I’ve noticed a few couples have disappeared into the woods together, and I can only imagine what’s going on out there.
True to Rose form, someone had convinced their parents to rent a super fancy bathroom set-up for us so no one has to stumble around to pee in the dark. The more everyone drinks, the longer that line gets.
Beau has refilled my cup twice, and before I know it, Ihaveto go. My lips tingling, I press them to Xander’s neck, then whisper, “I’ve got to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“You want me to come with?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s okay. You hang with your boys for a bit.” I get up, steady myself, then walk across the field to get in the back of the line. Conversation between two girls a few feet ahead of me drifts to my ears.
“Is she actually with him, or did he just give her a ride?”
“I don’t know. They’ve been holding hands all night.”
“Who does she think she is?”
“No idea. Aria is going to be super pissed when she finds out.”
One of the girls giggles. “Might serve her right.”
When the two girls pass by me on their way back to the bonfire a few minutes later, I’m surprised to discover it had been a pair of cheerleaders talking like that. I guess it must be hard to be Queen of the Roses. Aria’s subjects seem less than loyal, that’s for sure. They pass by me, eyes bugged out a little, and whisper to each other.Yes. Yes, I heard you.
When I get back to Xander, I reach for my drink, chug the rest of it, then hold my hands out to him. “Dance with me?” I press my tingly lips together when he doesn’t respond right away.
But then he stands, drags my body to his, and whispers huskily in my ear, sending hot sparks of energy shooting through my whole body. “I dance now, you’ll do what I want later?”
I turn around, swiveling my hips to the beat in answer. Even though I hate skirts, I’d worn one just for him. When he steps up behind me, pressing his front to my back, I get lost in it—the music, the feel of his body close to mine, the words he whispers next to my ear as he holds me close.
“Red, do you feel how hard I am for you?”
In answer I push my ass back into him and throw a dreamy smile over my shoulder.
“Fuck, the things I’m going to do to you.”
“Yo, you two, get a room. Or go behind a fucking tree or something.” Micah howls with drunken laughter and Beau joins him. Their whispered comments drift to me on the cool night air.
“She’s got to be driving him out of his mind.”
“Yep, I think he’s a goner.”
Every slide of our bodies against each other, every time Xander’s hands grip my hips, fingers pressing into my skin—all of it only serves to excite me. Does he really want me the way his friends think he does?
I turn around, wrapping my arms around Xander’s neck. His hands slide down my back until he grips my ass and pulls me tightly to him. I sense a slight hesitation in him, knowing we have an audience, but then his mouth collides with mine. It’s hot and wild, tongues tasting, lips rubbing, teeth nipping. I think he’s about to swallow me whole.
Every lick, every growl sets me on fire until I can’t think about anyone but him. Xander’s hands are all over me, sliding under my shirt, skimming along the waistband of my miniskirt, and I’m loving every second of it, impervious to everyone observing our make-out session.
We go on like that for several minutes before he lets go and takes my hand. “Come with me.”
I laugh, stumbling behind him. “What? No more dancing?”
Beau shouts behind us, his voice loud and boisterous, “That wasn’t dancing! That wasforeplay!”
Chapter 40
We break away from the crowd, and I shake my head, slightly amused, as I follow Xander. Apparently, I’ve had just a little too much of the drink Beau’s been mixing for me. “Where are we going?”
“Back to the Escalade,” he growls.
“What?” I tug on his hand. “But I was having fun.”