by Jill Patten
Only one way to find out.
PHOEBE
His expression is unreadable after my confession. I feel stupid, so I get up and walk away. My cheeks flame, my heart thumps in my chest, and my breaths come quicker. If I don’t calm down, I’ll embarrass myself more when I pull out my inhaler to take a puff. And then the questions will come, assuming he comes after me.
And that’s the big question. I don’t hear him following me, which only makes my humiliation grow. The need to be chased, to feel wanted consumes me more than the idea of a hook-up.
Then suddenly I’m airborne. My side meets a solid chest, and my eyes find incredible blue ones. Damn if this guy isn’t hotter than the sun.
“Where do you think you’re going, baby cakes?” he asks.
I can’t speak, so I shrug.
“You want to have the time of your life for one week?”
I nod.
“No matter what that entails?”
I nod again.
He stares at me a moment longer as if trying to see if I’m telling the truth. “Here’s what I have to offer. We hang out and you let me show you the time of your life.”
Speechless. Part of me wishes my girls were here to help talk this out. The other part wants to be reckless as I claimed I want to be. Finally, I say the first thing that comes to mind.
“Okay, for this week and then we part ways like the saying in Vegas. What happens here stays here.”
He nods then his lips descend on mine.
Holding up my forefinger, I mumble, “Umm, one thing, though,” against his lips.
“There are stipulations?” he asks, lifting his chin in a quick motion.
“Don’t ever call me baby cakes again, or any other kind of pet name. That shit is corny and lame.”
“You got it. Now let’s seal this deal with a kiss.”
I can’t help but smile at his forwardness. He knows he’s got the looks to have any girl he wants, and he’s confident on where he stands. And even though he’s a tad bit cocky, he’s not so arrogant that it’s a turn off. If anything, I find it pretty damn hot. Or, maybe it’s because he’s so fine and could have any girl on this beach, but for some crazy reason he’s got his eyes set on me. Whatever his reasoning is, I don’t care.
I nod, giving him the green light to kiss me…again.
Torturing me, he takes his time by leaning in inch by inch toward my face. Once I’m staring at eyes that mirror my own, his light brown lashes fan over his cheeks as he gently aligns his lips with mine. My lips part before his tongue has the chance to ask for an invite.
Before I’m given the chance to explore the warmth of his tongue, he jerks away and sets me down on my feet. My legs give out, and I sit down on the sand. I can only look at him with confusion. One minute he’s in my face wanting to eat me alive, then the next he acts as if I have dragon breath. Nonchalantly, I raise my hand to my mouth and puff a few breaths against the back of my hand for a self-check.
His hand appears in front of me, offering to lift me up off the sand. “C’mon, let’s go have a drink.”
Well, if it’s my breath then surely he’s not going to offer to hang out with me longer. Maybe he only wanted a quick peck on the lips. Now I feel stupid. I nearly devoured him.
He pulls me up with a firm tug, causing me to land into him, chest to torso. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he did it purposely. My moves are just as smooth as his—I rest my hands along his deeply defined abs, pretending to hold myself so my boobs are not against him. Carefully, they travel down to his sides and brush over his hips before I let go completely. The hard muscles beneath his shirt scream at my fingertips to never stop. And Lord knows I don’t want to.
Blue laughs. I don’t know if it’s at me or at himself, but I like the way it sounds. And after whatever weirdness that just took place, I start to fall back into the comfort zone I felt with him before.
He bends down with his back facing me and tells me to hop on.
“What?” He can’t be serious.
“Haven’t you ever gone on a piggyback ride before?” he asks, looking at me over his shoulder.
“Well…yes, but don’t you think we’ll look kind of silly? We’re not kids, you know.”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Who the hell cares? If somebody has a problem with it, I’ll handle it.” He pats his back. “Now get on.”
I look around me to see who’s watching us. Luckily, everybody is busy in their own little world.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re bossy?” I ask as I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. His arms lock my legs in place, and he stands up.
“Yes,” he squeaks.
A giggle bubbles from my throat due to his voice cracking. “I thought puberty ended years ago.”
“You’re…choking…me,” he sputters between gasping and coughing.
“Sorry,” I say, feeling bad for putting him in a chokehold.
Quickly, I release my death grip on his neck and lower them to where they hang right along his pecs. It’s the perfect excuse for me to touch him again. I lower my chin to where it’s almost resting on his shoulder, and I can see wrinkles appear in the corner of his eyes. He’s smiling in between taking big gasps of air. His smile makes me smile.
His cute, petite ear is right by my mouth and it takes everything in me not to kiss it. I wonder if it’s sensitive. Or if he’d like the way my lips and tongue would feel sucking on his tiny lobe. What can I say? I’m a sucker for little ears.
My gaze wanders from his ear to the darker, short buzz-cut hair on the side and back of his head, to the longer blond hair on top, slicked back and perfectly in place. My fingers twitch with the urge to mess it up. Slightly turning my head to the side, I inhale the tanned skin on his neck, and he exudes a clean scent of cologne I’m not familiar with.
He carries me effortlessly down the beach. I keep expecting to hear him breathe with exertion, but it never comes. I envy him.
We reach a club holding one of many outside parties. Blue bends down and releases his strong grip on my legs. Slowly, I slide down his back, allowing my hands to graze over muscles underneath the now damp shirt.
Swiping my hands down my blouse, I check to make sure his sweat didn’t bleed through. A wet, white shirt will draw more attention to me than I prefer. It’s dry and I sigh with relief. When I look up, Blue is staring at my chest with hooded eyes. I glance down and see what he’s looking at. My nipples hardened from my touch seconds ago. Going braless probably wasn’t a wise decision. Quickly, I cross my arms in front of my chest.
Blue takes a step closer to me, takes both of my wrists in his hands, and puts them down beside my hips. “Don’t be ashamed. Something so beautiful should never be hidden,” he says in a low, gravel voice.
I swallow the desire building up in my throat and nod.
He releases both wrists but slides his fingers through mine. His hand swallows mine whole.
“C’mon, I’m buying you a drink.” He leads me to the tiki bar and orders, but I can’t hear what he’s saying from the loud speakers perched close by.
He turns to me with an elbow resting on the bar and reaches to remove free-flying strands from my face. His baby blues bore into my eyes, and I know it’s one of those moments where words aren’t meant to be spoken. You have to allow the body language to speak for you.
The way he sucks in his bottom lip to moisten it, and the way the vein along his temple pulses at a rapid pace tells me he’s either about to pounce on me in front of everyone, or he’s fighting the urge with everything he has. Either way, it’s hot as hell.
He releases his stare to lean down close to my face. I think he’s going to kiss my cheek or possibly my neck, but instead, he murmurs in my ear. “You are absolutely the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever known, and I don’t say that to just any girl. I really mean it. You are. Beautiful, that is.”
My heart rate increases at an intense speed. For the first time ever, I feel pret
ty. I’ve been told many times in my life how beautiful I am, but I’ve never been able to see what everyone else sees. But this time, right now, I feel truth in his words.
The joy in my chest is quickly jabbed by a knife of pain. A reminder. Would he really think I’m gorgeous if he knew?
Stop.
You came here to be free.
You came here to forget.
You came here to be somebody else.
You came here to regret nothing.
I push all those negative thoughts to the back of my mind and lock them away for another day. A day when I’m not in Florida.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” I hear Blue say, awakening me from my minor spiral into darkness.
“No. Not at all.” I smile. “Thank you. You make me feel beautiful.” Shit. Did I say that out loud? Dammit, I did.
A cocky grin appears and for the first time I notice his butt chin. I kind of want to kiss it. I also find it odd that I find it cute because I usually find them ugly.
“I can make you feel a lot of things if given the chance,” he admits.
Deciding to flirt back, I tease him. “Maybe you’ll get your chance.”
“One can only hope,” he says, handing me a shot of amber liquid.
Taking the glass from him, I ask, “What is this?”
“Tennessee Honey Whiskey from good ol’ Jack.”
He holds his glass up for a toast. “To fate for bringing us together for whatever reasons I’m grateful for.”
I repeat ‘to fate,’ and we clink our glasses together before swallowing the mouthful of smooth but powerful liquor. It warms my throat as it makes a heated path down into my belly.
“Mmm,” I moan, “that was good.”
“You want another?”
“Just one more,” I say with my index finger held up.
He turns back to the bartender to order us another, and my bladder reminds me I never peed before leaving the hotel. “Hey, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back in just a little bit,” I say to him.
“Do you know where one is? Do you need me to come with you?” he asks.
I nod. “I’m good.” I really have no idea where one is at, but I know how to ask. If worse comes to worse, I’ll make my way down to the pier and pee behind one of the pillars.
Lucky enough, I run into a girl who’s on the hunt for a bathroom too, so she saves me from a case of indecent exposure down by the water.
When I make my way back, a crowd of people dancing has formed in front of where we were before my bathroom break. I see Blue standing by the bar with two girls on each side of him. One has long, wavy black hair, and the other a stark redhead. From the way they are sidled up to him, I’d say they’re enjoying their time with him.
A pang of disappointment hits me. I’m not jealous by any means. He’s not mine, nor do I have any say on what he does or who he flirts with, but out of respect, I expect him to focus his attention on the girl he’s with for the night.
Instead of interrupting the trio, I stand back and watch to see if I need to make my way back to the hotel or if we’re still on for a good time tonight.
Blue turns around with a mischievous look. His eyebrows are raised and his lips form into a small smile. His eyes scan all around as if he’s looking for something. The girl with the raven hair to his left places her hand on his bicep. His hand covers hers and my heart sinks. Then, I see him use that hand to pry hers away. He shakes his head, and the girl shrugs. He turns back toward the bar, but I can still see his profile. He’s saying something to the redhead on his right while shaking his head. Whatever he’s saying, she’s trying hard to change his mind.
Nope. She doesn’t like it. Her middle finger goes up in his face, and I can read the words “fuck you” on her lips.
He looks amused as she stalks off. I can’t help the little smug smile on my face. I feel like I just won a battle I wasn’t even fighting.
BLUE
I’m usually down for a threesome, but tonight I’m not feeling it.
That’s probably the most uncharacteristic moment I’ve ever had in my life. When have I ever turned a couple of hot chicks down? Once again, Phoebe has me making decisions I never knew my brain or dick was capable of. This babe has dug herself deep into my brain. It’s like she’s in the driver’s seat.
Turning around to search again for Phoebe, I’m knocked back against a stool while soft lips take control of my mouth. I push the body back to see who’s molesting me, and I’m met with those big blue eyes that remind me of the ocean. “Damn, girl, you don’t have to rape me. I’m a willing participant.” I chuckle softly. “Do we need to continue this somewhere else?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.
“No. I’m good, but I’m ready for that drink you were getting me before I left.” She wedges herself in between me and a bodybuilder wannabe. After watching the guy hit on every girl who comes within a five-foot radius, I have to intervene.
Stepping back, I position myself behind her. Not only am I protecting her from the creep beside us, I’m also making strategic moves. If I’m lucky, she’ll rub that fine ass of hers up against my dick. She’s being playful tonight. Who knows what we might get ourselves into. Or what I might be able to persuade her to do.
Turning around to face me with her shot in hand, she leans against the wooden lip of the bar, creating too much space between us. I step forward to invade her personal space. Her tits mesh against my abs, and I swear I feel her nipples harden. “You ready?” she asks.
“I’ve been waiting all night,” I add.
I want to fuck her, and I can tell she wants to fuck me too, but for some odd reason I don’t want this night to end too soon. I knock back the shot to distract myself for a few seconds. She watches me and follows suit.
With Jack lingering on her lips, I lean down and suck her bottom lip into my mouth. My tongue swipes the whiskey off. I then gently scrape my teeth over her lip before releasing it. She inhales a deep, shaky breath while staring at me with want.
“I need to kiss you,” I say to her.
Her painted up blues continue staring at me. She’s frozen. The only sign of life she’s showing is her uneven breaths.
“I kind of need to kiss you now,” I say with more urgency.
She bites on her bottom lip as if tasting where I’d just been and nods.
With no reserve, I snake my hand around the back of her neck and lean closer to her face, inch by inch. When I’m left staring at glassy, lustful eyes, I close my lids and gently touch my lips to hers. As soon as we connect, an unfamiliar feeling resonates in my stomach, then heat shoots down to my groin. I want this girl. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted any girl. I blink because this is the second time that thought has crossed my mind. What the fuck is wrong with me?
The feeling freaks me the fuck out, and I quickly pull away before I lose focus. Again. I step away, then turn around and reach my hand out to her. “C’mon, let’s go dance.” I ignore the wrinkle between her brows telling me she’s confused by my sudden change of actions. This can’t keep happening or she’s going to think I’m a male tease.
After I pull her behind me, I keep her fingertips gently threaded between mine. She’s not my girl, but I kind of feel like I need to stake my claim on her for the night. I hope she doesn’t get the wrong idea by me holding her hands because I don’t have feelings for her. But I’m okay if the people around us think I do. Not only will it possibly keep the sick bastards at bay, hopefully it will ward off the unwanted girls from taking any of my time away from Phoebe.
Club La Vela is the popular hot spot as usual. And tonight, we navigate through the labyrinth of people until I find a spot I’m satisfied with. It’s like a perfect little empty circle for Phoebe and me.
With our hands still connected, I wrap my free arm around her tiny waist and pull her back up against me. The DJ’s playing an upbeat tempo with the right amount of rhythm to allow me to grind up against her sweet ass. She follows my pac
e and matches my every move.
She throws her head back and the scent from her freshly washed hair fills my senses with a mixture of coconut and pineapple. I could fucking ravage her right now.
Turning my head away from her, I try to focus on anything to keep myself from fucking her in front of everyone. It’s impossible, though, especially when I have her juicy ass pushing up against my dick. I know she feels it. Hell, I can barely stand the strain my shorts are putting on me.
I stop dancing. “Phoebe, you’ve got to stop. I’m twenty different shades of horny, and if you keep rubbing that sweet ass of yours against my dick, I’m going to put it to good use. With you,” I say with a heavy breath.
She turns around in my arms. Our hands become disconnected. She places both hands on each side of my face and pulls me to her so our lips faintly touch. “Maybe I want you to,” she says.
I wait for her to kiss me, but she doesn’t. She holds me in place, our lips on the verge of molding us into one. Our chests rise and fall with nothing but one thing on both of our minds. Neither of us is willing to make the first move even though she’s giving me the green light.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” I whisper against her mouth.
“I’m not a fucking child. I know when I want to fuck. If you felt how wet I am, you’d know just how much I want to fuck, too.” Her hands drop from my face, but she doesn’t back away from where she’s standing.
“Is that a challenge?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow. “Because I never back down from a challenge.”
“It’s whatever you want it to be,” she teases, twisting her head back and forth with sass.
Two heads taller, I tower over her. Her neck strains as she looks up at me. She doesn’t expect what I do next.
In one swift movement, I pick her up by her waist, wrap those slender legs around me, and hold her up by her ass cheeks. With one hand, I slide my fingers underneath her skirt and thong. She isn’t lying. The tips of my fingers are soaked. Without asking for permission, I slide two fingers inside, causing her to moan. She buries her face into my neck and grinds her hips into mine. My dick jerks hard against the seam of my shorts as it seeks the warmth of her pussy.