Текст книги "Love Surfaced"
Автор книги: Michelle Lynn
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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 17 страниц)
five
AS TANNER CARRIES TWO BROWN paper bags, we sneak into our apartment building. A heaviness grew in my throat when I asked Tanner to park on the opposite corner where he usually does, so Brad won’t think he is home or look for him elsewhere—like my apartment. This whole sneaking-around behavior makes it seem like I’m a mistress, and this is our first date. It’s as though we’re hiding some sort of affair. Well, I guess we are.
I open my door and retreat to the kitchen to set up the breakfast bar, but Tanner has other plans. He leisurely walks over to the couch and plops the food down on the coffee table. After grabbing a few paper plates and silverware, I go to join him, and my throat constricts. There’s something more intimate now that we’re in my apartment, behind a locked door, with no interruptions coming from a waiter asking if we’d like another drink, or from the hustle of a restaurant diverting our attention or giving us a topic of conversation.
Will I be able to hold his interest when it’s just us?
When he takes the plates from me, I swear his hands linger a little longer.
“Why does Wendi keep going home every weekend?”
I kneel down next to him and inhale the smell of his cologne while my fingers fumble with the silverware. “She’s dating some old boyfriend.” My shoulders rise and fall, showing indifference. Truthfully, I enjoy having the place to myself, especially in times like this.
“Oh.”
He leans his back against the couch, and I admire his long legs stretched out in front of him.
Before I embarrass myself further by wiping the drool I’m positive is dribbling from my mouth, I attempt to keep our conversation casual. “So . . . are you ready for some tofu?”
I grin ear to ear, and in exchange he gives me a cringe.
Tilting my head to the side, my smile doesn’t break at his resistance to give my food suggestion a chance. “Come on, it won’t be that bad.”
“Says the one who chose it.”
“I’ll tell you what. If you really hate it, I’ll go out and buy you two double cheeseburgers.”
Placing his hand over his heart, his head falls back in the cushions. “Now, you’re talking to me.”
I exaggerate my eye roll, and he laughs.
“Just give it an honest-to-God try, okay?”
Letting out an exasperated breath, he nods at me, placing two fingers up in the air. “Scout’s honor.”
“Nice try, but you were never a scout.” I open the brown bag before pulling out the burritos.
“Was to.” He fights back like an eight-year-old, pulling another giggle out of me.
“When?” I stop my hands and challenge him.
Tanner has telltale signs that show when he’s lying, one being that he diverts eye contact at all costs.
“Before I moved to Marlowe. Cub Scout for six months.” With his stern eyes focusing on mine, he shows how truthful he’s being. “If we hadn’t moved, the wilderness could have been my serenity instead of a swimming pool.”
“Jeez . . . what would the world have done without top swimmer Tanner McCain? All that talent would have been wasted with rubbing two sticks together in the woods,” I joke.
The warmth of his chuckle calms my body.
“I excel in everything I do, so it wouldn’t have mattered.” His tone is so steady that anyone else would suspect he’s an egomaniac, but I’m too familiar with the dry sense of humor he possesses.
“You could have been one of those survivalists on the Discovery Channel. I’m sure viewers wouldn’t have minded seeing you on Naked and Afraid.”
I place the heavy burrito on Tanner’s plate, and he begins to unravel it, cautiously perusing it like he’s about to dissect it in biology class.
“I think I’d be eating something similar to this.” He points to the tofu burrito, not letting up on his displeasure to my choice of eatery.
“Um . . . no! Haven’t you seen how much weight they lose on the show? It’s disgusting.” I sit on my knees, the tension falling off my shoulders.
We ease into our friendly conversation.
Leaning closer, he closes the gap between us and lowers his voice as he says, “I’m sure you would have tuned in just to see me naked.”
“Get over yourself.”
I push his shoulder hard with my hand, and he exaggerates the impact, bumping into the couch.
Chuckling to himself, he holds the burrito up in his hands and turns to me. “I’d DVR it if you were naked on TV.”
Then, I watch his mouth cover the top of the burrito, and he takes a healthy bite. All the while, my stomach flips and flops with his declaration. Just from one sentence, the tension fills the room again.
He swallows the last of his bite. “Man, I wish I would have figured that out years ago.”
“Figured what out?” I bite a much smaller amount than Tanner.
“If I compliment you, it shuts your mouth.”
He takes another bite, and I wait for a sign that he in fact likes the burrito.
“So not true,” I hammer back. Even though he’s correct, I’m not about give him that ammunition.
His eyes glimmer with mischief. “I’m going to store that to memory.”
I press the button on the television, to divert his attention to something else. I hate when uncomfortableness overcomes me after someone has said something nice. Then, an advertisement for Naked and Afraid comes on, and we both look at each other and bust out laughing. Tanner slaps his knee, and I attempt to swallow the food before I spit it out. Similar to a teeter-totter, we’re back to casual and easy.
“You’re imagining me on that show naked right now, aren’t you?” He places his burrito down and grabs his drink while his stare speeds up the beating of my heart. I pretend to rotate my head to free tension, so I can compose myself.
“No,” I lie, heat bringing a blush to my cheeks.
Placing his drink back down, he scoots closer. “It’s okay, Piper. You want a sneak peek.”
I glance up through my eyelashes, and my breathing stops as I watch his fingers unbutton his shirt. My fingers ache to touch his bare chest. When he reaches four buttons down, my hands ball into fists, and my fingernails dig into my palms. I refrain from ripping the fabric the rest of the way to help him out.
“Can I tell you something?” he asks.
His fingers stop moving, and my eyes flicker up to his somber face.
“Yes.” I can barely hear my shallow voice.
“I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time.”
My whole body heats from his words I’ve dreamed about hearing.
“Oh,” escapes my mouth. I inwardly cringe from not conveying my own admissions back.
Not skipping a beat, he continues, “I’m fairly certain you like me, too.”
His hand reaches out and cups my cheek. I press my weight into the heat of his palm, slowly losing myself in this moment.
“Am I right?”
“Oh.” I sit up a little straighter, taken aback from his directness. “Yes,” I release the word he was prying for.
A smile begins to form across his mouth. “Good,” he whispers.
He inches closer, and my body shivers from the expectation of a kiss. Holding in a breath, I close my eyes when the lightest brush of his lips land on mine. He holds the kiss steady, not accelerating the pace, and my lips tingle, desperately wanting to open, while my mind fights the urge. I don’t want to seem too aggressive. I allow him to take the lead on our first true intimate moment. When his other hand matches the placement on my other cheek, I inhale a deep breath through my nose, and my chest rises and falls.
His tongue licks along the seam of my lips, asking me to open up for him. I’m probably a little too eager, but I never perfected the hard-to-get role like other girls. His hand slides to the back of my head and gently tilts it to the side, his fingers threading through my strands. My stomach flutters, and heat builds in my core.
Our tongues slide together, diving deeper into each other’s mouths, as the kiss becomes frantic. Tanner gently urges my body down to the carpeted floor, and I glide backward, his lips remaining on mine. He’s so caring, as though he’s placed me down on a bed of nails. I forget that this man, who has kidnapped every sense I currently behold, used to be the one who tormented me the most.
My hand sweeps along his wavy hair, my fingers massaging the back of his hairline. A moan releases from me into Tanner’s mouth when his tongue deepens, demanding my mouth to open further and wider. Goose bumps travel up my spine as he removes one hand from my cheek before grazing his fingers painfully slow along my body, passing the swell of my breast, until he reaches between my thighs. Nudging one leg to the side, he slides his body in the opening, occupying the space as though my legs are meant to part only for him.
He slows the kiss, and his lips travel along my jaw, moving down to the crook of my neck. Arching my head back, I revel in the fact my dream has become a reality.
“I’m barely controlling myself,” he murmurs against my skin.
My body responds to his compliment by arching more, trying to entice his hands to explore me further.
“I want to rip this dress off.” He fiddles with the belt that’s barely holding the dress together by a knot.
The pressure of his bulge nudges into the barrier of only my panties, making me wetter.
“Do it,” softly slips from my lips.
His head startles up, observing me in shock. When he sees how serious I am, a sly grin takes over, and he descends down my body, nipping at my collarbone.
“I’m never one to turn down a request.” A small chuckle leaves his mouth, and his tongue slips out to joins his lips in the assault of my body.
“Always the pleaser,” I joke.
His back vibrates from the laughter he’s unable to hold in. “You know me all too well.”
His finger manipulates my belt loop, and his hand pushes the fabric aside. The heat of his palm tingles my flesh along my stomach. A guy’s touch has never felt this good, this hot, overcoming me with lust.
With my dress falling down on each side, exposing my white bra and panty set. The sheerness leaves nothing to the imagination. His eyes rake over my body with a predatory stare, and his tongue snakes out, licking his lips. When his gaze hesitates a bit longer between my legs, my panties dampen more, if possible.
“Jesus, my dreams didn’t do you justice. I thought I knew your body, but damn, Piper. I’m holding on by a thread here.”
His words bring an overwhelming ache between my thighs.
He thinks he’s going to explode? I might combust if he continues staring at me as though I’m the first woman he’s seen naked.
“Do you plan on talking the whole night?” Finding a hidden sex kitten deep inside of me, I jut my finger out, grazing it along the waistline of his jeans, as I try to give him my best come-and-get-me expression.
“Hell no.” He bends back down, his hand pulling down the cup of my bra, freeing the flesh into his hand. He massages the tender skin, pinching my nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
His lips explore the crevice between my breasts, and my fingers press his face into my body as my legs wrap and clench around his waist.
He grinds his erection into me, and I gasp for a breath. His moist mouth sucks my breast in while his two hands explore around my back and releases me of my bra. He helps me completely shed my dress and bra, and something deep inside me roars to life. It’s not shyness or self-consciousness. Rather, an out of control hunger from finally getting what I’ve craved for so long.
I push on his chest, and he scoots off of me. His brows furrow from me stopping him. He sits up, and I straddle his lap at the same time. He moves back to lean against the couch. His two hands dive under the fabric of my panties, massaging and molding my ass, as I began unbuttoning the last of the shield between us.
I push the button-down shirt off his shoulders, and warmth shoots through my veins. The moment processes that this guy in front of me is mine—at least for right now. Inching forward, his lips find my shoulder, his teeth nibbling on the flesh. My head falls back, and my body leans into his tight hold.
My fingers manipulate his belt, unhooking and pulling to free him, but Tanner keeps bringing me toward him, grinding himself at my center, leaving a wet spot on his jeans.
“I need you,” I say to him, holding his head against my skin, as he rains kisses down my arm.
“Bedroom. We’re going to make this halfway romantic,” he mumbles between nips and licks.
Standing up, my body runs cold without the heat of his body and touch. Luckily, I don’t have to wait too long. Tanner backs me up a few steps until he grabs the hold he needs on my body. I scream when he picks me up in one swoop, and I anchor myself to his body by locking my ankles behind his back.
“You didn’t think I’d make you expend your energy by walking, did you?” He flicks his tongue over my earlobe and sucks it into his hot and moist mouth. “Because I’ve waited for you for too long, I’m not quite sure when I’ll be done with you.”
My whole body shifts into overdrive. My veins pump the blood to catch up to my frantically out-of-control heart rate due to Tanner McCain’s words and actions tonight.
“I have all night,” I whisper back.
He chuckles into my skin. “That might not be enough.”
With the conviction in his voice, my body begins melting and slowing down, as I become more in love with him than I was two minutes ago.
When he tosses me on the bed, I sink into the mattress, and watch his thumbs push into the sides of his jeans, sliding them down his defined legs. As he stands there in his navy boxer briefs, I realize that fans see him in less fabric at his meets. But while those girls go home and dream about themselves in my exact position, he’s here with me, and he wants me. An unbelievable joy fills every nook of my heart.
“You’re thinking way too hard about what is going to happen here,” he jokes.
I giggle. “Sorry—” I don’t finish because he crawls up the bed.
My mouth dries with every knee and hand planted before he cages me with his large frame. His hand cups my cheek, and I lean into his palm, burrowing in like a cat loving the affection.
“Just turn off that brain of yours and enjoy.”
His lips hover over mine, and I break the distance, the lust building at a rapid pace. When the kiss closes, my fingers hook on either side of his hips under the elastic waist of his boxers.
“Now, you’re getting the point.”
Taking his words as a green light, I push them further down, and his cock springs out of his underwear.
Our hands roam, and our lips explore the nakedness of our bodies. We wrestle for dominance in a pleasure-seeking dance on my bed. Finally pinning me down, Tanner entwines his fingers in mine, positioning our hands locked together above my head. As he hovers himself right at my entrance, his breath tickles my skin, and I tilt my center to entice him into me.
“Piper, you still on the pill?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Seriously, you know way too much about me.”
“Are you?” His jaw clenches.
“Yes,” I breathlessly whisper.
He thrusts into me. I lose my ability to talk and breathe at the same time as he circle his hips while he’s inside me.
His hands tightly hold mine and then release pressure every time his cock thrusts in and out of me. Inching my ass off the mattress, we soon master the sync of our bodies. Groans and moans bounce off the four walls of my bedroom.
“Jesus, Piper. You’re so damn wet.” His eyes are closed, and I’m not sure if he’s talking directly to me or not. “You feel too goddamn good.”
I bite my lip and wiggle through his hold, clenching to keep my orgasm at bay, but when he continues his talk, my control slips.
“Fuck. I’ve wanted to be buried in you for so damn long. I can’t believe it’s happening.”
The mixture of his dirty and sweet talk undoes me, and I crumble into a million pieces on my bed. Every limb is exhausted and finished, but Tanner still pumps into me at a rapid pace, so, I keep myself together. Digging my heels into the soft mattress, I hold my body firm, so he can control the motion how he needs it. Then, without warning, he leaves my body, and hot liquid shoots onto my stomach.
“I figure, better be safe.” He smiles down at me, and I’m relieved the moment isn’t ruined. “I’ll be right back.” He climbs off the bed and flicks on the bathroom light.
A few seconds later, a warm washcloth wipes off my stomach.
“Thank you.” I sit up on the bed, leaning against my headboard. Tanner grins over and ventures back to the bathroom. How can it be this man just saw me naked and I want to shield my body now? Pulling my covers down, I crawl under them, unsure of what will happen next.
Tanner opens the bathroom door, and from what I can tell, he doesn’t second guess before walking around the bed and crawling under the covers with me.
“Come here.” He holds his arm out for me to nuzzle into his embrace.
With my head on his shoulder and his fingers traveling up and down my spine, igniting goose bumps, calmness surrounds me.
“It’s weird. I always assumed when we finally did it, it would be slow and tender,” he says.
“You always thought we would have sex?” I pick up my head, resting my chin on my hand.
I wonder if, while lying in his bed at night, he’s wondered what I might be doing two floors down. Did he dream of his lips on mine and his hands on my body as often as I did?
His body shifts under me, and his eyebrows crease. “Yeah. Didn’t you?”
“I hoped, but I just thought I was stuck in the best friend’s-sister category.”
He shakes his head and his thumb brushes against my cheek. “Hell, Piper, I think I’ve wanted you since you grew tits.”
I playfully smack his bare chest, and he chuckles, grabbing my hand and wrapping it around his stomach.
“In all seriousness, I’ve thought about this many times, and I’m ashamed because I feel like I cheated you tonight.”
“You didn’t, but you can always make it up to me if you’re ridden with guilt.” I wiggle my eyebrows a few times.
Bending down, he kisses the top of my head. “I plan to . . . a lot.”
six
A WEEK HAS PASSED SINCE my first date with Tanner. It’s been a blur of tossed clothing, naked body parts, and pure pleasure. We can’t seem to keep our hands to ourselves—in his Jeep, the restroom in the library, and even the pool during one early morning swim.
I guess I was wrong in thinking that Tanner preferred truth in the game of Truth or Dare. During a friendly competition, the dares he’s come up with have made me blush. Not that I’ve turned them down because who would?
Although, I did act annoyed when he kept swimming into my lane to grab at my body, his fingers venturing under my bathing suit. Secretly, I loved it. Who wouldn’t? I was floating in more ways than one when his lips landed on mine, and we slowly rose up to the surface, our bodies entwined together. It was like a damn movie scene.
The problem now is, if I thought I was infatuated with Tanner McCain before, I’m completely and fully head over heels in love now. My heart is already cracking in two for when it ends. I say when, not if, because there’s no choice for it not to. He’ll leave for Colorado Springs after graduation, and I’ll be off to find myself. We haven’t discussed anything in regard to our future, and I wish my overly dramatic imagination would slow down a touch. A week of hot sex and a few I like yous mean nothing.
The newest obstacle in our hidden love affair is a birthday celebration Brad planned for Taylor tonight. Well, planned is a loose term for texting all his friends and having them meet at a bar. I wasn’t going to go, but Tanner asked really nicely while kissing my neck with lingering hands. Somewhere between the rush of my sexual impatience, I agreed, much to his satisfaction.
Now, here I sit, closest to the wall in a booth, with Tanner across from me and Bea on my left. He continues to give me those flirtatious eyes while his legs lock on either side of mine. Bea’s curious looks shift our way on more than one occasion, but she’s kept her lips shut. Which is very unlike her. Brad is oblivious to anything other than Taylor, which is a nice change for him. They’ve been mingling around as though it’s their engagement party. He’s usually only with his buddies, Tanner mostly, so I’m thrilled to have Tanner across from me.
Then, the whole scenario deteriorates when Sara Brunswick slides down next to him. With a snap of her fingers, our contact breaks, and mine veer down to Sara’s finger steadily moving along his forearm. Looking back up to Tanner, he studies me. He used to date Sara for about four months last year. They were hot and heavy, but I’m not sure about the seriousness of their relationship. Since freshman year, it was the first time I separated myself from hanging out with Tanner and Brad. My emotions were high, and I was jealous that Sara could grab his attention like I always did.
Tanner and I have steered clear through the years. Before, we snuck in one hidden kiss or a prolonged stare and even a few tingled brushes of arms. But the line between friendship and romance was drawn a long time ago. We both dated people, but it was never more than a casual thing—a few dates, prom, or drunken nights. The two of us never officially got involved in any serious boyfriend-girlfriend relationships. I assumed we were waiting for Brad to notice the intensity between us when we were together and for him to accept it.
Then, Sara strolled in one night at their apartment when we returned from a bar, and I watched Tanner take her to his bedroom. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I can’t lie. I was happy when they didn’t work out, but Tanner had hurt me. I stayed away from them until swim practice started back up, and we were thrown together. Soon, his comedic personality beat the anger out of me, and we were back to where we’ve always been—flirtatious friends.
“Tanner, I called you last night.” Sara’s sweet voice nauseates my stomach.
She peers at Bea and me, releases a huff, and then she casts her glance back on Tanner.
“Sara, you know Piper and Bea.” He nods his head our way.
When I begin to shift my weight, he locks my knee tighter between his legs.
“How could I forget?” She barely raises her hand off Tanner’s to give us a small recollection.
“Well, they do say hair dye—”
I elbow Bea, pursing my lips together to keep from smiling.
“What?” Bea turns to me. “It’s been researched.”
Noticing my stern appearance, she lets it fade away. She gives Sara a fake smile before turning around to peruse the bar.
I’m aggravated that it takes Tanner two minutes to remove her hand. The heat from the rage boiling in my veins makes me hot. I’m torn. Do I leave and act like a bratty two-year-old? Or stay and take the chance of my knee unlocking between Tanner’s legs to shoot right up to kick him square in his crotch?
Disregarding Bea and me, Sara leans across the table, face mere inches from Tanner’s
Um . . . hello? Someone should tell her that we are in a booth. Unless she somehow slides onto Tanner’s lap, positioning herself between Tanner and the table. She can’t shield our view.
Maybe Bea has a point about the hair dye.
“Tanner,” she whines.
I shake my head, nudging Bea to move out of the booth.
She cocks her head back at me and mouths, No.
Turning her attention to Tanner, he snickers. He knows, between the two of them, I’m locked in place.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I let out a huff, and Tanner full-out laughs.
“What do you want, Sara?”
When his eyes don’t falter from mine, I want to reach across the table and smack a kiss to his lips.
“Can we talk?” she half-whispers, not aware that Bea and I can hear her plain as day.
Tanner’s sights never veer, remaining pinned on me.
“No,” he answers.
He winks at me, which earns me a pinch from Bea. The weight of her glowering stare into the side of my head doesn’t cease. Plus, Tanner’s lips are moving into a smirk because he sees it, too.
“Come on.” Sara scoots closer to him, and she takes a sip of her drink in a lame form of seduction, except it slips from her hands and dumps into Tanner’s lap.
“Fucking Christ!” Tanner screams. The table pushes forward, locking Bea and me in. “Shit!” He grabs the edge of the table, pulling it off of us.
“I’m so sorry, Tanner. Let me . . .” She grabs the napkins on the table.
At this point, I’m done. She’s already got one hand on my man’s crotch, blotting it and her other grabbing more napkins.
Tanner attempts to push her hand away, peering up at me and then back down, but the girl will not relent.
Somehow, my body begins to react. Before I can stop myself, I push the table back, and my hand is on her wrist, yanking it off. Tanner chuckles, and Sara cocks her head back at me. My teeth nail down my lip, and between Tanner and Bea’s hysterical laughter, I come back to the moment. Tanner and I are not publically out as a couple. Sara files out of the booth to clean it up and Tanner follows.
“What the hell, Piper?” Sara places her hands on her hips.
My teeth bite harder. “I’m sure Tanner can manage.” I quickly sit back down, looking anywhere but at her.
“Oh, man. Party foul.” Brad decides to make his entrance now. “Piper, don’t stop Tanner from getting felt up.” He laughs, almost spitting out his beer.
He’s clearly had too much to drink.
“I know she’s always had a thing for you, but come on,” Sara talks only to Tanner.
He stands up straighter now, the amusement faded. She leans over, brushing her chest against his arm, and this odd adrenaline shoots through my veins. It’s the same breathlessness I have when I’m standing on the board, waiting for the shot of the pistol.
“Just get out of my way.” Tanner elbows her to push her out of the booth.
Sara relents, and Tanner escapes without a look my way, walking in the direction of the restroom.
“You.” Sara points her manicured nail my way.
Bea sits up straighter, her back flat as a board, ready to protect me. “Just leave, Sara,” Bea warns her.
“No. So, what? Are you guys finally together or something? You’ve finally stopped fucking with other people’s emotions in the stupid game of I Like You or I Don’t Like You?” She places one hand on her hip and juts it to the side.
Bea slides out, and Taylor walks over, obviously aware of the escalating situation.
“What are you talking about, Sara? You’re the one who ended it with Tanner.” Brad tries to play referee.
I’m surprised he isn’t thrown back the slightest by Sara’s words.
“I only broke up with him because I’d never live up to what he really wants.” Sara tosses her hand in my direction.
I slide out of the booth, leaving all of us in a narrow opening, as we become the entertainment for the crowded bar. “Don’t blame me for that,” I hammer back at her.
Sara shakes her head, tossing it back, while giving out a hollow laugh. “You were always hanging around.”
She leans forward, and Brad intervenes by stepping between us.
“She’s my sister. Of course she’s always around.”
I’m mildly amused by Brad at this moment because he’s so naive as to what Sara is saying.
“Trust me, Brad. She’s not hanging around your apartment for some sibling bonding.” She swivels around on her heeled boot, her bleach-blonde hair smacking Brad in the face.
He looks at me, and then Taylor cozies up to him.
“She’s ruining my party,” she whines. Leaning close, she softly says, “Look at everyone staring. Come on, Brad. Dance with me.”
“All right, baby.” He wraps his arm around her waist.
When they are a few tables down, Taylor turns around and winks at me.
Man, I pinned her wrong.
“Are you ready to tell me what the hell is going on? I’m your best friend, and it appears that little Miss Peppy over there knows, so cough it out,” Bea says from behind me.
When I face her, I see her raised eyebrows, and her lips are turned up into a smirk.
“Do I really have to say it? You know, Bea. You’ve always known.”
I go to sit back down on the bench, but Bea grips my wrist to keep me in place.
“Say it,” she eggs on, wiggling her eyebrows. She’s got me cornered, and she knows it.
“Really?” I try to move, but her nails dig into the flesh of my wrist.
“Fine.” I inch forward. “We’re sleeping together,” I whisper.
Her head falls back as she lets out a bellow laugh. She points her finger at me. “That’s not all. There’s more involved,” she confirms her correct intuition.
“Let it rest, Bea.” I’m lucky the bar is at its usual loudness. Otherwise, everyone within twenty feet would have overheard her.
“All right,” she sulks. “You don’t let me have any fun.”
“Sorry.” I half-ass mean it, finally sitting down on the bench.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Bea yanks me up by the arm into a standing position. She checks the dance floor and then turns back to me. “You are going to go in the back, into the men’s restroom, and pin your very fine boyfriend against the wall of a stall. Then—”
“You don’t need to finish that thought.” I smile, biting my lip. Do I have the ability to push my inhibitions to the side? “He’s not my boyfriend.” Arguing with Bea will surely give Tanner enough time to return, getting me out of this predicament.
“Wrong. He just gave you all his attention while a very available and willing girl tried to hook him.” She twists me around, facing the back of the bar. “Go!” She pushes me forward.
My feet step one at a time until the dark hallway is in front of me.
Inhaling a deep breath, I’m about to weave between the girls gossiping and couples making out when Tanner’s tall form exits the restroom. Our eyes find each other, and without asking a question, he grabs my hand and escorts me out the back door, propping a rock into the frame so that it won’t shut behind us.
My heart races as I wait to discover his next move. In all the years I’ve known him, I didn’t know how spontaneous he was.
“Come on.” He leads me to a dark spot in the alley where two buildings meet.
He unleashes his hand from mine and places both on my hips before gently propping me against the brick wall. It scratches my back, but I’m not about to complain when his scent wafts under my nostrils. His arousing and alluring manly smell crowds my brain with memories of my time with him—not just this past week, but years gone by, too. I stare at his lips only millimeters away, and I lick my own, preparing them for his taste. But he doesn’t close the gap. Instead, he stays steady, allowing his body to encase mine in the dark alleyway.
