Текст книги "In Your Heart "

Автор книги: Micalea Smeltzer

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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

“Ezra,” I whined, looking out the window as he continued to drive farther and farther away, “where are you taking me? If you wanted to kill me and feed my body to the sharks we could’ve done that back at the house.”

He stopped singing along to the radio and chuckled. “Come on, you have to have more faith in me than that.”

“My faith in you sailed away approximately five minutes ago. We’ve been in the car for an hour. I’m going stir crazy.”

“Be patient.”

“Why does my gut tell me I’m not going to like whatever it is you’re up to?”

He grinned and shook his head like I was oh-so-cute. I wondered if he’d still think it was cute when my panic caused me to jump out of a moving vehicle.

Ten minutes later we turned into a parking lot in front of a plain building. I swung my head around wildly, looking for a sign or any sort of clue to the origins of the building.

“High Flyers,” I read. “Please tell me you’re not making me jump out of a plane. I know you did that with Maddox and Emma, but I’m not as brave as Emma,” I admitted.

“No planes.” He assured me and got out of the vehicle.

I hastily followed after him. “Then what is this place?”

“You’ll see.”

I was tempted to run back to the safety of the car, but something told me he’d only chase after me and drag me back.

He opened the glass door to the building and waved me in ahead of him.

We were standing in some sort of lobby. The floors were a beige tile and the walls were a pale yellow.

I rubbed my hands together nervously as he strode over to the counter and spoke with the lady sitting behind it.

She answered him and I saw her point to a doorway.

“This way.” Ezra nodded his head.

I followed him and when I saw what was behind the door I thought I might throw up. “No, no, no, no fucking way am I doing this.”

I darted for the door and he caught me around my waist, dragging me into his body.

“I’m going to die,” I said dramatically. “I will fall to my death.”

“You’ll be fine,” he chuckled, “there’s a net.”

“So, you’re implying that I will fall?”

“Well, you have to get down somehow.”

“I can’t do this.” My stomach rolled, looking up at the sight before me once more.

We were in a training facility of some sort and above us were these things hanging from the ceiling. People held onto the bars and jumped from one to the next. One man hung upside down on one, holding a woman’s hands in his and spun her around. In another corner of the gym long pieces of fabric hung from the ceiling with a woman spinning from one, exactly like we’d seen at the circus.

“Ezra,” I started, throwing in a dramatic gulp for good measure, “this was awesome when we saw it at the circus, but there’s no way in hell you are ever getting me up there.”

“Come on,” his hand landed on my butt and he gave it a small squeeze, “it’ll be fun. It’s something we’ll remember forever.”

I wanted to argue with him that I would remember every single moment we shared together for the rest of my life, but I knew he’d just find another argument for getting me up there.

“If I die you better tell my parents that I love them…and tell my brother that I was the one that broke his BB gun when we were little. He was really mad about that and I blamed the dog.”

Ezra snorted. “Anything else?”

“Not at the moment, but something might come to me before I plummet to my death.”

He shook his head, trying to hold in his laughter and failing miserably. “If you’re falling to your death then I hardly think you can impart any last words.”

I shrugged, rearing my head back to watch as the man swung back and forth gaining momentum before throwing the woman into the air. She easily caught onto one of the metal bar things.

“Then I guess the world will never know my last words of wisdom. ‘Tis a shame. Maybe we should leave before the world has to deal with the burden of such a loss?”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Or maybe you shouldn’t be such a scaredy cat.”

“Scaredy cat?” I wrinkled my nose. “What are we? Five?”

He chuckled. “You’re the one acting like a baby.”

“Ooh,” I mock winced, “that hurts, Ezra.”

“Just calling it like I see it.” He smiled innocently.

“You must be Ezra and Sadie.” A voice sounded behind us.

I turned around hastily and had to rear my head back to see the face of the man standing there. He was so tall that he made Hayes seem short. He had to be at least six-foot-seven.

“That’s us.” Ezra reached out to shake his hand.

The man held his hand out to me next. I placed mine inside his open palm and watched it nearly disappear in his gigantic grasp.

“I’m Oscar. I’ll be your instructor today.”

I glanced over my shoulder once more and gulped.

“Don’t be scared,” Oscar said, drawing my attention back to him, “it’s not as scary as it looks.”

“I don’t believe you,” I muttered.

He chuckled, amused by my words. “You’ll change your mind once you get up there.”

“Why?” I asked, curiously.

He shrugged and a look of contemplation stole over his face. “Because,” he replied, “when you’re up there…it feels a lot like freedom.”

I sighed and lifted my hands in the air. “Alright then, let’s do this.”

“Are you sure?” Ezra questioned. He might’ve been pushing me to do this, but he’d never make me do anything I absolutely didn’t want to do.

“Yeah,” I nodded, steeling my shoulders, “let’s go make some memories.”

Oscar went through countless instructions and made us do several exercises on the ground before letting us go up high. We weren’t made to wear harnesses since there was a giant net beneath the bars to catch us. I would’ve felt better wearing a harness, but I didn’t say anything. I’d already made enough of an embarrassment out of myself.

We climbed the ladder on opposite sides. Oscar chose to come with me. I think he was afraid I’d chicken out. But I’d committed to this. Besides, seeing how happy Ezra was and the effort he’d gone through to make this happen was pretty sweet.

I’d learned that Oscar, and all the professionals here, were a part of a circus in Orlando. This was their training center and they were on a break right now, preparing for a brand new show opening in a few weeks.

I watched as Ezra pulled one of the bars towards him. When he grabbed the bar he hung from it upside down, swaying in the air. I let out a scream like I was the one swaying like a pendulum.

“Your turn,” Oscar spoke.

I shook my head. “I can’t do that.”

“You don’t need to do it upside down. Just grab it like we practiced down below.”

My feet tapped restlessly against the platform. “I can’t do this,” I whimpered.

“Come on, Sadie,” Ezra pleaded. “For me.”

I closed my eyes.

For him.

I reached out and jumped, grabbing onto the bar. I screamed as I swung back and forth, my feet dangling below me. I had no idea how far the fall was, and I hadn’t wanted to ask. Instead I kept reminding myself that there was a net that would catch my fall.

My arms began to burn. “I’m going fall,” I cried.

Ezra swung towards me. “Jump to me.”

“No! Are you crazy?!” I shrieked, trying to hold myself up. Running clearly wasn’t doing anything for my upper body strength. I was going to have to work on that.

Ezra’s face was turning bright red from hanging upside down. “Do you trust me?”

I squished my eyes closed. “That’s a stupid question.”

“Sadie,” he growled, “do you trust me?”

“Yes!”

“Then fucking jump. I’ve got you. I’ve always had you.”

My throat closed up and I swung back gaining momentum.

I waited until I was in the right position and I let go, hurtling my body towards him.

I reached for his hands and he caught mine, somehow managing to hold onto me.

“See,” he said, “I’ll always catch you when you fall.”

“Except when you drop me onto the net,” I mumbled, my legs swaying.

He laughed, but it sounded more like a cough since he was upside down. “But it’ll be a gentler fall.”

I guess I couldn’t argue with that.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Ready,” I answered.

He let me go.

He was right. It was a gentle fall.

But when we inevitably ended I knew the fall would be anything but gentle. It was going to be fucking brutal and I wondered if either of us would come out unscathed.

EZRA AND I spent the whole day together after leaving the training facility. We did random silly things, like racing go-carts and hanging out at this little diner. We laughed and joked, and for the moment at least it felt like we were the old Sadie and Ezra. We had no pressure from our friends, or ourselves.

When we returned to the house it was already getting late and the sun was setting.

“I thought you guys were never going to get back,” Emma cried impatiently.

“Did you miss us that much?” I laughed, setting my bag down and kicking off my flip-flops.

Ezra walked past me, his arm grazing mine in the process and headed into the kitchen.

“We’re going out,” Emma declared.

“We are?” I raised a brow. “I didn’t know.”

“Well neither of you would answer your phones,” she huffed, tapping her foot impatiently. “There’s a club Hayes wants to go to. Mathias and Remy are staying behind and watching Mia, so Arden’s going too.”

“What does that have to do with me?” I questioned, dropping into one of the chairs in the living room. Mathias sat on the couch and raised his chin slightly in greeting.

Emma followed and perched her butt on the coffee table in front of me. “Maddox and I are going too, and so are you and Ezra.”

I raised a brow. “Maybe I don’t want to go.”

She shook her head. “You know, you were always the one pushing me to do things out of my comfort zone. You were the crazy one in this friendship that had all this experience and now you act like an old lady.”

I snorted, fighting a smile. “I am old.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, grabbing my hand, “I’m really not trying to be bossy, and I’m sorry I keep coming across that way. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately…” She paused, taking a breath. “But we only have one more day here and I wanted us to spend tonight and tomorrow together. Once we get home things will get crazy with the wedding and it’ll be hard for us to have any girl time.”

I frowned. I could see where she was coming from. We’d also both been far too bitchy to each other lately and I knew it was my fault. If I would just confess everything that was going on to her I knew this tension would disappear, but I just wasn’t ready to talk about it. I knew she wouldn’t approve of our arrangement. She wanted to see us together as a real couple, not as fuck buddies.

“I’m in…but you better let me do your hair and makeup.”

She winced. “Just don’t make me look like a hooker.”

“And when have I ever done that?”

“Middle school. Lauren Hanagen’s thirteenth birthday.”

I laughed. “I think I’ve learned a few things since then. Have no fear, you’re in good hands.”

“So what are we doing?” Ezra asked, walking into the room with a bag of chips in his hands.

I glanced over at him and said, “We’re going clubbing.”

“That sounds like a disaster.” He mumbled around a mouthful of chips.

Emma threw her arms in the air. “Y’all act like this is a death sentence.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fun as long as no one gets a roofied drink.”

Emma threw a pillow at him and Ezra tried to duck away, but it still collided with his shoulder before falling to the ground.

Backing into the kitchen he held his phone up and waved it around. “It’s getting late, so you ladies might want to get ready. I know it typically takes you five hours.”

This time I was the one to throw a pillow at him and his laughter carried from the kitchen all the way into the living room, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I finished styling Emma’s hair in a loose fishtail braid and moved on to Arden.

I’d already done my own hair and makeup. I chose to straighten my hair since I’d been leaving it wavy so much and left it down. For my makeup I’d gone in a more dramatic direction—red lips and smoky gray eyes.

“I’m not sure I should go.” Arden frowned, biting at her nails. “What if Mia needs me?”

I smacked her hand away. “Mia is already asleep. She’s not even going to know that you’re gone. And if for whatever reason she would wake up Mathias and Remy will be here. Plus, we all have cellphones if we need to get ahold of each other. It’ll be fine.”

I wanted Arden to go out and have fun, even if it was only for one night. Being a single mom didn’t afford her much time to do things for herself. She deserved this.

“You’re right, you’re right,” she chanted, like she was trying to convince herself.

I went to work curling her long red hair and then fluffed it out with my fingers.

“Thanks for letting me borrow this.” She pointed to her clothes.

Arden hadn’t packed any “party” clothes as she called them, so I’d lent her some to go out. Since I didn’t have a spare dress, she was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, and a gold-sequined strapless peplum top. It looked amazing next to her vivid red hair. We wore the same shoe size so I also lent her a pair of black pumps. She wobbled a bit in them, but I doubted Hayes would leave her side tonight so I wasn’t worried about her falling over.

“Ladies,” I said, giving them each a once over and then myself in the mirror, “I think we’re ready.”

Downstairs the guys were waiting for us. They were all dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts. No surprise there.

“You look beautiful,” Maddox told Emma, his eyes moving from her head down to her toes and back up again. Even after being together this long his words still made her cheeks tinge pink.

She was dressed in a sparkly flapper style dress in colors that reminded me of a mermaid.

Maddox nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek before they headed to the door. Arden and Hayes were right behind them, which left Ezra and I alone for the moment.

I hadn’t looked at him when I entered the room, but now I lifted my eyes to his.

The look in his eyes could be described in one word. Hunger.

He was starved for me, and I reveled in that fact.

I loved knowing that my very presence had an affect on him. That it killed him that right now he could only look and not touch.

“That dress,” he growled lowly, his eyes scanning my body slowly like he was savoring every inch.

“You like?” I did a little spin, showing it off. The dress was short and tight, but had three-quarter sleeves and covered me fully in the front. The back, however, was open to just above my butt and crisscrossed at my shoulders. The fabric was purple and shimmery, so it appeared to sparkle any time the light caught it.

“Fuck.” He groaned, looking pained, and scrubbed his hands down his face.

I couldn’t hide my grin. I loved being desired by him and pushing him past his breaking point. I wanted him to lose control.

I turned and headed for the door, purposely putting a little more sway in my hips than usual.

I heard him let out a string of curses behind me and I smiled like the cat that ate the canary.

I could feel things changing between us and I was scared as to where it was headed, but for tonight all I wanted was to feel his hands on my skin.

Music poured out of the speakers so loud that I wanted to cover my ears, but then I’d just look like an idiot. I couldn’t believe that as a teenager I’d liked this sort of thing. While my teen years technically hadn’t been that long ago, it felt like a lifetime. I’d changed and matured so much in the last few years. Okay…matured, not so much.

Inside the club was far nicer than the ones I’d snuck into when I was in high school.

The ceiling had these unique triangle dropdowns that glowed with different colors and the floor was shiny and clean—not covered in a layer of sticky grossness like most were.

The bar was lined with every drink imaginable and backlit in varying colors like the triangle tiles on the ceiling.

“Boys,” I patted Ezra on the shoulder, “why don’t you go grab a table and some drinks.”

Ezra eyed me, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. “And what are you ladies going to do?”

I grabbed Emma and Arden’s hands. “Dance of course.”

Before either of them could protest, like I knew they would, I dragged them onto the dance floor.

It was a fast paced song that immediately had my heart racing.

“I can’t dance,” Emma whined.

“I shouldn’t dance,” Arden interjected. “At least not like this. I’m a mom.” She glared at the people around us with disdain in her amber colored eyes.

“First off, you can dance.” I pointed a finger at Emma. “Secondly,” I narrowed my eyes on Arden, “just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you lose all sex appeal. Own it, girl.”

When neither of them moved I started to dance. I reached out and grabbed Emma’s hips, getting her to sway in time to the music. Once she had it I set my sights on Arden, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that she was already loosening up. She was clearly still nervous, and rather awkward, but I knew in a matter of minutes she’d let the rest of her reservations go.

Since both girls seemed to be fine on their own now I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the moment.

All that existed was me, the music, and how it made me feel.

I swayed my hips, lifting my hair off of my shoulders when my skin began to dampen with sweat. There were a lot of people packed in here and the air was stifling, but it was all a part of the experience.

Three songs later I finally opened my eyes and saw that Emma and Arden had disappeared.

I searched the crowded dance floor for them and came up empty.

Feeling irritated I started towards the tables.

I finally found them sitting at a large booth with the guys.

I stuck my hands on my hips and gave them both the most withering glare I could muster. “You bitches ditched me.”

Emma giggled. “We were thirsty.” She pointed to her drink.

I shook my head. “What are you even drinking?” I asked, sliding into the booth beside Arden.

Emma lifted her brightly colored drink. “I have no idea, but it’s delicious. We got you one too.” She pointed at a drink in the center of the table.

I took it and cringed. It was too sweet for me, but it packed quite the punch. For someone like Emma, who didn’t drink much, she’d be wasted in thirty minutes…maybe less.

“Are you drinking?” I asked Arden.

She shook her head. “No.”

I couldn’t blame her. She had a kid and dealing with a hangover and a three-year-old in the morning would be killer.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Hayes chanted, lifting his drink in the air. “We should toast.”

“To what?” Ezra asked.

Hayes’ lips twisted in thought. “To the Willow Creek family and all the adventures that are headed our way.”

“Hell yeah I’ll toast to that.” Maddox lifted his drink—which I’d bet was diet Pepsi, since he was tonight’s DD, and tapped it against Hayes’, before we all followed suit.

I downed my drink, and upon seeing the empty cup Ezra signaled someone over to our table.

Without me even getting a chance to open my mouth, Ezra ordered me a new drink—something completely different than the one I’d had. I’d bet money Emma had ordered the first drink for me, and of course Ezra had noticed that I detested it. But hey, it was doing its job of getting me buzzed, so it was still a winner in my book.

“Thanks,” I mouthed to him, where he sat across from me.

He waved his hand in dismissal.

Emma finished her drink and bumped Ezra to move so that she and Maddox could slide out of the booth.

“Outta my way!” She cried. “I want to dance with my man!”

Maddox snorted, fighting a grin. “I think someone’s buzzed already.”

“Absolutely not.” She pouted, standing with her hands on her hips.

Maddox leaned down and took her lips between his, kissing her long and deep. She melted into his touch and then they disappeared onto the dance floor.

Beside me Arden let out a dreamy sigh. “Is it just me or are they the cutest couple ever?”

“They are,” I agreed.

“I’ve seen cuter,” Hayes piped in.

Arden and I swung our gaze in his direction. “Like who?” I questioned, as a fresh drink was set down for me.

“One time I saw these two puppies that were clearly in love. Their little tongues kept hanging out and their tails were wagging. It was the epitome of cuteness.” He grinned easily, stretching his arm out along the back of the booth.

“Aww, that sounds precious,” Arden cried, clasping her hands together.

At the same time, I said, “You’re so full of shit.”

Arden narrowed her eyes on me. “That was an adorable story.”

“And you’re drunk.”

She wrinkled her nose in confusion. “I’m not even drinking.”

“Exactly.”

I finished my drink and stood. “See you losers later. I’m going to get my dance on.”

Before anyone could protest I stepped back and allowed my body to be carried away by the crowd.

The room was pulsing with energy and you couldn’t help but respond to it.

I let the music flow through my veins as I swung my hips to the beat of the song. My arms swayed above my head and I truly let myself go for the first time on this trip.

I closed my eyes and the glowing lights glittered behind my eyelids.

One song blended into many and my body grew damp with sweat as my heart beat like a drum.

A smile touched my lips when I felt arms wind around me from behind.

I’d recognize the feel of that body anywhere.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been watching you?” He growled lowly in my ear, his teeth grazing my lobe. “You’re so fucking sexy it was killing me that I could only look and not touch. It was like having my favorite candy dangled in front of me and saying one bite would kill me.”

“And yet,” I panted, leaning my back against his front as I opened my eyes, “you’re here touching me.”

“I decided it was worth the risk.”

“They might see us,” I warned.

I waited for him to say he didn’t care, that he wanted me and it didn’t matter anymore—that this arrangement was futile and he wanted me forever, as his future and not just his temporary pleasure.

But he didn’t say that.

Instead he whispered, “Then we’ll just have to make sure they don’t see us.”

I squished my eyes closed once more, silently reminding myself that I was being silly. He was sticking to our agreement and I couldn’t fault him for that. But my heart was breaking a little more every day and the sex—as amazing as it was—wasn’t enough to keep me whole. I couldn’t keep doing this to myself, and I vowed in that moment that once we got home I’d find my own place. This needed to end before I broke completely, but for now I would let myself enjoy the feel of his body wrapped around mine for just a little bit longer. Selfish? Maybe so. But if I was going to be forced to go the rest of my life without him then I wanted to make the most of every second we had left.

“Sadie.” He prompted when I’d been silent too long.

“Just dance with me.”

He obliged.

I never knew Ezra was such a good dancer, but the way he moved his body against mine should’ve been a crime. It was one of the most erotic things I’d ever experienced, and he wasn’t even being sexual about it. Not at all, actually. He felt the music and it pulsed through him and into me. It was like the beat of the song made us one.

His hands roamed down my hips to my thighs, and back up again. His fingers edged underneath the bottom of my dress and I hissed between my teeth as my core clenched. But he didn’t move his hands up any further. He kept them right where they were, every once in a while his fingers would lightly stroke my skin and I would clench again.

I wound my arms behind me and around his neck. He burrowed his head against mine, nipping at the spot where my neck met my shoulders, and then smoothed the spot with a slow flick of his tongue before pressing his lips to the spot.

I let out a long moan.

Jesus Christ, the way the man could affect me was entirely unfair. He knew how to stroke and play all the right strings on my body.

“Sadie.” The way he breathed my name made me shiver.

“Please,” I begged. I didn’t even know what I was begging him for.

To say my name again.

To touch me.

To love me.

I felt his fingers flex against my thighs, the pressure increasing as he pulled me more fully against him.

I rolled my hips and smiled in satisfaction when he hissed between his teeth.

“Fuck, Sadie.”

“Yes,” I purred, “fuck Sadie, please.”

I didn’t care that we were in the middle of a dance floor surrounded by people. I needed him to touch me in all the ways I needed to be felt.

“We can’t.” He breathed, sounding like those two words pained him.

“Ezra,” I panted his name and I felt him growl in approval at the sound, “I need you. Here. The bathroom. The wall. The fucking car. I don’t care. Take me, I’m yours.”

His fingers tightened against my skin even more and I wouldn’t be surprised if I found bruises in the morning, but I didn’t mind. I wanted him to brand me physically the way he was already branded on my heart and soul.

I turned around so that we were now facing each other and let him see the desperate want in my eyes.

“Sadie, you’ve been drinking…” He trailed off.

My palms landed on his hard chest and slid up around his neck, where I curled my fingers into the silky strands of his hair. Despite our conversation we both kept moving to the beat of the song.

“You know two drinks will hardly get me drunk,” I argued.

“Fucking hell.” He muttered, and kissed me right there on the dance floor.

For the moment, at least, he didn’t seem concerned about getting caught.

He nipped my bottom lip and I moaned into his mouth.

He tasted like cool lemonade on a warm summer’s day.

“Touch me,” I begged, “I need you to touch me.”

I needed to get my fill of him before I was forced to say goodbye, but something told me I’d never feel satisfied.

His hands roamed up my sides, the pads of his thumbs grazing the undersides of my breasts concealed by my dress.

“More,” I pleaded.

“Fuck being good,” he growled, taking my hand and pulling me through the crowd. He barreled past people, making sure they didn’t ram into me.

I didn’t look around to see if our friends saw. My head was too clouded with lust to care.

He found a hallway and dragged me down it.

I had no idea where we were going, but Ezra seemed to be navigating the space with no problem.

He reached out and pushed a door open and we stepped into a back alley. It was littered with trash and there was a dumpster nearby.

He led me away from the mess and before I could blink he had my back pinned to the brick wall and his lips devoured mine. His kiss was nothing like the one inside. This was rough, and tinged with desperation, like he too felt that time was running out for us and wanted to make the most of it.

I started pulling at his shirt, but he grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head.

“No.” He glared at me.

“But—” I protested.

“No,” he said again, “I want you. God, believe me I do,” he ground his hips into mine so that I could feel how much, “but not here. This, right now, is about your pleasure. Not mine.”

I opened my mouth to argue that his pleasure was mine, but he silenced me with a breath-stealing kiss.

He broke the kiss when my brain grew foggy from lack of oxygen and his lips trailed down my neck and over my collarbone before he sunk to his knees in front of me.

He glanced up at me and his dark eyes were hooded with lust.

“Do you trust me?” He asked.

“I think I proved that today,” I panted.

He let out a husky chuckle. “That you did.”

His hands skimmed up my calves and thighs, disappearing beneath the dress. He grabbed the sides of my underwear and pulled it down roughly until it stopped at my ankles.

“Step out of them,” he commanded.

I did as he asked and watched as he stuffed my underwear into his pocket.

He looked up at me again and licked his lips in anticipation. “Hold on.”

“Huh?”

I let out a small squeal of fright when he grabbed my legs and placed them on his shoulders. He pushed the bottom of my dress out of his way and looked at me one more time. “Ride my face like you mean it, sweetheart.”

And then his mouth was on me and I lost all trace of coherent thought.

Pleasure hummed in my veins and my limbs grew weak. He seemed to sense this and grabbed my ass to hold me steady.

“Ezra.” I panted his name over and over again in the darkened alleyway.

I leaned my head back against the wall, looking at all the stars that shimmered above us. They were the only witness to the sublime pleasure Ezra was giving me. The stars saw everything. Oh, the secrets they could tell.

I felt my body begin to tighten and my legs shook. “I’m going to come,” I warned, my back arching against the wall. “Oh God,” I moaned. “Ezra!” I cried out his name loud enough that people nearby probably heard.

His tongue swiped against me one last time and he lowered my legs to the ground. He kept ahold of me as he stood, and brushed the dirt and gravel off of his pants with his free hand.

“Fuck you taste amazing,” he growled, turning me on all over again. He swiped his thumb over his bottom lip and sucked it into his mouth. Damn him. My body was coiled tight with the need to sink myself down onto him, but I knew he wouldn’t allow that.

I leaned up and kissed him, the taste of me lingering on his lips. “I think that’s the hottest thing anyone has ever done to me.”

“Go down on you in an alley?” He questioned, raising one dark brow.

“When you put it that way it sounds gross, but it was…incredible.” I grabbed onto his shirt, my body leaning heavily against his. He wrapped an arm around me and started leading me towards the door we’d come through.

“I’m glad you thought so…it was equally as pleasurable for me.”

“But you didn’t get off,” I whispered, like it was some sort of secret.

He grinned down at me. “Giving pleasure can be as good as receiving, and that,” he nodded behind us at the alley, “was fucking amazing.”

I bit my lip, wishing desperately that we were anywhere but here right now so that I could make love to him the way I wanted.

Whoa, no.

Not make love.

We didn’t do that.

We fucked.

Because we were friends with benefits.

And that was it.

Ezra held my hand through the darkened hallway, but once we reached the main room he let go.

We found the table and all our friends, who looked grumpy and irritable.

“Where have you been?” Emma asked, her eyes were filled with worry, but her words were laced with anger. “We’ve been looking for you guys for forever.”

“We were dancing,” Ezra replied. I didn’t know how he appeared so at ease after what we did. My body was still shaking with after shocks.