* * *
I lift my glass of water and sip. Does nothing to cool my frustration.
Lauren’s with her second bottle of beer. She throws her head back and laughs at something funny the guy in front of says.
I don’t trust him. Not one bit. Not with his unbuttoned polo shirt over his tank top, that grin of his or the way he’s staring at Lauren as if he’ll devour her. Fucking loser.
I’ll punch him. In fact, my free hand’s already rolled into a fist at my side, clenching and unclenching. But I try to calm myself down. I shouldn’t make a scene.
Besides, I have no right to be jealous.
“Hey.” A woman with short, blond hair and a white blouse paired with tight-fitting leather pants stops in front of me. “Can I get you a beer or something stronger?”
I set my empty cup of water down. “No, thanks. I’m fine.”
She turns around to the group of women behind her, who giggle. They’ve been taking turns trying to get me to spend time with them, probably betting among themselves or something, which frankly, I’m starting to find annoying.
“How about a dance, then?”
“Sorry, but I’m sure your friend already told you I don’t dance.”
“Well, we don’t have to dance.” She shrugs. “We can hold hands and sway.”
I go back to staring at Lauren. “Or you can find someone your age who you can play with.”
“Fine.”
She walks off and huddles with her friends who’re already formulating new plans.
I don’t mind. I watch Lauren as she laughs again.
She must be drunk. She’s only finished one bottle but she must be to laugh so hard and often.
Just then, she wobbles and I almost run to her but the guy she’s talking to places an arm around her, keeping her steady, and she laughs again.
Yup. She’s definitely had enough to drink.
Thankfully, she ditches that second bottle on a table. But then she and the guy head to the dance floor.
I stand my ground, watching her like a hawk as Lauren raises her arms up in the air, rolling her shoulders and wiggling her hips.
Wow. I didn’t know she could dance.
The guy beside her moves as well, staying close to her. The urge to punch him gets stronger.
Easy, Chase. They’re just dancing.
Well, at first, they are, but then he turns her around and places his hands on her waist and my composure snaps. In a few steps, I’m there between them, prying Lauren away from him.
“What are you doing?” Lauren asks in a slurred, annoyed voice.
“Keeping you safe,” I drag her out of the crowd.
“Let me go.” She tries to free her wrist but fails.
“We’re going home.” I don’t stop.
“What’s your problem?”
“Nothing. You, on the other hand, have a serious problem.”
“I don’t,” she slurs.
“You’re drunk,” I reply.
“No, I’m not. I’ve only had one bottle.”
“And how many have you had before?”
“Hmm. Just the one.”
“My point exactly.”
She falls silent, her resistance ebbing away.
She’s quiet as we follow the path back to Little Peace Ranch. Then just as we’re at the border, she stops.
“Slow down,” she pants. “I can’t walk that fast.”
I turn to face her. “See. You are drunk.”
“And you’re mean.” She places a hand on her knee. “You could have borrowed one of Kelly’s horses.”
Yeah, it hadn’t crossed my mind. I’d been hell-bent on getting Lauren out of that guy’s clutches as quickly as possible.
“Sorry.”
She sits on the ground. “I don’t think I can walk anymore.”
“Fine. I’ll carry you.”
I place my arm around her and lift her in my arms. She laughs again.
She’s heavy and my broken rib aches under her weight. I don’t complain, though. I carry her past the gate and through the moonlit patch of woods in the direction of the house. It’s a good thing the moon is full because my hands are too, and I can’t hold the flashlight.
“What’s with that serious look?” she asks me.
“I’m trying not to drop you,” I answer.
“You look hot when you’re so serious. And when you’re up close.”
My face is close to hers, her alcohol-laden breath tickling my skin and her hair sweeping over my face whenever the wind blows.
“You’re drunk,” I repeat.
“And you’re too serious.” She strokes my cheek, her thumb stopping at the corner of my mouth. “Kiss me.”
I pause at the daring invitation, meeting her gaze.
I shouldn’t have. Smoldering bedroom eyes peer back at me, and my cock springs to life. Then she closes her eyes, parting her lips and puckers up.
I put her down.
“Walk,” I tell her. “If you can flirt, then you can walk.”
“Flirting?” she asks with a chuckle, stumbling after me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really? You seemed like an expert back there with that guy.”
“What guy?”
I don’t answer, but turn on the flashlight and shine it on the path.
“Wait.” Lauren tugs my arm. “You’re not jealous, are you?”
I keep silent.
“You are jealous.” She tugs my arm harder, throwing herself at me. “Why? Do you want to dance with me, too?”
I suck in a deep breath. Her breasts graze my chest, and her misty, amber eyes absorb me. Tug me deeper under her spell.
“I don’t dance,” I tell her through gritted teeth.
“Bullshit.” Lauren places her hands around my neck, rubbing her curves against mine.
I force myself to pull away from her. She’s a virgin, dick wad. Go easy.
I grab her wrist. “Let’s go home.”
“You’re no fun at all,” she whines.
“And you’ve had too much fun.”
“What are you scared of, huh? Are you scared of my dad? Well, I don’t see him around.”
I pay her no attention and push a low branch aside.
“Oh, come on. You were so eager to fuck me before.” Bitterness drips from her voice. “What’s the matter, hmm? Are you bored? Scared?”
“Lauren…”
She frees her arm from my grasp. I stop and turn around. “We should go home.”
“Or we can have fun.” She kicks her boots off so that she’s barefoot then unfastens the top button of her dress.
I watch her fingers, speechless and unable to move. Another button comes off, then another, giving me a glimpse of the black bra she’s wearing beneath her dress.
“Are you going to watch?” she challenges.
I swallow.
She holds one flap of her dress open, bites her lip, and crooks a finger at me.
I take a deep breath as I place my hands on my hips, focus on the moon instead.
Oh, what have I done to deserve this torture?
“Lauren…”
“Enough talk.”
She stands in front of me, drawing my attention back to her face. She runs her fingers over my lips.
“I’m sure you can put that mouth to better use.”
I say nothing.
“I’m sure I can put mine to better use.”
She folds to the ground, down on her knees. Her hands wrap around my waist.
“Lauren…”
She moves her face forward, lips parted. I grow thicker, harder. She plants a kiss on my clothed, bulging crotch. She takes the zipper of my pants between her teeth.
She succeeds on the third try, pulls it down.
And just like that, every bit of my resistance crumbles, the flashlight falls from my fingers and spills its light over the leaves and branches on the ground.
“Oh, fuck it.”