Jax

I push Raegan further into the bed and taste every part of her I can as my hands slide under her shirt. I groan into her mouth, feeling her smooth skin under my fingers.

I have no idea why I was holding back before when Raegan asked me what we were. I guess I didn’t want to admit to her that she had become the person I wanted to be with when I woke up and before I fell asleep. She quickly invaded my life, and I don’t know how I’d gotten by so long without her.

Her hand tugs at my hair as my tongue sweeps across hers. Her nails dig into my side, and my abdomen tightens, as I know she’ll leave a red mark on my skin.

She pulls the string around my neck, and the red cape slides down my back, falling to the floor. She pushes the Superman shirt I’m wearing up, and I’m ready to yank the damn thing over my head when my phone rings.

We both pause, gazing at each other, as the sound echoes through the room.

The music from the party muffled by my bedroom door and the faint voices of people walking down the hall reminds me we aren’t alone. It snaps me back to reality.

I don’t want Raegan like this. I want her alone, not in a crowded house. I’m going to give her more than a quick lay. When I take her, she’ll know I cherish every part of her—body and soul.

I push off the bed and yank my phone from my pocket, Arya’s name on the screen.

I swipe Answer as I stare down at Raegan, her chest rising and falling and lips red. “Yeah.”

“You stole my friend,” Arya shouts over the music and laughter in the background. “Come outside and play beer pong.”

I hold my hand out to Raegan, and she takes it. I lift her from the bed as I say, “We’re coming.”

I hang up the phone and shove it in my pocket.

“What’s going on?” she asks, smoothing out her hair with her free hand.

“We’re going downstairs.” I tug on her hand, leading her to the door, but she pulls me to a stop.

“Why?” Raegan asks as I flip around. She blinks several times. “We were...” She glances over at the bed.

I take a step closer to her, placing my hand on the back of her neck.

“I know, but you warrant more than this.” I kiss her temple. “Let’s go downstairs, and I promise when it’s the right time, I’ll worship every part of you. You’ll feel how much you mean to me.” Her lips part, a gasp escaping her mouth. “It’ll be just you and me, not this.”

“Okay…yeah…that’s…” she stammers, and I grin, knowing my words have her speechless.

I throw open my bedroom door and guide her downstairs around the mass of people taking over my house.

The stairs vibrate as the music blares from the living room stereo. When we hit the last step, I glance out the front door, and I’m surprised I don’t see any red and blue lights. We weave through the living room, and I navigate us outside where I know the beer pong table is set up.

“It’s about time,” Arya says, a hand on her hip. “Boys against the girls.” She reaches out and grabs Raegan’s arm, hauling her to the end of the table, opposite Graham, Trent, and Luke.

“This is Trent,” I say to Raegan, nudging his shoulder. He half-smiles at her, his posture relaxed, like he smoked a joint recently. “And that’s Luke.” I throw a thumb in his direction, and he grins.

“I’m Raegan.” She takes the dog ears off her head, pushing her hair out of her face, before putting them back on. “How come you guys aren’t in costumes?”

Trent chuckles, running a hand through his chin-length hair. “Halloween’s for chicks.”

Graham flicks him on the forehead. “Watch it.”

“Why would I dress up as someone else when I can be me?” Luke runs his hands down his chest.

“Full of yourself much?” Arya jokes, tugging at the bottom of her white dress. “All right, let’s play. You boys sit back and watch how it’s done.”

Trent rubs his hands together. “This is going to be easy.”

Arya snorts. “You wish.”

“You ladies do realize there are four of us and two of you, right?” Luke asks, his dimples on full display.

I walk toward Graham, watching Arya and Raegan stand straighter, confidence radiating out of them.

“That won’t be a problem,” Raegan answers, picking up the two plastic white balls from the table.

“Want to bet on it?” Luke taunts, his eyes shifting between Arya and Raegan.

I know he’s thinking he can take them for all the cash they have, but he shouldn’t underestimate them.

Arya places her hands on the table and leans forward, staring Luke down. “I bet you a hundred bucks we win.”

He winks. “You’re on, babe.”

She pushes off the table. “Go for it, Raegan.”

Raegan throws the first ball and lands it in the red Solo cup in front of Trent. She smirks as he picks up the cup, downing the beer.

“Beginners luck.” Trent pushes his hair out of his face.

Raegan throws the second ball, and it splashes in a cup. Trent’s face twitches as Luke throws back the amber liquid.

“They’re playing us.” Trent crosses his arms, glowering at the girls on the other side of the table.

I belt out a laugh as Arya and Raegan smile.

“I’m not a beginner. I learned from the best.” Raegan’s eyes land on Arya.

“Still wanna play?” Arya taunts.

“You bet,” Graham says, smirking.

Arya drops to the couch next to me and Raegan in the living room, tossing an empty cup on the coffee table.

“Andrews, you throw a pretty good party.” Arya tucks her feet under her butt, leaning her head on Raegan’s shoulder.

A balled-up napkin flies across the room and hits Arya in face.

Her head shoots up. “Hey!”

“I’m the one who threw the party,” Graham corrects. “Jax was too busy courting Red to lend a hand.”

I shrug, wrapping an arm around Raegan’s shoulder.

“Fine, you threw a good party. Too bad you aren’t as good at beer pong.” She grins. “Though, you did help me and Raegan win a hundred bucks.”

He sits on the coffee table. “My teammates were holding me back.”

“Is that why you didn’t make a single shot?” Raegan pipes in, and I chuckle.

“How ‘bout a rematch?” He gets to his feet, pointing toward the back door. “Just the four of us?”

“I’m out.” Raegan snuggles into my chest, burying her face in my shirt. “I’m too comfortable to move.”

“Sorry, man,” I answer. “I’m with her.”

Graham outstretches his hand. “What about you, angel?” He wags his eyebrows. “Trent and Luke followed a couple of girls to another party, so it’s just you and me.”

Arya stands from the couch, straightening her angel wings. She takes the halo off her head and tosses it on the couch. “Let me show you how it’s done…again.”

She stalks past him, ignoring his hand as she heads outside. Graham follows behind her, dropping his cowboy hat on the floor.

I’d bet twenty bucks she kicks his ass.

I look down at Raegan. Her eyes are closed and breathing shallow. I slowly stand from the couch and pick her up. Her arms slip around my neck as I cradle her against my chest.

“What are you doing?” she mumbles.

I kiss her forehead. “Putting you to bed.”

“’Kay.”

I walk up the stairs and step into my room, kicking the door shut as quietly as I can.

I place Raegan in bed and take off her shoes before I throw mine off, too.

I lay in bed behind her, drawing the covers over us and haul her back to my chest. She snuggles closer, and I hold her as tight as I can, never wanting to let her go.