I’m at the bar—fuck if I know why, considering I’m way beyond my limit—but I’m here, drink in hand, when I next see Summer.
“I think you’ve got a definite chance with the cheerleader. She hasn’t taken her eyes off you. I mean, she’s not as hot as the beauty you took home last time, but she’s still a solid nine, maybe even nine and a half,” she rambles, something I’ve noticed she does when she’s drunk.
I bop her on the nose, because she’s so adorable, and then study her face to verify if she’s back on the friends’ bandwagon and wants me to hook up, or if she’s jealous. She raises her eyebrows in question, and I’m happy to see there’s still a trace of heat in her eyes and a hint of jealousy that she’s trying to hide. It would probably be easier to resist her if it wasn’t there, but I’m definitely glad that it is.
For the next hour, I remain on my best behavior, and it sucks big time. Every time I look at Summer, I imagine my lips on her neck, biting down as she moans my name. I picture her legs wrapped around my waist as I press her down onto a bed. Specifically, my bed. My mind won’t stop whirring. Lucky for me, Summer’s also managed to keep this platonic, and judging by the time and the tired looks on our friends’ faces, I’d say the night is almost over.
I’m making my way back from the toilet when I see Summer walking toward me. She doesn’t stop, but as she walks past, she runs her hand across my upper thigh and over my groin, making my member twitch. Last, she brushes her fingers over my abs and then she, and her inquisitive hand, disappears. The whole encounter took only a couple of seconds, but it was enough to turn me on beyond belief.
And I snap.
All resolve evaporates. Turning quickly, I grab her by the wrist and pull her back toward me. Ignoring her startled look, I push her against the wall. Her shocked expression quickly makes way for her lust-filled stare as I possessively cup her neck and move forward until our noses are almost touching.
Her eyes bounce between mine, waiting for my next move. She’s so close I can feel her chest rising and falling with her rapid breathing. I want to take her against this wall. I want to say fuck it to all the reasons we shouldn’t be here. But I can’t stop it running through my head.
This will change everything…
This is my last shot…
Is another kiss worth ruining the friendship?
Time stands still as I stare down at the heavenly creature trapped in front of me. I need her more than I need air right now. I’m about to make my move when she pushes me back, perhaps sensing my hesitation and using it to escape. I open my mouth to apologize when she secures her arms around my neck and jumps, wrapping her legs around my waist.Thank fuck!Her dress rides up her thighs, and I force back a groan as my hands grip her ass to hold her up. She’s with me. This is happening, and she’s not running in the opposite direction. Wasting no more time, I crash my lips against hers and push her back against the wall.
The alcohol may have previously numbed my senses, but I feel everything in this kiss, even more than our first one. The way her soft lips fit perfectly with mine. The way our tongues move in sync, exploring, needy. The way her legs clench a little when I tighten my hold on her. And no matter how drunk I am, I can still sense that there’s something inherently different about this kiss. I feel a pull I’ve never experienced before. There’s no coming back from this for me, and yet Summer only wants friendship. It’s safe to say that I’m fucked. May as well make the most of it while I can.
Using one hand to support her, I push my other into her hair and tighten my hold. I shouldn’t be doing this, but fuck, there’s no chance I can stop this now. I don’t want to. When I increase the pressure of our kiss, something changes in Summer, and in the next second, she’s pulling me into her and matching the fervor of the kiss. A groan rips from within me, and I need more. God, this feels like heaven.Shefeels like heaven.
Without breaking our kiss, I move us toward the restrooms and reach to open the door with one hand. It’s not my first choice of location, or my second or tenth, but nothing is going to stop this moment. Summer reaches between us, impatiently trying to unbutton my pants, before I’ve even got the door open. “Fuck,” I groan. I’ve never been more desperate or craved someone as much as I do at this moment. Jiggling the door handle a few times, I pray that it’s vacant. I’m about to give up and move on to the next one, when it clicks and opens.Thank fuck.
As soon as we’re inside, I slow down a bit and gently place Summer on her feet, my hands moving toward the hem of her dress.This is happening.After spinning us around, I blindly kick out my foot to close the door behind us, when a force slams it open again, causing us both to stumble from the movement. I grip Summer’s shoulders to steady her, and turn just in time to see a woman bend over and vomit next to our feet.Wow! Turns out I was wrong. Something could, in fact, kill the moment.
There’s nothing to do but laugh, and laugh we do, until realization hits, and a hint of redness crosses Summer’s face. Though we may never speak of what happened here, ever again, I take solace in a vital piece of information I discovered tonight. Summer wants this too, andthatchanges everything.
With that in mind, I laugh again, then help Summer clean up her shoes and hold her hand as we head back to the group. As predicted, we immediately revert to being friends, as though we hadn’t been seconds from ripping each other’s clothes off, as though nothing even happened. But, I’m actually okay with that. For now.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Summer
I’mnotreadytoface Dylan again after our public mauling session, but I made a promise, and I’m sticking to it. We sobered up pretty quickly after witnessing a poor girl expel the contents of her stomach, and Dylan apologized, alluding to the fact that it never would have happened if he’d been sober. An uncomfortable tightness had gripped my chest with his words, and I wished I could confidently say the same, but I couldn’t. I’m just not sure I would have resisted his advance, sober or otherwise. That being said, at least our friendship remains intact. Even if I feel a little awkward right now.
Taking a deep breath, I knock on the front door of Dylan and Joel’s and pray that Joel answers. Cory should be here too, but she canceled this morning, something to do with Nate’s parents. A couple of minutes go by without a response, so I knock again, louder and more forcefully. Still nothing.The assholes invited me here and didn’t even bother listening for the door.I give them one last chance to answer, and when I get crickets, I turn to leave. I’ve barely taken a step when I hear movement approaching, and the door flies open.
“Sorry, I was in the show…Sum…Summer?” Dylan says, stumbling over his words, one hand holding the door frame, the other gripping the back of his neck.
I freeze. He’s standing before me, dripping wet, with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. My eyes rake over his body, taking him in. I’ve felt his abs. I knew they were there, but my mind did not give them justice. I have a powerful urge to lick my lips but somehow refrain. I can’t, however, bring myself to look away.And God, he smells amazing. Is that his body wash, or is that just how he smells? My eyes flash to his neck as a drop of water falls from his hair. I watch as it moves down his chest, over his glorious abs, before disappearing into his belly button. I bite my tongue and lock my fingers together in front of me, not wanting to follow the water path with either of them.
I’m vaguely aware that Dylan’s talking to me, but I can’t focus on that right now. It’s not important. What is important is figuring out how to get Dylan to remove that towel. What I wouldn’t give for a peek.Stop! Come on, Summer, you’ve seen naked men before. Snap out of it.
“Summer?” Dylan questions again, and this time I hear him loud and clear. He’s asking me something, but what?
I snap out of my daze and try to formulate an answer. “Joel,” is all I can say.What kind of response is that?Dylan smiles, and I swear for a second, I turn into a giddy schoolgirl.Geez, get your shit together, Summer.“Sorry. I’m here for the movie,” I say and hold up a bag of popcorn, waving it in front of him, like it’s the answer to life’s biggest questions.
He stares at me, his expression blank.
“Joel’s trying to impress someone and invited her and her friends over for a movie,” I say slowly, so he understands. “Ring any bells?” I ask.
Dylan nods but eyes me strangely, like he’s trying to process some new information. “Are you the someone or her friend?” he finally asks.