“Nope, but I’m going to be successful in getting you as tipsy as me.”
Brooke and Freddy break off into their own conversation. They’re so cute, only having eyes for each other. I don’t remember having that with Simon, not even in the early days.
“I’m up for that,” I find myself saying.
Hell, I should be having fun like her. I’m only bloody twenty-two. Somehow, I seem to have aged thirty years in only three. It’s time I act like I’m in my twenties.
Kent grunts. “So, you’re getting drunk, and I’m going to be looking after you all.”
I look over, steeling myself for the reaction. My eyes meet his, and my heart jumps. He’s wearing grey, and it makes his eyes look more on the blue side today. I can’t help staring.
“Why can’t you drink, too?” I ask, my body kicking up a few thousand degrees.
“Freddy and Brooke will head off early to have their alone time, so I’ll be left with two drunk women.”
“Hmm, why do I think that’s never been an issue for you before?”
He glares. “If you want to ditch my sister and find another woman to get trashed with, I’m totally there, sweetheart.”
“I would rather never have sex again.”
“We don’t have to find another woman, if you don’t want.”
“Where’s the tequila?” I mutter.
To my right, I can see Heidi smirking as she pretends to read her menu. I need to stop this flirty banter with Kent in front of her, or she’s only going to get more stupid ideas. Right now, I’m doing a crap job of convincing her I don’t want in her brother’s pants.
The warm feeling in the bottom of my stomach and my fluttering heart make it impossible for me to fool myself. I want him. I want him over me, under me. I want his mouth and hand and cock.
I can tell he’d be good in bed. He’s had enough practice, and I really need mind-blowing sex.
“I didn’t hear a no,” Kent mutters.
He’s watching me. I can feel his stare burning a hole in the side of my head.
“No,” I say, making my voice very clear when inside my head is a fuzzy haze of lust.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
Tequila. Tequila, tequila, tequila!
I ignore him and concentrate on picking something to eat, but all the words on the menu seem to blur into one. Kent presses his leg against mine under the table, and my breath catches.
Read. The. Menu.
“What’re you all having?” Brooke asks.
I don’t know because it might as well be written in fucking Spanish!
Words aren’t making sense.
What’s Mexican? Quesadilla! That’ll be on the menu. Just ask for one of those.
Freddy, Heidi, and Kent reply, already having theirs picked out.
“Savannah?” Brooke presses. I look up, and she smiles. “What’s it between?”
Everything. Every-fucking-thing.
My foggy brain can’t read a word right now; it’s too busy doing all manner of dirty, naked things with Kent.
“Um …” Frowning, I look back down.
Kent leans forward, resting his arms on the table, and chuckles.
The bastard knows the effect he’s having on me.
“Chicken quesadilla,” I say, my voice sounding like one of the bloody Chipmunks.
“That’s what I’m having, too,” Brooke replies. “Shall we get nachos to share?”
“Sure,” Heidi replies.
The server comes over with a tray of tequila, and I want to kiss him.
He puts five glasses down in the middle of the table. “Are you ready to order?” he asks.
We place our order and take our shot glasses.
“Can we have five more of these?” I say over my shoulder before the server can get too far away.
“There a reason you want to drink a lot at lunch?” Kent asks.
“Yes, you’re being your usual annoying self.”
He presses his leg harder against mine. “Is that right?”
Fuck off.
With a deep breath, I snap, “Yes.”
Why am I not moving my leg? His touch makes my brain short-circuit, and I want to forget all the aggravating or shitty things he’s said to me and sit on his lap.
Jesus, calm down, Savannah.
Is it hot in here?
Kent leans in and whispers, “You’re looking a little flushed.”
“There is a knife in front of me, Kent; keep talking.”
Laughing, he sits back up as Heidi raises her glass.
I down my shot, wincing at the burn, and put the tiny glass down. Yep, I definitely want more of these.
“So, Heidi,” Freddy says, “how is business?”
I listen even though Heidi is very open with all aspects of the business with me. I know what’s in the bank accounts, what comes out, and what is yet to be invoiced. Heidi is doing well, really well. She deserves it.
Kent’s hand comes down on my thigh, and I freeze. My body seizes up and bursts into flames.
What the hell is going on?
If I bat his hand away, one of them might see, but I can’t exactly leave it there. He’s waiting for me to react and shove him. This is a test, and I don’t want to lose … but how far will he take this?
I literally can’t just sit here while he fingers me under the table.
I push my hair behind my shoulder and pretend to listen to what they’re talking about. Their mouths are moving, so I know words are being spoken, but all I can focus on is Kent’s hand. His fingers dig lightly into my flesh; it’s maddening. I want him to remove his hand, and I want him to go higher.
He pushes me further, gently grazing my skin with the tips of his fingers as he moves closer to where I really want them right now. I’ve never done anything like this before. The throbbing in my clit makes me want to scream. Simon was a very safe, in-the-bedroom-with-the-door-locked kind of guy. Kent pushes every boundary I’ve set for myself, and, bloody hell, I love it.
The danger of getting caught doing something in public has my body begging for him.
I slowly part my legs just enough to give him better access, and his reaction sends my heart into overdrive. His fingers grip my leg, cutting down into my skin, and he takes in a sharp breath.
What am I doing?
He didn’t expect that, and knowing I’m now affecting him as much as he’s been getting to me spurs me on.
I’ll be mortified if we actually get caught, but right now, that’s not enough to stop me.
We’re only at lunch, too, so we have ages left of the day. I want to take him home. My apartment is so close to this restaurant.
Kent leans closer as the others laugh, completely engrossed in their conversation to notice us. “You’re so fucking hot. I’ve never wanted anyone this badly before,” he whispers in my ear.
I shudder.
Thank God we’re sitting with our backs to a wall. Brooke, Heidi, and Freddy might not be able to see what’s happening here, but if anyone were behind us, they would. The lighting is low, but I’m not sure if it’s low enough to hide the blush that is probably lighting up my cheeks like a fucking Christmas tree.
I squirm in my seat, desperate to relieve some of the tension building inside my body, too turned on and frustrated that this can’t lead to anything in a restaurant. Kent has other ideas though. He stops gripping my thigh and trails his hand higher until he’s right between my legs.
Groaning quietly as he reaches his goal, he hooks his finger around my underwear and slides his finger beneath the fabric.
I almost come off my seat. Clenching my jaw, I focus on trying not to fucking scream. Clenching my fists, I breathe through my nose, clamping my mouth shut so that I don’t moan.
Breathe.
Forcing myself to sit still is a mission in itself. I want to move, rock against his hand, kiss him, or climb on his lap. I want to do something. I’m going out of my mind.
My body ignites a
nd tightens. He moves his finger, sweeping it over my clit, and I bite back a moan.
Shit, I need more.
Carefully arching my butt, I widen my legs. Kent’s side presses against mine. He moves his hand, slipping a finger inside me while his thumb presses down on my clit.
He’s too good at this.
I’m close. So, so close.
I grind into him.
The friction of the pad of his thumb against my skin is too much. I bite down on my lip, my body trembling, heart racing. Then, I fall apart.
Dipping my head enough so that my hair falls in my face, I close my eyes as I contract around his finger.
My body loosens as the last wave passes over me. I take a breath and open my eyes. Kent moves his hand, smiling at me like he just won the lottery. I don’t dare look at the others, but I can finally hear them talking, so I know they haven’t noticed us.
Bringing his hand to his mouth, he pops his finger in while staring at me.
Why the hell is that so hot?
I look away as Kent chuckles and adjusts himself in his jeans. Neither of us says anything, but there is little to say right now.
I can’t believe I let him do that. And I can’t believe I had the most intense orgasm of my life, sitting around a table in a bloody Mexican restaurant.
“Heidi, you know you’re going to be making adjustments to Brooke’s dress up until the day,” Kent says, slotting himself into the conversation so seamlessly.
Brooke disagrees and starts to tell Heidi how perfect the dress already is and that it doesn’t need any more work.
Kent uses that distraction to his advantage. “You taste better than I imagined,” he whispers when the others delve into another topic of conversation.
I’m sure my face is bright red.
“You imagined how I’d taste?” I ask.
“Daily. Tell me you haven’t.”
“Kent, will you stop harassing her?” Heidi says, peering around me to glare at her brother.
“I’m not harassing her. I’m making conversation.”
What kind of conversation was that?
Sure, the best kind, but still.
“You’d better not. I know what you’re like.” She narrows her eyes at him.
“Savannah,” Kent says so smoothly, it sends a bolt of electricity straight down south, “have I been anything but a gentleman today?”
I swallow. It’s really hot and dry in here. Where’s my other shot? “He’s been fine, Heidi. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Apparently,” Kent mutters behind his hand as he rubs his lips with the finger he just had inside me.
He’s going to have to stop doing that.
Over the years, I’ve perfected lying. I’ve always hated that trait, but once I ditched my old life, I had to lie. So, Heidi doesn’t even blink when I look back at her.
“All right, but I’m watching you,” she says, pointing at Kent.
Yeah, so am I.
12
Kent
I can’t concentrate, not on a single thing. There is stuff I need to do, like walk and breathe and contribute to the conversation, but none of that even registers when I can still feel Savannah’s heat, see the pink shade of her cheeks, and hear the deepness of her breath.
That was singularly the hottest thing that has ever happened to me, and I want to do it again—right now.
But I can’t because we have finished lunch and paid the bill. Now, we’re outside, walking along the stalls. I feel like I’m in some alternate universe. Never in a million fucking years did I think Savannah would let me get her off in the middle of a restaurant.
I knew I was pushing my luck, and I expected her to kick me or something, not open her legs wider to let me in.
Fuck.
“Oh my gosh, that smells amazing,” Savannah says, pointing to some stall that must sell food or something else fragrant.
I don’t give a fuck.
The festival is huge. Dozens of streets take part, and every year I’ve made the most of sampling food and booze from almost all of them. This year, I’m pissed off with how big it all is, and I just want to get her home. I don’t even care whose home it is.
Savannah and Heidi are walking in front of me, and all I can focus on are Savannah’s legs in that short yellow dress. It sits teasingly mid-thigh, driving me insane. I know how those legs feel beneath my hands, but now, I want to feel them around my waist.
“Ooh, we need to get crepes for dessert!” Brooke says, tugging Freddy off to a stall up ahead.
Heidi drops her arm from Savannah’s and dashes after them. “I want Nutella!”
I’m alone—sort of, as there’s a shitload of people around—with the girl occupying my mind again. “You okay?” I ask.
Folding her arms, she peeks up at me through her lashes. “What were you thinking back there?”
“You didn’t like it?” I arch my eyebrow. “You seemed to like it.”
“That’s hardly the point, Kent.”
“You could have stopped me at any point. I didn’t hear much protesting.”
She stops walking, planting her feet in the ground, and cocks her eyebrow. “That’s not going to happen again. I don’t sleep around; I told you that.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” I step closer, getting in her personal space. “Whatever rules you’ve made for yourself, they’re slipping.”
“You don’t know that. We haven’t had sex.”
“I do know that. I’m doing it myself, letting my own rules slip. Get out of your head, Savannah, and let yourself go with the flow.”
“Go with the flow? If I did that, we would be in my apartment right now.” She snaps her mouth closed, not meaning for that to be spoken aloud.
Her eyes stay focused on mine though, and I love that she’s not backing down anymore.
“You’re preventing that, torturing us both, because you don’t want no-strings sex?”
“It’s a good reason, Kent. I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
“I understand.” I’m not an idiot. My mouth opens to offer her strings attached, lots of strings, really big ones, all woven together. But, thankfully, I realise what I’m about to do before I say anything.
I wouldn’t even know how to do anything more than sex. Freya was a long time ago, and I was younger. I’m pretty sure women don’t like exclusive dates to McDonald’s and the local bowling alley.
I’ve now established that Savannah isn’t stuck up, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to want to slum it on a date.
And why am I even considering dating again? Getting involved with my sister’s friend and employee also adds another level of no to the equation.
“Good. I’m glad you understand where I’m at.”
“You still want to watch me come on to another woman?”
“You still want me to watch you come on to another woman?”
Grinning, I reply, “Well, I am curious.”
“Well, maybe you should come out with us tonight then.”
God, I love these games with her.
“You’re on.”
“Kent?” she breathes.
“Yeah?”
“You’re not going to tell anyone about what happened back there, are you?”
“As much as my boys would love to hear about how I got you off in a restaurant, a gentleman never tells.”
She blinks. Then, she asks, “So, you never talk about conquests to your friends?”
“All the time.” My heart quickens. “You’re different.”
“Oh.” She takes a step back and looks around. Either she doesn’t know what to say or she’s looking for Heidi.
She shouldn’t be different, but I can’t lie to myself anymore. The whole time I was hating Savannah, I was really hating Freya. Savannah’s reluctance to be anything other than a robot made me think she was hiding something the way Freya had.
They’re not the same person, and I happen to like the person standing in front o
f me.
Savannah lifts her eyes and whispers, “Well, thanks.” She really can’t take a compliment.
Rather than act like a dick and call her out again, I say, “Want to get a crepe before Heidi makes you paint your face?”
“Sure.”
After we all split, I meet up with Max and Toby. They would absolutely love to hear about today. Max and Toby would probably give me some sort of medal. Max would definitely give me some sort of medal. He would also do it in front of Savannah.
I’m meeting her and Heidi again tonight, but I need to start early with the guys because I know I’ll go crazy if I’m home alone.
When we got outside the restaurant, Savannah put the walls up again. All of a sudden, she was listening to her head. I couldn’t imagine not acting on emotion. It’d be a boring, cold way of living if you never handed yourself over to something you wanted.
But, after telling her that she was different, she spent the rest of the afternoon flirting … at a safe distance. About two minutes after we dropped her off at her apartment, I sent her a text.
I don’t know what happened to playing it cool, but I’ve been very uncool and probably a bit desperate.
She replied straightaway though, so maybe a bit desperate is just our thing.
“He has girl trouble,” Toby says, cautiously eyeing me.
“He does,” Max agrees, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair and rubbing his chin. “But he’s not pacing and swearing like he did with Freya, so this Savannah chick hasn’t lied to him or stolen his money.”
I raise my hands. “I’m right fucking here.”
They’re so aggravating when they talk about me like I’m someplace else.
“Then, you do the talking. What’s up your arse?” Toby picks up his pint and tilts it toward me. “Open up to your buddies.”
“I hate you both. Nothing is wrong. We always drink on Saturdays.”
“Not usually at four in the afternoon though, mate,” Max replies.
“Fucking hell, can we not have an earlier session without it meaning something?”
They look at each other and frown.
“Toby, what do you think? I’m voting no.”
Toby nods. “I’m voting no, too. There’s definitely something wrong.”
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