“Ty…I don’t think…”
He tilted his head to the side. “Tess. Do you trust me?”
I did. “Yes.”
He poured us both an amber liquid. I’d never done a shot.
“Thank you. I wouldn’t hurt you. It’s sweet. Apple pie flavored. Don’t let it fool you, it’s still strong.”
I nodded as our glasses clinked together.
An hour later, it had become clear to me what a good buzz was. I wasn’t drunk I didn’t think, but my inhibitions were certainly compromised. Ty talked a lot about growing up in Orange County, and I told him how it wasn’t so bad at the private school…though this was way more fun.
“So did you ever do any girl-on-girl action?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
He rolled his eyes. “Like you and another girl when you got excited?”
My eyes shot wide. “Like sex with another girl?” My voice shot up an octave.
We sat next to each other on the kitchen floor. Don’t ask me why. There were four barstools in the room and a small table.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he teased.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you even asked me that. No! Gross!”
His hand rested on my knee and then he patted it several times. “No sweetheart, not gross. That shit turns any guy on.”
“What does?” Bodhi’s voice boomed out over the room demanding our attention. The ball cap was back in place after a day at sea.
I wanted to move. I did. But intimidated, I simply sat frozen by his paralyzing stare. As motionless as I appeared, every fiber of my insides was firing off. His mere presence sent off an electrical current that made my body buzz with anticipation.
Ty stood first. “Some girl-on-girl action,” he laughed and extended his hand down helping me to my feet.
Bodhi got a bottle of water from the fridge, and I teetered on my feet a little.
“Sit your ass down.” Ty joked, forcing me to sit while Bodhi methodically screwed the lid on the gummy bears and then the apple pie liquor, shaking what little was left then put them away.
“I’ll be back. I gotta take a leak.” Ty darted from the room. I wanted to leave with him simply to avoid what was happening in the kitchen. The tension consumed me and made breathing challenging. Why couldn’t I just like Ty? Why couldn’t my body respond like this for him?
“Has it been just you two all night?” Bodhi asked, facing the sink and drinking his water.
“Yes. Elle and Ben they were…”
“Whose idea was it to drink?” he interrupted. My interactions with guys were limited, but my blood started to simmer with his impolite interruption. He had no right.
“Mine,” I lied.
He relaxed back against the countertop facing me, crossing his feet at the ankle in front of him, but nothing in his face looked relaxed. What was his problem? There was no way in hell I was backing down. I’d done nothing wrong. So I kept my eyes locked with his dark, angry ones all the while trying not to notice how his flawlessly tanned body looked way better than a body had a right to.
Pushing off the counter, he made his way across the room, placed both hands on the table right in front of me and then bent down. He was going to kiss me, and angry or not, I was going to let him. Quickly I moistened my lips in preparation for his kiss. He leaned closer.
“Why don’t you go put some god damn pants on,” he gritted.
Without thinking, I shot upright fighting back tears. He didn’t have a right to talk to me like this. When I wobbled and nearly fell backward, his hand jetted up to wrap around my waist.
I lifted my shirt exposing my shorts underneath. “I do have pants on, you jackass.” My voice cracked and it irritated me. “Maybe it’s the shirt I need to take off.”
“Yeah. Maybe you could find one that matches the fuckin’ hat.” His jaw was strained. All I could think about was touching it…to soften it.
I shoved away from him as Ty walked back in.
“Excuse me,” I said, stepping around Ty. About half way down the hall I heard Bodhi’s voice. I felt the rumble of it in my chest.
“Seriously? You pulled out the gummy bears?”
“What’s your problem, Bodhi?”
“My problem is the way we drink alcohol around here.”
A cupboard slammed.
“Really? Is that your problem? Or is it her?”
The silence was deafening and that was all I needed. I was getting the hell out of here. Ty was nice. Ty was kind. The only real reason I liked Bodhi was because he’d made it clear he didn’t want me. It was all a challenge…and a challenge I was done with.
Chapter 10—Bodhi~ Reality check
I rested my forehead on my hands, trying to control my breathing.
“I don’t know,” I answered Ty.
“Bodhi. Bain. Come on dude. We’ve been friends a long time. What do you want? I’ve never seen you like this.”
Lacing my fingers behind my head, I leaned back in the chair and stared at him. “I don’t know, Tyler.” It was true. I didn’t know what it was about her.
He nodded. “OK. Let me ask you this. Would you mind if I went after her? If I fucked her?”
The barstool I sat on went flying back against the wall of the kitchen when I shot upright with clenched fists.
“I guess that answers my question,” Ty said with a wry smile.
“I guess it does.”
No part of me wanted to fight with Ty, but I would it if came down to it. I knew I would. I’d risk this friendship for her.
His eyes held mine, measuring my intent, before he spoke again. “I will admit, I do like her. There’s something about her that draws you in and makes you want to be around her.”
I groaned. What the fuck? I didn’t want this—whatever this was I felt for Tessa—to ruin my friendship with Ty. “Bro…”
“Let me finish,” Ty interrupted, holding his hand up to stop me from continuing. “I am also smart enough to realize that she is drawn to you, not me. If you want her, that’s it. I’m out. But if you don’t, I’m totally going for it.”
Relief coursed through my body at his words. Normally the rules would dictate that since Ty saw her first, he could stake his claim. But the rules didn’t apply. Not with Tessa.
Ty must have read my intentions from the look on my face. “Why don’t you go talk to her. She seemed like she left upset.”
Immediately I yanked him in long enough for a pat on the back, and then I bolted from the kitchen and headed to my room.
When I opened the door, her red-rimmed eyes slammed into mine. Her obvious misery caused my heart to ache, but it passed quickly when I spotted one of my gym bags hanging over her shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving. I can’t stay here.”
Panic gripped me as I fought to maintain my calm facade.
“Why?” I asked, catching a glimpse of my T-shirt I had given her now folded neatly on the bed. She wore a plain tank with no bra. Shit.
“This entire living here thing is crazy. I can’t believe what is happening between Elle and Aunt Di. My father would freak if he knew I was staying in the same house with two guys. And you!” Her chest panted in and out. “You need a neon flashing light like Krispy Kreme donuts to let me know when to come and when to stay away. And just so you know I HATE DONUTS!” she screamed.
I couldn’t help it. A low, deep chuckle rumbled up my throat. She was the most adorable creature I’d ever seen. I wanted to put her in a cage and keep her. But in two months, she’d be leaving. And to be honest, the only words I truly heard in what she said was ‘to let me know when to come.’
“How did donuts get brought into this? I don’t particularly like them either.”
She tried to step past me as her eyes rolled.
“I don’t belong here,” she whispered. I latched on to her arm as she stepped past.
“Maybe you need to realize who you belong to rather than where you
belong?” I said the words based on emotion and that was never a good thing. I regretted it the instant they came out.
“I don’t belong to anyone!”
She tried to pull away, but I kept my grip on her, strong enough to hold her in place, but gentle enough not to scare her. “I think you will feel differently about that eventually.”
“YOU…are fucking whackadoodle!” Her hands shot open next to her head. “You need to have a waivah available for girls to sign when they ah with you.”
I couldn’t fight the smile at hearing her accent on certain words.
“A waiver?” I accented the r.
“Yes! A waivah… you know… I, Tessa Ashby, am aware that becoming involved with Mr. Bodhi…” Sarcasm dripped from her words as she threw up air quotes with my name. “…Is hazardous to my health. I am voluntarily participating in this activity with the knowledge of the danger and risk involved and I assume full responsibility for a hurt ego when he tells me that he doesn’t WANT ME!”
I released her arm. She back-stepped away from me but did not move closer to the door.
“You’re pretty stuck on me saying that I didn’t want you. Are you studying law at Princeton?”
“Yes. I am stuck on you saying that, Dr. Jeckyll, and no, I am not studying law, Mr. Hyde.”
Having had just about enough of her sarcastic, snide ass mouth, I slowly strolled toward her until I’d backed her into the corner. Her rounded eyes roamed over my face…anger slowly turning to hesitation.
When I leaned into her she closed her eyes.
“I’ve had just about enough of your smart mouth,” I whispered near her ear, and her teeth pinched her bottom lip.
She neither opened her eyes nor responded in any other way. It was as if she wanted to disappear.
My cock was at full attention saluting the hot mess standing in front of it. I knew exactly what her smart mouth needed. And at this point I figured I’d have better luck with my tongue than my dick. I flipped my ball cap around.
I pressed both my palms to the wall behind her, invading her space even more. Even though her eyes remained closed, I had no doubt she knew I was close. Her lips were slightly parted, and I could tell she was holding her breath as I closed the space between us. The tip of my tongue softly touched between the gap, and then my lips gently brushed over hers, measuring her response.
“You ever been thoroughly kissed, Tessa?” Her throat barely moved when she swallowed, but I noticed. I didn’t wait for her to answer. I wanted her mouth so I took it and tasted her for the first time. When I heard the softest of whimpers echo up her throat as my tongue slid into her mouth, I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I’d taste her or the only place I’d taste. After our tongues introduced themselves, I pulled mine back and tenderly pecked her lips several times.
“Nevah like that,” she exhaled—her chest heaving up and down—her breath laced with alcohol.
Our foreheads rested together and now it was my eyes that closed.
“Bohdi,” she whispered, which brought them open, and I leaned back to see her—an innocent, raw want in her browns.
“You know what that means don’t you, Slick?”
Her lips curled upward and I treated them to another couple of kisses.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
With one hand still resting on the wall, I wrapped my other hand around her neck feeling her pulse beneath my index finger. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
“It means that you…Tessa Ashby…” I traced down the straps of her tank to her protruding nipples. “…My little Massachusetts visitor…” With the backs of my knuckles I smoothly rubbed over the top of her breasts, causing her to gasp. Judging by her reaction she wanted this too, which fucking thrilled me. “…have never been…thoroughly fucked either…”
I lowered her strap and then the tank over her right breast. Her beautiful, real, perfect breast. And with slow, purposeful movement, I took full possession of it with my mouth. She shuddered and gasped for air as her hands immediately pushed my hat off my head and fisted in my hair. Her skin was so soft. My tongue circled around her hardened nipple, playfully teasing it as she moaned out loud, driving me mad. Barely in control, I yanked the other side of her tank down and showered her other breast with as much love…flicking her nipple with my tongue before sucking it into my mouth.
“Oh Bodhi…” she whispered softly, almost unable to breathe.
I kissed between her breasts and up her collarbone to her neck and ear—biting on her ear lobe.
“Tell me I’m right,” I growled roughly into her ear. “Tell me you’ve never been thoroughly fucked and that you want me to do that.” I didn’t want to scare her with my intensity so I shut up and kissed her lovely neck.
“I’ve…” she started, and I smiled because she was having a hard time concentrating and talking. Which was good in my book. “I’ve never been fucked, Bodhi. And yes, I want you.”
What? Without thinking, I shoved her back against the wall, startling her.
“I’m sorry,” I said for pushing her, but was too late—shock colored every feature of her face. She started to say something, but I cut her off.
“What did you just say?” I asked.
She shook her head as her chin began to quiver.
“Answer me!” I said softly, but with more intensity than I intended. “Answer me, Tessa.”
“Fuck you!” she cried, blinking back tears and lifting her tank back into place.
As my eyes skated over her face…her swollen red lips, her dejected eyes and her tensed jaw… I dragged my hands the length of my face, leaned in and kissed her lips hard. Then, not saying another word, I spun around, picked up my cap and walked out the door, going to the one place I knew I could get answers.
Ben squinted when I turned on the light. Elle was on her stomach asleep.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to talk to Elle.”
Ben glanced at his phone. “It’s 3 in the morning, Bodhi. What’s going on?”
Elle stirred and peeked up at me.
“Elle. I need you for a second.”
“Is it Tess?”
“Yes.”
“Is she OK?” Ben grabbed a T-shirt at the bottom of the bed and worked it over her head.
“She’s fine. Can you just give me a second?”
She flicked a wave at me to get out. “Give me a second, I’ll be right there.”
Elle joined me on the sofa in the living room. I wanted to vomit.
“What’s going on?” she asked, tucking her legs beneath her.
I didn’t know where to start…I was pretty sure I’d heard Tessa right. Hell, I fucking hung on every word she uttered.
“She…uh…she’s a virgin?”
Elle nodded. “Yes. Did she tell you that?”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and burying the heels of my hands into my eyes. Jesus Christ.
“I didn’t know.”
“What did you do?” Elle slapped my back. “Did you fucking hurt her?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Not physically. But we started to…I don’t know…and she threw it on me.”
“OK. What’d you say?”
“I walked out on her.”
Elle slapped me harder. “Bodhi!”
I deserved it. The slap. “Fuck, Elle! I’ve never been with someone like that. She’s 18! Who the hell is still a virgin at 18?”
“Then don’t be with her,” Elle replied, serious as a heart attack. “She deserves someone who will be good to her. If you can’t…don’t. And I’ll tell you who’s a virgin at 18! A girl who was dropped at an all girl’s Catholic school at the age of 5 by one of the wealthiest families in the east because they didn’t really want kids! That’s who. The school is like a fucking convent, Bodhi. It’s crazy!”
I shook my head, disgusted with myself for leaving her standing there alone after I’d ravished her mouth and…Oh God, I was probably the first person to
touch those perfect breasts! She deserves someone who will be good to her. That pretty much counted me out.
Chapter 11—Tessa~ Surprise
My body was still humming with the electrical charge pulsating through my system. No guy had ever touched my breasts before, and now the only thing I could think about was the way Bodhi’s tongue thrashed around them sucking and pulling just perfectly. It was as if a nerve I never knew existed connected my nipples to my vajayjay—pulling and longing for it to be touched too.
Why would he leave like that? Outside of me shouting out that I was a virgin…had I’d done something else wrong? Hell, I’d never been kissed like that…let alone everything else.
I repositioned myself in Ty’s bed. He had willingly moved to the sofa after I had woken him up and told him I couldn’t stay in Bodhi’s bed. True to character, he hadn’t even asked what was going on. He had simply nodded and cleared out of his room. The dull ache between my legs was relentless. Several times, I rolled my nipple between my thumb and finger trying to simulate what Bodhi did, but nothing even came close. The warmth of his mouth was irreplaceable.
There had to be a way to quench this burning, this need. I slid my hand down into my panties, which were completely soaked. My finger easily glided through the wetness and inside; as I moved my finger in and out, I remembered reading about stimulating the clit, so I gave it a try. With the pad of my finger I began rubbing over the nub. Within only seconds, my body began to respond, pulling from somewhere inside my abdomen. I knew this was what girls at school had talked about. I knew so many of them at school had done it, but I’d never really had the desire or the nerve, but now…I wanted Bodhi’s hands.
Suddenly, I heard his voice. “Where is she Ty?” he demanded. I immediately stopped what I was doing, burying myself in the covers and feigning sleep.
“Seriously, she’s not in my bed. Where is she?”
Bodhi’s voice was strained. Obviously, he wasn’t OK. But I wasn’t OK either…he walked out on me after…what happened. Completely embarrassed, I rolled over, facing away from the door.
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