IT’S BEEN THREE DAYS SINCE Micah has come around the house, and even though I want to see him I’ve been avoiding Vortex because I know it’s the best thing to do.
It seems whenever he’s around I can’t control my mind or body and all I want is for him to touch me. I want him to push me with his dirty mouth like he always does, because it’s become exciting and something I crave now.
As much as I hate to admit it, being around Micah is a rush and he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.
I just haven’t figured out if that’s a good or bad thing yet, and maybe it’s best if I never do.
“There you are!” I sit up at the sound of Jamie’s voice and open my eyes to see her running through the sand toward me, dressed in a white bikini top and a pair of cut-off shorts. “I’ve been calling you all day. What the hell have you been doing?”
“Sorry.” I reach for my sunglasses and remove them, before laying back down on my towel and looking up at my friend as she hovers above me. “I just needed some peace and quiet for a bit so I could think. I left my phone on the charger in my room because I didn’t feel like dealing with it today. My parents have been calling nonstop to check on me, as if they think I’m not coming back when I already told them it’s only for the summer.”
“Because they’re right and we both it. There’s no way you’re going back home once the summer is over. Not after seeing what it’s like here. Oh, and by the way, I went to the house looking for you there first and your brother answered the door, wet, only wearing a towel. Ooh wee.” She begins fanning herself, before throwing a towel down beside me and taking a seat. “He offered me this towel once I told him I was looking for you. I was hoping he’d give me the one he was wrapped up in, but he totally gypped me by giving me this clean one.”
“I haven’t made any plans past summer, so please don’t be like my parents. And stop it, I’m completely disturbed by that,” I admit with a scowl. “Please tell me you didn’t come here to blab about your fantasies in regards to my brother, because if so you can find somewhere else to lay that is nowhere near my immediate vicinity. My ears can’t handle that mess today.”
She laughs and lays back, getting comfortable as she reaches for my bottle of water and takes a drink. “I wasn’t planning on it, but I am sort of having fantasies after seeing the way he looked in that towel. It was hard to keep my eyes away from his . . .”
“Don’t even say it, Jamie.”
She sits up and smiles down at me playfully. I hate that smile because I know it well, but unfortunately, I’m not quick enough to cover my ears before she can say it. “Bulge.”
“That’s so gross.” I sit up and give her a dirty look, wishing I could slap her for that one. “You’ve ruined my whole day with that one little word.”
“Oh, it wasn’t little, sweetie.”
“Okay, my whole damn week! You’ve ruined my whole week now. I did not need to know that.”
“You act like you haven’t had bulges on your mind lately. I’m pretty sure I caught you checking Micah Beck’s out last week during his performance.”
“His guitar was covering it,” I say defensively. “I couldn’t check it out.”
“Exactly,” she points out. “But you looked for it and that’s how you know it wasn’t visible.”
“I’m here to relax, so let’s not talk about my brother or Micah please. Can we move on from bulges now, sheesh?”
She shrugs and lays back at the same time I do. “Alright, fine. I’ll let you tell me what’s going on when you’re good and ready.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, quicker than I probably should’ve.
“You tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
“It was a mistake.” I sit back up and run my hands through my hair, because this conversation is anything but relaxing.
“Um, what?” She shoots back up and slaps the sand excitedly. “I knew it! I knew the moment I saw the two of you in the backseat of my car that something had either already happened or was going to soon. I could just feel it.”
Something happened between me and Micah alright, but just the idea of saying it out loud has my heart kicking into overdrive.
I’m so nervous that it feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest and it’s making it hard to breathe.
This is ridiculous.
“You can’t say anything to anyone, got it? Because Xan will lose his shit if he finds out and I can’t do that to their friendship.”
She nods excitedly while reaching for the hair tie wrapped around her wrist and pulling her light hair into a quick ponytail. “I won’t tell a soul. I swear. Especially Alexander because I know how he is when it comes to you and boys. I promise.”
The fact that someone else other than Micah and I is about to find out that we’ve had sex makes it feel so much more . . . real. I almost can’t handle it, but it’s too late to turn back now.
“We had sex . . . outside . . . against his truck . . . in the dark . . . outside my brother’s house.”
The moment the words leave my mouth my whole body ignites into flames at the reminder of how hot and exciting the moment was.
Micah’s hard body against mine . . . the V of muscles leading down to his long, thick dick . . . and most of all the way he felt inside of me as he fucked me hard, as if he wanted me to feel him inside of me for days. I never knew being backed against a truck could be so damn hot.
I can’t even pay attention to Jamie’s reaction because I’m too busy jumping to my feet and rushing over to the water to cool off. I’m so worked up by the pictures flashing through my head that my skin is scorched.
What the hell is wrong with me?
You’ve had your one night, Tegan.
That’s all it was and all it can be.
I hear Jamie splashing in the water behind me, trying to get to me. When I turn around to begin making my way back to the sand, her mouth is hanging open.
“Holy shit, Tegan,” she begins following behind me, almost falling to keep up. “You can’t just tell me things like that and then run away. That’s crazy hot.”
“That’s the problem,” I say quickly. “It was hot and amazing and I can’t stop thinking about the way he made me feel, Jamie. It never should’ve happened and now I can’t help but want it to happen again, even though it could very well mess up his and Xan’s relationship. I hate it. I don’t want to be that girl.”
“Do you really think your brother would be that pissed if he found out you two hooked up? I mean, if it’s more than just a random hookup then I’m sure he’ll understand and be happy for you two.”
“It was only a random hookup.” I don’t bother looking at her as I reach for my towel and shake off the sand before drying off with it. “So, yes, he’d be livid. You know Micah’s reputation with women. He’s a man-whore. Everyone knows he never commits to being in a relationship. My brother warned him to stay away from me for that very reason and he went behind his back and slept with me anyway. We went behind his back and I feel like total shit for it. He’ll never trust him again if he finds out and he’ll probably kick my butt and send me home early.”
“Okay,” she says calmly. “Then don’t tell him and never let it happen again. You just admitted it was only a random hookup; just one ‘anything goes’ night. Problem solved.”
She has no idea how much harder that is than it sounds. “How the hell am I supposed to just forget that he was inside of me and act normal when we bump into each other around my brother? Have you seen Micah?”
I begin making my way up to my brother’s house and Jamie quickly grabs her towel to join me. “Good point. You’re fucked.”
I stop and give her an annoyed look. “You’re not making this any better, so thanks for that.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. The only option is to avoid him at all cost for the rest of the summer. You don’t want to end up being one of those girls that he’s been with who becomes obsessive and can’t stay away from him so he has to hide just to get them off his nuts. I’ve seen it and so has Alexander. It’s happened to pretty much every girl he’s touched.”
The thought of all the girls Micah has randomly hooked up with for one night of the hottest sex of their lives has me feeling uptight and jealous. This is not how I’m supposed to feel. “How am I supposed to manage that when he works and stays with my brother almost ninety percent of the time?”
Once we reach the back of my brother’s house we take a seat at the patio table and toss our wet towels down by our feet.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Maybe find a different bar to write at and come stay with me on the nights he’s here. My place is small, but I don’t mind sharing it.”
“Thanks, but I can’t do that. That’ll only have my brother questioning my reasons for not staying with him or coming to Vortex anymore. It’ll all still come down to Micah in the end.”
“Shit. I didn’t think about that. You’ll just have to woman up and keep that shit deep down inside as if it never happened. You’re tough. I’m sure you can handle it.”
“I hope so.”
We’re both sitting here in silence, lost in thought, when I hear the patio door slide open behind me.
Nervousness and excitement course through me at the thought that it could be Micah. I’m going crazy inside to see his sexy smile, but at the same time I know what that sexy smile and dirty mouth does to me. That’s where the nervousness takes over.
Jamie looks up at the same time I turn around to see Parker step outside dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a snug, white t-shirt.
He flashes us his charming smile, before closing the door shut behind him, giving us a nice view of his sculpted arms and back. “Hello, ladies. Mind if I join you?”
I don’t know if this is good or bad timing, but maybe . . . just maybe he’s the distraction I need right now, because I was so damn close to giving in and asking Jamie to come with me to Vortex.
“Parker, wow.” Jamie stands up and looks him over, before throwing her arms around him for a quick hug. “You’re looking . . . well, hot.”
Parker’s face turns red as he runs a hand through his hair. “Thanks, Jamie. It’s good to see you too,” he says with a small laugh. “You’re looking great, as always.”
“I know it,” she says, with a confident smile. “But thanks for noticing. I don’t know what’s going on here with you and my friend, but I’ll be in the pool listening while you talk.”
“Really?” I laugh as she gives me a questionable look, before diving into the pool.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you here at your brother’s, but I haven’t seen you at the bar in a few days and wanted to ask you something. Alexander let me in.”
I motion to the chair Jamie was just sitting in. “No, you’re totally fine, Parker.” I smile as he takes a seat and the more I look at him, the more I realize just how handsome he really is. It’s easier to notice when Micah isn’t ten feet away giving me dirty looks.
But, I’m still not sure that’s enough to get Micah off my mind.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about our date a few days ago and . . .” he leans in closer, before he reaches out and brushes my hair behind my ear. “I don’t really feel like it was much of a date with your brother and Micah watching us like hawks. I was wondering if you’d come out with me to a party tonight so we can get to know each other without them making us both uncomfortable.”
I catch Jamie nodding from the corner of my eye and mouthing yes repeatedly, so I cover the side of my face until she’s out of view.
Some time away from my thoughts could be a good thing, but at the same time, going on another date has me feeling guilty for some odd reason. I don’t really get why. It’s not like Micah has been around, and it’s definitely not as if we’re going to end up being more than the one-night stand we had.
The only reason he was giving us dirty looks that night is because he’s become overprotective like my brother asked him to be whenever he isn’t around to watch me himself.
There’s no other explanation, because jealousy is the last thing Micah could’ve been feeling.
Micah Beck jealous.
I’m positive that day will never come.
I don’t even realize that I haven’t answered him until he says my name, distracting me from my thoughts.
“I’ll take a maybe if it’ll somehow lead to a yes.”
The hopeful smile he flashes me has the word leaving my mouth before I can really make a decision. “Okay.”
He bites his bottom lip in this sexy little way as he stands up and looks me over. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
I catch myself swallowing, because even I can’t deny that his little lip bite somewhat got to me. “When should I be ready?”
He pulls out his phone and takes a quick look at the time. “Can you be ready around seven? That’s about two hours.”
I nod and smile. “I can make that happen.”
“Perfect.” He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek, before wiping the wetness away with his thumb. It’s sweet but still sexy in the way he does it. “I’ll see you then.”
Jamie is wiggling her eyebrows at me as he waves to her and disappears back into the house.
She waits until he closes the door behind him before she jumps out of the pool and rushes over to grab her towel. “You went on a date with Parker and your brother didn’t flip out? Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“My brother is the one who set us up on a date. Weird, right?”
She shakes her head and laughs. “I don’t get your brother sometimes, but I totally get why he did it. It’s because he’s worried you’ll fall for Micah and get hurt. Why else would he be worried about hooking you up with some nice guy. He sees it too. He sees something happening between you two.”
“Yeah, and maybe he’s right by trying to give me a distraction. Maybe I’ll thank him for this later. I mean, Parker is cute and he’s sweet. The least I can do is give him a real date and see what happens from there, right?”
She nods, while running the towel through her hair. “As much as I’d love to see you and Micah together, and I mean together together, Parker might be the safe choice. You’re right. Micah is a man-whore and there’s no telling if you two will even hook up again. I say give Parker a fair chance. Forget about Micah for one night and have some fun. It’s not like he’s here trying to spend time with you or ask you out on dates.”
She’s right and I know it.
It sucks but it’s true.
“Well, I already agreed to go out with him tonight. I’ll give him a chance and take it from there.”
“And . . .”
“And what?”
“You’ll tell your good friend Jamie all the details, right?”
I roll my eyes and laugh right as Alexander pokes his head out the sliding door. “I’m heading to Vortex for the night. I trust Parker will be a gentleman, and if he’s not you better tell me.”
“I’m a big girl, Xan. I’ve already told you this.”
“Dammit, Tegan. Just let me do my damn job,” he says tensely.
“Fine. I’ll let you know.”
He nods. “Good. See you girls later.”
“Later,” Jamie says with a flirty smile. “I’ll be coming in for a few drinks later, so tell your boys to be ready to grab the beers in the way back.”
This has my brother smiling. “We’ll be ready for you. We always are.”
The thought that everyone will be at Vortex having fun and hanging out while I’m out at a party with Parker has me somewhat feeling regretful that I won’t be there.
But at the same time, I know this is something I need to do, because if I join them and see Micah there I’ll be too distracted to have fun anyway.
Maybe Parker is just what I need right now, and it looks like I’ll be finding out soon enough . . .