Strung

After the first game, I had only had four fish while Nat was working on finishing the bag, poor thing. The good news? It looked like the sugar was helping. A knock sounded at the door. “Oh that’s the pizza.” I shot out of my seat and then paused halfway to the door. “NO cheating.”

Nat’s eyelashes batted at me as she lifted her hands in the air in innocence. Innocent my ass. That woman was competitive. But who cheated at the Swedish Fish game? I mean really.

I paid the pizza guy and brought it back to that damn coffee table. When I sat it down, Nat’s stomach growled.

“I knew you were hungry.” I went into the kitchen and grabbed some plates and napkins and set them down in front of her. “You gotta eat before you go to a party Nat. That’s like partying 101. Never drink on an empty stomach, kay? Promise me if you ever go to a party again and plan on drinking that you’ll eat beforehand?”

And the dad award goes to…

Shit. Way to kill any attraction.

I may as well have had the birds and the bees talk with her and handed her a tampon or something.

Nat rolled her eyes. “I promise, Mom.”

“Thanks, sweetie.” I patted her head and laughed.

We ate in silence, well I mean there was no speaking but there was a hell of a lot of looking. I’d look at her; she’d look back, then find sudden interest in her pizza. Then I’d clear my throat and watch the clock move on the wall. It didn’t help that Demetri kept drunk-texting me. I was glad he was safe, but still. The circumstances sucked. But I deserved it. I really did. I deserved to be tortured while I sat with Demetri’s girlfriend. Hands off. I needed to really learn the meaning of not getting involved.

My phone rang again. Pissed, I just tossed it under the pillow and swore.

She ate three pieces. I pretty much fell in love right then and there.

“Thank you.” Nat wiped her mouth and smiled.

I ate five pieces so she wouldn’t feel like a pig. I mean it was the least I could do. Poor thing.

“Anytime.” I took our plates back to the kitchen. “How about one more game?”

“You’re on!” She giggled. I paused. She never giggled, she laughed, she put her whole body into that damn laugh. But she never once giggled.

I dropped the plates off at the sink and returned to my seat, then announced. “You cheated.”

She giggled again. Her eyes twinkling. “No I didn’t.”

“You’re giggling.”

“I’m a girl!” She fired back as if offended. HAH says the giggler.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Fine, I’ll play. But if I lose, I’ll know, Nat. I’ll know.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

I leaned across the table, stopping when my face was only inches from hers. “You should be.” Because if she didn’t watch it. I was going to go back on my promise to my brother. I only had so much self control and when a guy didn’t have any vices anymore… well, that made him a bit desperate.

Nat’s eyes fell to my lips.

Her tongue snuck out.

I stifled a moan and jerked back, clearing my throat. “Do you have any sixes?” Shit I almost said sexes.

“Go fish.”

Glaring I leaned over to pick the fish off the table, my lips grazed the little red gummy without touching anything. Weird, how just having my lips close to where hers had already touched — made me want to drop the fish out of my mouth and lick. I was losing my damn mind.

Nat’s chest heaved as I slowly lifted my gaze from the table to her face. Her mouth parted a bit. My breathing picked up, and I fought with every bit of control I had to finish the game.

Ten fish later and I knew she’d cheated.

“I think I may be sick,” I announced before dipping my head back towards the table and grabbing another fish.

“Aw, too many fish? We can just call the game now. I mean, it’s not like you’re going to win.” Came her sarcastic reply.

The little cheater! I picked up the fish and spit it in her direction. I was resorting to elementary flirting. Her mouth dropped open, and then she grabbed the bag and started pelting me with fish.

“Ah!” I jumped out of my chair and tackled her to the floor, trying to force a handful of fish into her mouth. It was a reaction. One I wasn’t aware I was having until it was too late. Until my weight was nearly crushing her, until I felt her br**sts graze against my chest. Until I felt every breath she took. Until I could almost taste the sweetness of her tongue.

Nat closed her eyes and shook her head back and forth to keep me from shoving the fish into her mouth. I laughed, and then that same movement started to make my body want to cry.

Nat’s eye flashed open.

I stared.

She stared back.

I felt my head lower, I wasn’t in control of my own body, I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to help it.

Nat closed her eyes; our lips were about a half an inch apart.

“Alec!” The voice jolted both of us away from one another. I cursed and helped Nat up. Demetri was walking through the door… well, stumbling and winding through the hallway was more like it. He was still smashed.

“I can’t find Nat! I messed up! Where is she? Is she okay?” Demetri’s words were slurring together. “Some guy told me I was making out with a chick that wasn’t Nat. I didn’t know, Dude. Where the hell is she?”

Ah, so he was going to lie about it. I knew Demetri, he may be drunk but he knew he was making out with a random chick. He would have had to be very high not to know.