Jase, the gentleman he is, shrugs out of his and drapes it across my shoulders. “Thank you.” I smile over at him. “I was clearly going for sexy and not practical.” My words are a tad slurred from the drinking I’ve been doing, and we both laugh.
“Well, you did sexy to perfection,” he says, sitting down on the damp sand. I eye it, afraid my dress will get ruined or my butt will end up frozen. But before I can make the decision whether to sit, Jase pulls me into his lap. My dress rises, and I’m thankful we’re in the dark because my panties are definitely on display. I’m straddling his thighs with my legs wrapped around him—the tips of my wedges are resting in the sand. Alarm bells should be going off in my head. This is all happening too fast. But all I can focus on is the way his strong hands grip my hips. The feel of his lips—strong yet soft—as they work their way down the side of my neck and over to my throat. My fingers run through his hair as he trails soft kisses down my throat. I relish in the delicious friction our bodies are creating as my butt grinds against his pelvis.
The sound of police sirens ring through the air, and Jase stops what he’s doing, his eyes locking with mine. “I’ve had too much to drink to drive,” he says. “Let me call my brother.” With me still sitting on his lap, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and dials a number. “Jax, it’s me. I need you to come get me from Jared’s. The cops have been called.” There’s a pause. “I’ve been drinking.” Another pause. “Thanks, bro. I’ll meet you down by the south pier.” He hangs up, and lifting me off him like I weigh nothing, stands me on my feet.
“I came with Nick,” I point out. “He wouldn’t leave without me.”
“Call him and let him know that I’m dropping you off,” Jase says, walking us down the beach toward the pier. I do as he says and call Nick. He answers on the first ring. When I tell him Jase is going to drop me off, he points out he’s been drinking and insists on finding me. But when I tell him his brother is coming to get us, Nick concedes, but makes me promise to text him as soon as I’m home.
When Jase’s brother shows up, Jase opens the door for me to get into the front seat. Once I’m in, he climbs into the back. “Quinn grabbed your car,” Jax says. “She’s meeting us back at home.”
“Thanks, bro.”
“I’m Jax,” Jase’s brother says, introducing himself.
“I’m Celeste. Thank you for getting us.”
“No worries. Where am I taking you?”
Jase’s hand lands on my shoulder, and he squeezes softly. Then his cool breath is at my ear. “Come home with me,” he whispers. My body thrums at the thought of spending more time with Jase, of our night not coming to an end just yet. I’ve never spent the night with a guy before, and while it makes me somewhat nervous, I remember that Nick is friends with him, and he wouldn’t have introduced us, or let Jase and his brother take me home, if he was worried something would happen to me. For a few seconds I weigh my options, but ultimately my need to spend more time with Jase wins out.
I nod once. “Okay.”
“Just take us back to our place,” Jase tells his brother.
We arrive at their apartment, and just as I suspected, it’s in a nicer part of town. The apartment itself isn’t huge, but it’s clean and decorated beautifully. When we walk inside, a gorgeous woman is standing against the island, drinking a bottle of water. She’s wearing a cute grey hoodie and matching tiny shorts that show off her thick, toned legs. At a second glance, I spot a few colorful tattoos peeking out from under her shorts. Her jet black hair is down in waves, and her face is free of all makeup. She throws a set of keys at Jase. “You’re welcome.”
Jase gives her a simple chin lift. “Thanks.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side. “Celeste, this is my baby sister, Quinn.”
“Baby?” She scoffs. “I’m a whole five years younger.” She rolls her eyes.
“You’re nineteen. A baby,” Jase argues, and I stiffen. If she’s a baby in his eyes, he would throw my ass out if he knew I’m only eighteen. Sure, I’m legal, but I’m a good six years younger than him.
“And yet, I’m the one playing the parent by picking up your vehicle because you’re out partying.” She snorts.
“Yeah, yeah, we’re going to bed,” Jase calls over his shoulder as he walks us away from the kitchen and down the hall. When we get to the last door on the right, he opens the door so I can walk through first, then closes it behind him.