As I walk out of Kahunaville hand-in-hand with Brynn, we’re laughing at Theo as he imitates Ryder at a concert.
“I don’t know how he hasn’t snapped his own neck.” Theo head bangs the air and sends the girls into a fit of giggles, but earns a swift sock to the gut from Ry.
“At least I don’t just sit there bobbing my head like I’m at a Taylor Swift concert.”
Theo’s humor dissolves. “Dude, don’t knock Taytay.”
“Where are we going now?” Ryder’s date curls up to him like a kitten to its scratching post.
Ryder grabs her ass, making her giggle. “I say we check out the party.”
“Yes, let’s go have some drinks and dance!” Brynn presses her breasts against my arm, and I wonder if she notices how close she’s bringing my hand to between her legs.
I may be a virgin, but I’ve fooled around with girls in the past. There were two girls in my neighborhood who taught me everything I know. We were all latchkey kids and home alone more than we were with our parents. Throw a couple of teenagers in a room together, hormones raging, and too much free time on their hands, and things are going to happen.
However, it’s been so long since I’ve touched a woman intimately I feel like I’m starting from scratch. And although I’m not desperate to be with Brynn in that way, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.
“Sounds good; follow us.” Ryder’s date squeals as he leads her to his car by a firm hold on her backside.
“They’re so cute together, aren’t they?” Brynn says as I open the Jeep door for her.
“I guess, yeah.” Even if it’s only for tonight.
I settle into my seat and fire up the engine when Brynn’s hand lands firmly on my thigh. I stare at it, the foreign feeling of being touched sending bolts of heat between my legs.
“Killian?”
My gaze slides up her delicate arm to her face, which is illuminated by the dash lights.
“This might seem forward, but I get the sense that if I don’t ask you’d never make a move.” She leans across the center console until our faces are less than inches apart. “May I kiss you?”
I swallow hard and lick my lips self-consciously.
She must see that as the okay to move forward because her mouth presses to mine. Shock blasts through my system at the warm and tender caress of her lips. Her fingers grip my thigh tighter, and a moan rolls up my throat like I’m some sex-starved male craving the touch of a woman.
I close my eyes to blue eyes and chestnut hair that flash behind my lids. Axelle. What would it be like to kiss her like this? My fantasies hurl themselves to the surface. As my tongue slips inside the warm cavern of her mouth, I hear Axelle’s throaty groan as she receives it.
Blood fires through my veins, and the need to get more, to get inside her, dominates my thoughts. I grip the back of her neck and tug her closer to me until the tips of her breasts rub against my chest. My dick punches the zipper of my slacks, searching for the heat it so desperately craves. I rip my lips from her mouth to her throat. Her pulse races, and I need to taste her skin, to lap at her flesh and suck—
“Yes… Killian…”
My lips freeze against her skin. I blink away the Axelle haze at the sound of her voice.
“Fuck.” I’m such an asshole.
She laughs and leans back into her seat. The pale skin of her cheeks and neck is flushed red, and shame washes over me at seeing it. “That was the hottest first kiss I’ve ever had.”
I turn to gaze out the windshield and hope she doesn’t see the regret I’m drowning in. I know I should say something, apologize or explain, but I can’t even bring myself to speak the words.
“Oh look!” She points to Ryder’s Toyota pickup. “They waited for us.”
This is good. At least at the party I’ll have the distraction of being in a crowded room. As long as I stay away from bedrooms and bathrooms, I should be able to get through the rest of this night without giving into my deepest, darkest fantasies.
Twelve
Axelle
The good news is I think this Valentine’s Day is shitty enough to trump my original Valentine’s Day.
I never thought anything could top Stewart’s impromptu drop in, but leaning against the wall in a dark corner nursing a warm beer and watching my date openly flirt with other girls has done it. Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner! The only thing that could make this any worse is if he’d strip them down and fuck them right in front of me.
But only a total meanie-face would do that. And Clifford, well, he’s just friendly with his hands.
The sarcasm in my head makes me grin, but it’s all teeth.
Turns out I was wrong. Clifford did take me out to dinner at the little Italian place down the street. He also invited three of his stoner friends to join us. They ate all the garlic bread, and I swear when I went to the restroom I came back and half my rigatoni was gone.