side that wanted to show her I was good enough.
I moved across the yard and sat on a patio chair. As much as I wanted to pull her onto my lap, I didn’t for fear she would push me away. I couldn’t deal with that right now, knowing it would break me.
“Zach,” she repeated when I didn’t say anything.
“What, Luna?” My cock twitched at the hardness in her eyes. Her defiance always got to me. She was headstrong and knew what she wanted and didn’t care what she had to do to get it. Except for when it came to me. It was like there was a wall up between us and no matter what we did, we couldn’t break through it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, her cheeks reddening even more.
I stood from the chair, heading to the side of the house, needing to put some much-needed distance between us. I should have gone inside but there were too many people. There were too many damn people everywhere. And then they would ask questions. Questions I wasn’t ready to answer because I had no idea what the hell those answers were.
“Zach,” she pressed, following me. “What’s up with you?”
“You were talking to him,” I said.
“So?” She frowned. “Why do you care who I’m talking to?”
“Well…” Words, Porter. Use them . But I couldn’t. Words were lost on the tip of my tongue as Luna stared up at me with those chocolate brown eyes of hers. Fuck me, she was beautiful.
Her cheeks reddened even more.
It took everything in me not to rip her dress in half and see just how far down that blush went. Was she pink everywhere? My palms twitched, begging to run over her smooth skin.
Clearing my throat, I turned away from her and adjusted the semi I was now sporting.
“Hey.”
A gentle hand touched my shoulder and that was when I lost it.
Luna
ZACH SPUN ON ME, his eyes cold and deadly. Before I knew what was happening, he had me up against the wall.
“Zach,” I whispered, wanting to reach out to him but holding back instead.
His gaze dropped to my mouth and before I knew what was happening, his lips came down hard on mine.
His kiss was rough, bruising. Demanding .
He fisted my hair, holding my head in place as he completely took control and devoured my mouth.
The kiss consumed me, making me dizzy with pleasure and lust.
Keeping one hand in my hair, his other roamed down the side of my body.
I shivered, snaking my arms around his neck.
He growled, forcing his tongue deeper into my mouth. He swallowed my moans and whimpers. He breathed in the air that gave me life and made it his own. He made me feel alive from that mere kiss.
I knew we shouldn’t be kissing. I knew that anyone could catch us right now. But I didn’t care. He had been holding back for so long, I needed to show him that this was right. That this was meant to be and where we belonged, instead of him going on that damn date.
I grabbed his hand that was on my hip, pushing it lower and up my inner thigh.
Zach stiffened but his own pleasure finally took over. He inched his hand beneath my dress and up my inner thigh.
I cupped the back of his head, deepening the kiss. I needed him. God, did I ever need him. Not that I expected him to fuck me beside the house, but I needed a taste. Please, just a taste .
Tease me. Want me. Make me yours.
When his hand reached my center, I jumped.
Voices neared us, getting louder and louder.
Zach maneuvered us, pushing me back into the dark corner between the house and fence. If anyone looked, they would see the shadow of his back but not me.
I broke the kiss, my chest rising and falling with ragged breaths.
His mouth trailed down the length of my jaw, licking and sucking a path to my neck. All the while, his fingers brushed over my soaked panties. He gave me a grunt of approval before slipping a finger beneath the fabric.
“Nice and wet, Moonbeam,” he rasped, pushing a finger into me.
I whimpered, the burn of his finger stretching me, heating my skin.
“Fuck,” he growled, nipping the side of my neck. “So tight. So perfect.”
“Zach,” I whined.
“Shhh… the pain won’t last long.” He slid his finger out most of the way and slowly pushed it back inside of me. He worked up a rhythm, forcing the pleasure coursing through me, higher and higher.
“Oh.” I arched against him, my hips moving against his hand as if they had a mind of their own.
“Better?” he asked, lifting his head. The dim lighting of the moon cast a glow around him. It helped me see the beautiful lines of his features but other than that, I couldn’t see him in great detail. One day. Hopefully soon. I would see all of him and he would see all of me.
“Yes,” I whispered, staring up into his heated gaze.
“Good.” He gave me a small smile.
“Zach, I…” What the hell were we even doing?
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I know, Moonbeam.”
My heart jumped. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to ask him. With his finger deep inside me, I couldn’t think straight.
He removed his hand from between my legs.
I whimpered at the loss. “What are you doing?”
“I shouldn’t…” His mouth pressed into a firm line.
I grabbed his hand, moving it back between my legs. “Please.”
“Fuck.” He covered my mouth with his, stealing the very breath from my lungs. “I shouldn’t do this. Not here. Not like this. Not with you.”
“Why not?” I leaned back, pushing out of his hold. “Is it because you have a date?”
Zach’s brows narrowed, his jaw ticking. “What date?”
“The one that you’re going on.” I huffed, smoothing down my dress. “I hope you enjoy your date,” I mumbled, walking past him.
A firm hand grabbed my upper arm, pulling me back against a hard body. “There is no fucking date.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“I want you, Luna. Only you. But not here. Not this way. And the first time you come, I want it to be with my tongue deep inside you. I want to taste your pussy explode.”
I swallowed hard at the vulgar words caressing my ears. But I couldn’t help but wonder why people were saying he was going on a date. Was he lying to me?
“Nothing to say now?” he crooned, licking along the shell of my ear.
“You want me?” I finally asked.
“Yes.” He ground his pelvis into the seat of my ass. “I do. Fuck do I ever. But...”
“What?” I asked, when his voice trailed off. “What is it?”
Zach spun me around, pushing me up against the fence. “There are things holding me back,” he said, his voice husky. He ran his hand up my inner thigh, his fingers tickling my skin.
“Is it because I’m not experienced like you are? Or like the women you sleep with?” I panted when his fingers pushed beneath the fabric of my panties once again. “Tell me. Tell me something.”
His brows furrowed. Brushing his thumb along my bottom lip, he plac
ed a soft peck on my forehead. “There are no other women. There is no damn date. I don’t give a shit what the rumors say. None of them are true.”
I leaned back, staring up at him and searching for any signs that he was lying to me. But before I could decide if he was or not, Zach fisted my hair and crushed his mouth to mine.
His finger brushed over my clit, igniting a spark of pleasure up my spine.
He grunted, splitting my lips with his tongue. His finger flicked back and forth, forcing that burn I felt for him into a raging inferno.
I whimpered, grabbing his hand. Was I trying to stop him? Make him go further? I wasn’t sure. I wanted him. I had wanted him since I was a kid, but I wanted him to want me just the same. I didn’t know what was holding him back. Was it me? My father? Our friends? His career that he’s working hard toward?
Cupping his nape, I pulled his mouth down hard on mine at the same time I cupped him over his pants.
He jumped, pushing his pelvis into my touch.
I wasn’t sure what I was doing but I figured if I gave him a little taste, maybe he would finally open up to me.
“Fuck,” he growled, grabbing my hand. “Stop, Luna.”
“But…”
“Listen to me.” He brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed my palm. “Whatever questions you have, I’ll answer them, but I need time. I promise you that there is no date and I’m not fucking half the town. It’s been a while for me. A long while.”
“What does that even mean?” I uttered.
“Exactly what you think it means.” He kissed the tips of my fingers. “I haven’t had sex in over a year.”
“Really?” My mouth fell open. “Why not?”
He shrugged. “It’s…complicated.”
He gave my clit one final flick before pulling his hand from between my legs. Brushing his thumb over my mouth, he pushed the tip between my lips. “You’ve never been kissed like that before. Have you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Could my inexperience be the true reason he was holding back?
“Whatever you’re thinking—” He ran the tip of his thumb over my tongue. The heady scent of my arousal wafted into my nose. “—it’s not true.”
“You have no idea what I’m thinking.” I shoved away from him. “If you want me like you say you do, you would stop pushing me away.”