by Leila James
Oh my God. Listen to me … “The main house.” This is how the Roses live, and I’d best not forget that. Trying to keep from embarrassing myself by ogling Micah’s home, I bring my gaze back to the kitchen area.
Scarlett immediately hops off the stool she’d been sitting on across the island from Beau and pulls me into a hug. “I thought you guys would never get here.”
Over her shoulder, Xander shoots me a wink. “Glad you guys could make it—both of you.”
Beau pushes a red Solo cup across the island to me. “This is Scarlett’s favorite. Give it a try.”
“Oh. I don’t usually …” Biting my lip, I look at the cup that has Sweetness written on it in black Sharpie marker. My lips curve into a tremulous smile.
Beau shrugs. “I won’t be offended if you don’t like it.”
“And she doesn’t have to drink it if she doesn’t want to.” Micah’s voice is commanding.
Beau lifts his hands up palms out. “Just trying to show your girl a good time.”
My eyes widen at his comment, but no one else seems to notice or care that Beau called me Micah’s girl. Funny, because that seemed like huge news to me. But maybe it’s a bigger deal in my head than it is for anyone else.
Just then, Aria, Alora, Farrah, and Danica march into the room, towels draped around their bodies, smelling of hot tub. “We need refills.” They each plop a cup in front of Beau. Alora glances at the full cup in front of me, her left eyebrow quirking up. “What, is the goody-goody too good for a little drinky-drinky?”
Aria and Xander’s gazes connect right before she rolls her eyes at Alora and shoves her arm. “Shut it. You promised.”
I immediately pick up the cup, looking across the island to Beau. “It’s not that I don’t want to try it.” I pivot slightly, giving the cheer bitches my back. “I was going to offer to be the designated driver.” I shrug, meeting Scarlett’s eyes. “I don’t have my car here, but if you and Xander both wanted to drink …?”
Scarlett shakes her head. “Don’t feel like you have to. Xander is hitting the weight room in the morning, so he’s just having the one and then he’s done. And I have that big cross-country meet at Silver Heights Prep tomorrow, so I won’t be getting too crazy either.”
I feel Micah’s hand on the small of my back as I pick up the cup. “Okay, I’ll have some, then. Thanks, Beau.” I take a quick sip. It’s fruity and refreshing, and undoubtedly stronger that it tastes. “Mm. It’s good.”
Beau winks at me. “I’m glad you like it, sweetness.”
Micah groans. “Now I get what Xander meant about you and your nicknames.”
Sliding a second cup over to Micah, Beau laughs. “Yeah, well. If you all are going to hitch yourself to one post, you’ll have to deal with it. I make up nicknames for people who join our circle.”
Xander laughs. “But if you never tame your wild ways, you’ll never find your own girl to give one of your special nicknames to.”
“Fuck that. I don’t need to settle down yet.” He gestures to the cheer bitches still waiting for their refills. “Look at this bevy of beauties available to bang.”
Aria’s sharp laughter gets everyone’s attention. She winks at Beau. “Count me out, fucker.” Her eyes roam over her friends, and I swear I detect the slightest bit of disdain when she says, “Ladies, you can fight over him. I’m going out back.” She heads across the room without another look at any of us.
Xander wraps an arm around Scarlett, takes a swig of his beer, and motions with his head toward the same door, which leads out to the ginormous pool and patio area. I really want to check it out, but I feel a little self-conscious about it when I realize I’m probably the only one here besides Scarlett who doesn’t live surrounded by wealth like this. The life of a Rose. It doesn’t even occur to them that this isn’t the way most people live. I could only dream of having a home like this.
I’m about to follow when Micah tucks his head down next to mine, his voice husky. “Come upstairs with me for a minute?”
Alora must have overheard him because she shoots me a nasty look. A horrible sense of foreboding washes over me and an ice-cold chill slithers down my spine. So much for trying to have a fun night. I’m not sure there’s anything I can do to get her sights off of me. It’s clear she has decided she still wants Micah and thinks I’m the biggest obstacle standing right in her way.
And based on his recent behavior, I’m inclined to think she’s not wrong.
Chapter 32
Whatever. She can be bitchy all she wants. I nod my agreement to Micah and he leads me through the assorted tables and couches in the living area and up the stairs at the back of the house.
Micah brings me to a room at the end of the hallway, opens the door and ushers me inside before shutting it behind him and leaning against it.
“Is this your room?” The lighting is dim, but the windows overlook the backyard, which is aglow with tiny lights. I can hear people talking and laughing outside, and the pounding beat of the dance music practically shakes the walls.
I turn around to see Micah still leaning against the door. He is staring at me, his eyes working their way over my body. Hunger. Lust. Need. It’s all there in his heated gaze, licking a teasing path over my skin.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
I shrug. “Well, I did see you on and off all day long at school.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it. Every time I look at you, I remember what it felt like to have my hands on you. In you. It’s driving me fucking crazy.”
With his admission, I become nervous and absentmindedly look around the room to try to disguise just how uneasy I am and unsure of what I’m doing—of what we’re doing.
I take in the dark-blue walls, the expensive-looking masculine furniture, the massive bed, and the huge wall of windows that runs the length of the room. On top of his dresser are the bags of Starburst candies I’d left in his locker this morning.
Micah smiles, following my gaze. “I fucking love that you’re my spirit girl. With all the craziness that happened, I don’t think I had the chance to tell you.”
I catch the corner of my lip between my teeth. I shoot him a shy grin and try to calm my galloping heart. “I like doing things for you.”
Inhale. Exhale. Breathe, Daphne!
His fiery gaze is sliding up and down my body, heating me from the inside out.
Micah slowly stalks toward me. The closer he gets, the more muddled my thinking is. I swear, I could melt into a puddle of goo just from the way he’s hungrily looking me over. He steps forward and I step back, feeling the edge of the bed press against my calves. One more step brings him right in front of me, close enough to touch. I toe off my shoes just before Micah gently pushes me to sit on the mattress. Goose bumps pebble on my skin as he rakes his teeth over his lip.
“Do you remember what I told you yesterday before your parents got back?”
My mind whirs, but connecting the dots is impossible with the way my thoughts scatter. I shake my head and stutter out, “I-I can’t remember what you said. Maybe you should clue me in.”
Micah delivers a heart-stopping smirk just before he grits out, “I said the next time you came, it would be on my face.” His hand wraps around my neck and his fingers tangle in my hair as he bends to kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back, feeling excited but nervous when he places a knee on the edge of the bed right between my thighs and leans in enough that I’m forced to lie back. Our kissing continues as a gentle but firm hand strokes over my breast and down my stomach, making my muscles clench. When he reaches the waistband of my jeans, he pulls away and quickly undoes the button before sliding the denim over my hips and down my thighs. With a final yank, he pulls them off completely and tosses them over his shoulder. Micah bites his lower lip and stares at my green bikini bottoms for only a moment before he reaches for me once again. He grasps the ties on either side of my hips and tugs. The material loosens
. I blink. Micah drags it away from my body, his fingers skimming over my bare skin.
Oh. Flutters begin low in my stomach.
Holy shit. I’m half naked. That happened fast. Am I ready for whatever is about to happen?
“Slide back and put your feet on the edge.” With the command, he leans over and gently kisses my stomach, just below my belly button.
“Wha-what?” I stare at him for a count of three before he kneels in front of me. My heart races as he takes each of my ankles in his hands and adjusts my legs in a way that has me completely exposed to him. Sizzling-hot liquid desire rushes through me, pooling at my center.
I lie on the bed, unsure of what I’m supposed to do. Micah’s strong hands slide down the back of my thighs to cup my bare butt cheeks, and when I glance down and see his face eye level with all of my very excited lady parts, I feel a little dizzy. Oh my God. What is he thinking? Should I be embarrassed? Do I look normal down there?
With the first swipe of his tongue through my aroused flesh, my back bows right off the bed. “Ahh … Micah!” All questions fly out of my head as he licks me all over. He covers the hood of my sex with his mouth, eagerly sucking at my clit and flicking it. “Oh, shit.” The words tumble from my mouth just as his tongue thrusts inside me.
He devours me. There’s no other word for it. I rock my hips, grinding my pussy against his face. I’m flying out of control, ready to shatter into a million tiny pieces. My hands clench at the comforter beneath me.
“I love the way you taste,” he groans, grasping the backs of my thighs and pushing them wide and up toward my chest. A swarm of sensation starts in my lower abdomen as he laps at me with even more vigor, as if he senses I’m close.
I’m a whimpering, writhing mess. Never in my entire life have I felt anything like this before and it’s making me crazy. “Please. Please, Micah,” I gasp out.
His lips twist into a cute little smirk as he pauses, rubbing his stubbled cheek against my inner thigh. His eyes bore into mine before he kisses the skin he’s abraded, then skims his lips back to my opening. “I like you a little out of control. Begging.” His hot breath on my bare pussy almost does me in.
“Please …” The word passes through my lips sounding completely strangled and raw.
“Please what?”
“Don’t stop.”
He slowly licks and sucks my delicate skin, slipping his tongue inside me every once in a while. I moan low and loud when it’s replaced by two fingers, pumping in and out while he ravishes my clit, delivering stroke after stroke of maddening pleasure.
Untamed heat unfurls deep in my belly.
I explode.
Crying out, I throw my head back and ride out wave after wave of intense, mind-shattering sensation.
When I finally go limp, Micah loosens his grip on my legs and climbs up the bed, lowering himself on top of me. I’m certain he feels my heart pounding right through my rib cage. He dips his head, kissing my lips and plunging his tongue into my mouth. “See? You taste so fucking good,” he murmurs, his voice raspy.
The tart taste bursts on my tongue, and it only arouses me more. He kisses me with a passion I’ve never known and grinds his lower half against my nakedness, the erection behind his zipper thick and hard. Unable to stop myself, I wrap my legs around him, digging my heels in just under his ass.
A distinct click meets my ears, yanking me from the moment. “What was that?”
Micah props himself on his forearms and glances over his shoulder. “Maybe I didn’t shut the door all the way.”
I frown.
“Or someone thought this was a bathroom?” He chuckles, “Most likely someone was looking for someplace to do exactly what we’re doing and realized the room was already occupied.”
I tense underneath him. “Do you think anyone saw?
“I don’t give a fuck.”
I push on his shoulders. “That’s easy for you to say. I’m the one who is half naked. I’m the one who—” My face turns pink as I look into his smoldering eyes.
“The one who was getting your pussy eaten?”
I nod, staring into his dark eyes.
“But did you like it?” He boldly cups my breast, running a thumb back and forth over my pebbled nipple.
I nod again.
“Then you shouldn’t give a fuck either.” He draws in a deep breath as he studies my slightly panicked face. “Do you want to head back down to the party?”
“Yeah, we probably should.” I have no doubt Scarlett is wondering where the hell I’ve disappeared to, and if she asks, I don’t know how well my face is going to hide what we’ve been up to.
Micah growls as he stands up and runs his hands over the top of his head. “I wish I could just kick everyone out.”
A glance out the window as I sit up shows the party outside is still raging. “I’m guessing that wouldn’t go over well.”
I grab my bikini bottom, which I have to tie on either side before I slip it back on. Micah hands me my jeans with a wink. I yank them back on, step into my Vans, and accept his outstretched hand.
Chapter 33
As we rejoined the party, Micah saw someone he wanted to talk to and I found Scarlett and a fresh drink waiting for me. I don’t even remember if I finished the first one or where I’d left my cup. Probably in Micah’s room? Everything is a blur.
We wander out to the pool, shuck off our clothes down to our swimsuits, and leave them in neat piles on one of the lounge chairs. With my body still humming from what happened up in Micah’s room, I set my cup by the side of the pool and wade into the shallow end with Scarlett.
It’s fairly cold out, but the water feels like a warm bath. I remember when Scarlett first went to one of Beau’s parties earlier this year, she’d been shocked by the heated pool. Why we hadn’t assumed these families had every last luxury, I have no idea. Hell, Scarlett also mentioned that Xander’s family has both a cook and a housekeeper, and I’d wager Micah’s family is no different. I snort a little to myself. I suppose we have a cook and housekeeper at our house, too—her name is Mom.
I frown to myself as I run my hands through the water. Seriously, though, Micah’s already said his parents aren’t around much. Who takes care of him?
I glance over to where he’s still talking to Beau’s younger brother Griffin and Xander before my gaze roams, taking in his impressive home. It’s all lit up inside and there are fairy lights strung overhead outside, crisscrossing over the pool and patio area. The whole place is picture-perfect, like it belongs in a Pottery Barn catalog or maybe has been decorated by Joanna Gaines. If this were my home, I’d stay here all the time. I don’t understand why his parents would have all this but not want to be home to enjoy it.
“I have to admit, I wasn’t sure you’d actually come tonight.” Scarlett holds onto the edge of the pool and kicks her feet behind her.
Meeting her gaze, I press my lips together for a count of three before I finally blurt out, “I almost made Micah turn around and take me home.” I lower my voice. “But I didn’t want to disappoint him.”
Scarlett’s forehead creases. “Disappoint him?”
I wade over and grab my almost-empty cup from the edge of the pool. Thinking carefully, I take another sip. “Um, well, you’ve said it yourself—his parents are never around.” With a deep exhale, I murmur, “I get the feeling it bothers him more than he’s willing to admit. I didn’t want to be another person to let him down by going back on my word. He won our bet to get me to the game fair and square. And then we made another little bet that landed me here tonight.”
No way am I mentioning that Micah had chosen getting me off as the prize for the second bet. Attending the party had only seemed fair since my first orgasm was more of a win for me than him …
She shrugs, bobbing up and down in the water. “I guess I don’t really know much about his parents. I mean, Micah throws the occasional party, he mostly observes whatever craziness is happening—unless he happens to be drinki
ng, and that isn’t often. But you’re right. I’ve never heard him talk about his parents at all.”
I cock my head. “I’m beginning to wonder if the stuff with his grades isn’t a bid for—” My thought is interrupted when Xander and Micah, both having changed into swim trunks, dive into the deep end of the pool, swimming quickly underwater to us. They both pop up out of the water, and shake it out of their hair. Stray droplets hit both Scarlett and me, and we scramble in an awkward jog in an attempt to get away from them, laughing the whole time. We don’t get far before I glance back and see Xander go under, coming up a few seconds later with Scarlett on his shoulders. She shrieks loudly in exaggerated outrage as he stands. “What the hell, Xander?”
I’ve just let out a delighted belly laugh watching them when the water behind me ripples. Micah’s big hands grasp my thighs just before his head ducks between my legs for a second time tonight. Only this time, instead of tormenting me with his sweet tongue, he lifts me on his shoulders.
I blink rapidly a few times, noticing we’ve definitely got the attention of people hanging out near the pool. Water streams down my body and over Micah. He tips his head back against my belly, looking up at me. His fingers press into the tops of my thighs. “Wha-what are you doing?” I gasp.
“Just having a bit of fun. Remind me to tell you something when we’re done.”
“Okay,” I say hesitantly, just as a few others jump into the pool.
One of them shouts, “Who’s up for a game of chicken?”
More people strip down to their swimsuits and hop in with us. All hell breaks loose when Beau decides to do a cannonball right into the middle of everything.