Burn (Electric Series #3)

by E. L. Todd

  “How long of a break?”

  “I don’t know,” I answered. “But she did just break up with Sage. I can’t swoop in right now.”

  “Then what’s your plan? To continue doing nothing?”

  “I don’t really have a plan… I’m just hoping for the best.” I looked into my beer and stared at the foam before I took a drink.

  Jared slid into our booth once he had his beer. “What’s up?”

  Derek shot me a glare.

  “Not a thing,” I answered. “What’s up with you?”

  “Nothing.” Jared looked out the window and silently removed himself from the conversation. He’d been quiet lately, quieter than usual.

  “Something wrong, man?” I asked.

  Derek watched the TV in the corner.

  “Nope.” Jared wouldn’t look at either of us.

  Taylor appeared at our table, looking beautiful like always. Her hair was in a braid over one shoulder and gold hoops hung from her ear lobes. She wore a skintight blue dress with a slit right in the front. If I were standing, I’d be able to see her cleavage line.

  I missed her weird outfits.

  “Nat is bringing her boyfriend tonight.” Like a chirpy cheerleader, she clapped her hands together.

  I’d never seen her act like that. “Where are your pom-poms?”

  She ignored the jab and eyed the door. “I guess they’re getting serious. Nat really likes him.”

  Jared purposely looked out the window.

  Derek eyed him but didn’t say anything.

  “Everyone, be nice.” She pointed directly at Derek.

  “What the hell?” Derek asked. “When am I not nice?”

  “She’s your sister, so be nice to her boyfriend.”

  “I don’t give a damn who she dates,” he said. “As long as he’s not smacking her around.”

  “Then be on your best behavior.” Taylor walked to the bar and ordered herself a drink.

  Derek’s eyes drifted her way, and I knew they were narrowed in on her ass.

  “You want to die?” The threat wasn’t idle, the joking kind friends shared from time to time. I meant every word of that sentence, and I’d make good on that threat. I’d break him worse than Clay’s piece of shit father.

  Derek immediately turned back to me. “I was looking at the TV…”

  “Don’t play me, asshole. You’ll lose.”

  He raised both hands in the air. “Sorry. But last time I checked, she was single. If you claimed her, this wouldn’t be a problem.”

  “I have claimed her—she’s mine.”

  “Then do something about it,” he challenged. “Go over there and ask her out.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Someone’s a pussy.”

  “I’m not a pussy, and you know it. Just don’t check out my girl’s ass.”

  “She’s not your girl.” He turned to Jared. “Back me up on this. You can’t stake a claim unless the girl is aware of it, right?”

  Jared shrugged.

  “Thanks for the help…” Derek turned back to me.

  “I’ll let you off with a warning. Don’t check out my girl.” I didn’t care how long we’d been friends. If he crossed a line, I’d drag him back over it—instantly.

  “Whatever.”

  When female chatter entered our ears, I knew Natalie was there. She had a tall guy on her arm, blond with blue eyes. He looked nothing like Jared, but maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.

  “I’m so glad my sister got on with her life,” Derek said. “Such a loser for waiting around for Jared.”

  Jared finally looked away from the window, staring at Natalie and her boy toy.

  I had no right to think she was a loser when I was doing the same thing—waiting for Taylor. “She looks happy.”

  “Yeah,” Derek said. “Mom has been pressuring her about kids. Now she’ll be happy.”

  Natalie and the guy shared a kiss, and Taylor smiled for her friend.

  That’s when Jared turned away.

  ***

  Taylor walked over to me with a wad of napkins in her hand. They all had phone numbers from the guys who’d hit on her that evening. “Wow. Somehow people know when you’re single…”

  It took all my strength not to do anything. I wanted to intervene so many times, but I knew I’d be a dick if I did. “I thought you weren’t dating?”

  “I’m not.” She folded the napkins and tossed them in the trash. “But I felt rude not taking them.”

  I never thought I’d be happy to watch someone throw out garbage. “I can keep them off you.”

  “Off me?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” I circled my arm around her waist and pulled her into my side. The second my hand was on her hip, I felt the electricity. The plug was in the wall, and the current was running through it. It was the same heat, the same fire I felt anytime we touched. Somehow, it was as good as a kiss. “There. Problem solved.” The curve of her narrow waist was perfect. My arm snaked around it easily, hooking her like she was meant to stand by my side.

  “You’re missing something…”

  “What?” She was still shorter than me, even in heels. I had to peer down to look at her.

  “All the ladies think you aren’t available.”

  I’m not available. “Oh well.”

  She carried on with my arm around her waist, not seeming to mind it. “Natalie is having a good time with John.”

  “Yeah, it seems like it.”

  “You like him?”

  I’d only talked to him for five minutes before he was kissing Natalie again. “He’s cool.”

  “I need a drink.” Taylor already had a few, and it was obvious she had a buzz going.

  “I’ll get you something.” I guided her to the bar before I waved down the bartender. “My girl needs a Shirley Temple.”

  “Whoa, what?” she said. “I want a real drink.”

  “Just sip on this for a while. Then you can have another.”

  She pouted her lips like a child.

  I almost leaned in to kiss that frown off her lips.

  I grabbed the drink and handed it over. “I’ll get you a big girl drink later.”

  “Fine. Whatever.”

  We walked toward the back of the bar since the front was crowded. I kept my arm around her waist even though it was unnecessary at that point. It was an excuse to touch her, and I could feel the deep curve of her back. I loved the way it dipped at a strong angle. I wanted to place kisses there…all the way down to her ass.

  “I wonder where everyone is.”

  I watched her lips move but didn’t understand what she said.

  “Jared and Derek were here a second ago.”

  I came back to the conversation at a snail’s pace. “Maybe they’re by the bathrooms. We could check.” Or we could just stay there and talk. I had a great view of the slit in the top of her dress. Her tits were pushed together, forming a valley I wanted to cherish with kisses.

  “Let’s go look for them.”

  I had her alone, and I didn’t want to share. “Okay.” I hugged her tighter against my side, wanting her to feel the muscles of my body as we moved. We walked to the back and found Derek talking to John.

  “Dude, the Browns are nothing but a joke,” Derek said. “How could you possibly like them?”

  “I grew up in Cleveland,” John explained. “You have to support your hometown.”

  Why were they talking about football right now? I thought it was a strange thing for Derek to bring up when he wasn’t a big fan. He liked baseball and basketball a lot more.

  Derek made eyes with me then nodded toward the bathroom.

  What the hell was that?

  I shrugged in response.

  He nodded again, trying to direct me to the back.

  Taylor picked up on it too because she exchanged a look with me.

  “We’re going to go to the bathroom. We’ll be right back.” I pulled Taylor with me. “What was that about?”
<
br />   “I don’t know.” She tossed her empty cup in the garbage, and I did the same.

  We went down the hall then stopped when we spotted Natalie and Jared talking. They weren’t just talking because it looked too serious. Jared was leaning close to her, pinning her against the wall.

  “What the hell?” Taylor whispered.

  “So let me get this straight,” Natalie yelled. “I’m single for three years and you never take an interest in me, but the second I date someone else, you want me? That’s bullshit, Jared.”

  “That’s not how it is. I guess I just didn’t see you like that until I couldn’t have you. I know that makes me a jerk. I get it…but it doesn’t change the way I feel.”

  We shouldn’t have been listening to their conversation. Actually, I couldn’t believe that conversation was actually happening. “Let’s go.”

  Taylor moved with me until we were out of the hallway. “I can’t believe that.”

  “I know.” We stopped against the wall so we wouldn’t be in anyone’s way.

  “Natalie is going to be so happy.” She shook her head in disbelief. “I knew she just needed to see other guys to get him to notice her.”

  “I don’t know… She seemed pretty pissed.”

  “She’ll come around.”

  “You think so?”

  “Oh yeah,” she said. “I know so. When you’re in love with someone for that long, you’ll drop everything to be with them.” She shifted her weight to one leg with her arms across her chest.

  My hands weren’t on her, and I didn’t like it. Her waist was so petite in the dress. I wanted to grab her by both sides and give her a squeeze. I wanted to feel her under my embrace and know she was feeling me too. “I guess you’re right.”

  “I just feel bad for John… He got the short stick of the situation.”

  “Yeah.” I didn’t give a damn anymore. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close to me. It was one thing to innocently wrap my arm around her waist, but it was another to grab her like this.

  But I didn’t care.

  She moved with the pull naturally, thinking the touch was perfectly normal. She continued speaking like nothing was different. “I don’t know what she’s going to do… Maybe break up with John tonight.”

  “Maybe.” I stared into her face as it was inches from mine. Those lips were covered in red lipstick, and I wanted to kiss her so hard the color would smear across my face. I’d had my mouth on hers once before, and I’d never forget just how wonderful it made me feel. It was the kind of touch that killed you and simultaneously brought you back to life.

  She eyed the bathroom, waiting for Natalie and Jared to emerge, before she looked up at my face. Her blue eyes were still bright despite the darkness of the room. They reminded me of Christmas lights that hung outside of houses in the suburbs. They contrasted against the dark sky, bringing light and hope to everyone who gazed at them.

  Fuck, I wanted to kiss her.

  My hands were in control, and my mind took a backseat. I wasn’t thinking clearly, and I didn’t want to think clearly. The alcohol had given me a buzz, but I was aware of my faculties. She was buzzed too, but when she looked at me, she knew exactly whom she was looking at.

  Did I really care what happened at this point? What if I kissed her, and she turned away? Would it really change anything? Could I honestly say we were just friends? When I really thought about it, I wasn’t sure if we’d ever really been friends. I wanted her right from the beginning, and when she turned me down, I just wanted her more.

  Was I really risking anything?

  My hands tightened across her back, feeling the steep curve full of petite muscles. The contours of her body were hypnotizing. I loved every slope and every bend. My fingers spread to feel more of her, dragging across the fabric of her blue dress.

  I didn’t give a damn about anything.

  I just wanted her.

  I moved my head forward and pressed it against hers. When she didn’t move, I felt a jolt of excitement. Like she’d been expecting it, she rested hers against mine. Her hands immediately moved to my arms, her elbows resting in the crooks of mine. Like two pieces of a puzzle, we fit together perfectly.

  The moment did something I hadn’t anticipated.

  It scared me.

  This feeling of excitement was unparalleled. I’d been with many different women in various scenarios, and none of them felt like this. My heart couldn’t comprehend what was really happening. The touch felt natural, as if our bodies should have been doing this all along.

  The serenity that followed was even more unexpected. I felt at peace. I felt happy.

  I felt like I belonged.

  With her.

  The affection felt so good, resonating deep in my core. My heart slowed way down because it was finally in the right place. With every kiss and touch I shared with strangers, it only reminded me of how alone I was. But with Taylor, it reminded me I wasn’t alone.

  Because I was with her.

  It was terrifying but comforting all at once. I didn’t want to get my heart broken again, but I’d unwittingly handed everything over to this perfect woman in front of me.

  She told me everything would change when I found the woman I couldn’t live without.

  And damn, she was right.

  I still wanted to kiss her, but I got an amazing sense of satisfaction just holding her like this. My arms were linked around her body like a cage, and my head was pressed to hers like she was mine.

  She was mine.

  I wanted to take her back to my place so I could kiss every inch of her body. Her skin would be cherished with my mouth, and she would have marks from the intensity.

  I wanted to make love to her.

  I turned her around and pressed her back to the wall. My hands gripped her tighter, feeling her wide hips and tiny waist. My face was pressed to hers, and I prepared for the kiss that would change my life.

  For better or for worse.

  “Fuck you, Jared.” Natalie stormed out of the hallway. “This is just unbelievable. You knew how I felt about you for the past three years, but you didn’t give a damn. The second I move on, you want me. Are you a child?”

  I pulled away from Taylor and cleared my throat. The moment was snapped in two, and I couldn’t keep pressing her against the wall while everyone was watching us. I didn’t look at Taylor because I didn’t want to see her reaction.

  What if she was relieved?

  “I’m sorry,” Jared said. “I didn’t know I felt this way until I saw you with someone else. I didn’t do this on purpose.”

  “The second I break up with him, you’re going to lose interest in me.”

  “Will not.”

  Natalie stormed off again, Jared following close behind.

  Taylor watched them go, concerned for her friend.

  And I watched her. The slit in the top of her dress was driving me crazy. I wanted to kiss her tits then listen to her frantically beating heart, listen to it beat for me. I wanted to feel her breathe underneath me, listen to her moan when I did the things she liked.

  My mind was even worse than it used to be. I wasn’t obsessed with sex because I hadn’t gotten laid in so long.

  I was just obsessed with her.

  Taylor watched them walk away before she turned back to me. The look in her eyes wasn’t the same as it had been before. A vulnerability was there now, and she tucked her hair behind her ear, something she never did.

  I got to her.

  “I should check on Natalie.” Even though her hair was tucked, she picked at it and tucked it again.

  “Yeah…”

  She cleared her throat and walked away, her ass looking amazing in that skintight dress. Her hips swayed beautifully, and all I could think about was having her pinned underneath me while I gave her the best loving she’d ever had.

  Chapter Three

  Taylor

  “What are you going to do?”

  “What do yo
u mean?” Natalie paced in front of me while we stood outside on the sidewalk. The cold air was freezing us both, but it was the only place we could talk.

  “Uh, about this little love triangle you’ve got going on.”

  “Oh my god, it’s not a love triangle.”

  “Kinda is. Two guys, one girl. And it’s not a ménage à trois.”

  “It’s not a love triangle when I only love one person.” She kept pacing back and forth, her arms tight over her chest.

  My eyes froze in place when I heard what she said. “Then you have your answer.”

  She halted in front of me. “Not so simple.”

  “How is it not simple? You love Jared.”

  “Yeah, but do I want to be with a man who only notices me when I’m not available?”

  “Do you really want to be with a guy you don’t love?” I had her there, and I knew it.

  She kept her arms tight around her chest as she started to shiver. “I guess not…”

  “Give Jared a chance. If he fucks it up, at least you can move on for good.”

  “True…”

  “So, are you going to break up with John now?”

  “No, I’ll wait until tomorrow. Would be pretty cold to do it right now.”

  “Yeah.” Getting dumped was the worst.

  A thick jacket circled my body, covering my shivering arms and neck. It surrounded me with warmth and closed off all the cold air.

  Without looking up, I knew who it was.

  Volt’s arms encircled me and his hard chest pressed against my back, making me even warmer.

  The relief was so satisfying I actually moaned.

  Natalie eyed both of us, an eyebrow raised.

  I didn’t want to get into it—not now. My look told her to keep her mouth shut.

  Volt moved his lips near my ear. “You’re going to freeze out here.”

  “I almost did until you came to my rescue.”

  “Maybe we should call it a night. Don’t want you to get sick.”

  “Yeah…maybe.”

  “Well, I’m going to get Jared. I mean, John.” She gave me that look that said, “We’re going to talk about this later.” Then she walked inside.

  Once we were alone together, I turned around and faced him, his arms still circling me. “Thanks for the jacket…” It was too many sizes too big and felt more like a blanket than an article of clothing.