Chapter Three #2
The waves of heat from the flames warmed my skin, but I couldn’t help but shiver from the cold creeping up my back.
“You’re cold. Here, take my sweatshirt; I’m gonna go grab something else to drink and another hot dog—do you want anything?”
“Just some water, thanks.” I was over the residual flavor of cheap beer on my tongue. Happily, I slid the too-big sweatshirt over my head and relished in the envious glances I caught from a group of girls nearby. Kim made her way over and plopped down on the stump to my left.
“God, he is so cute,” she whispered, not nearly quietly enough. I shot her a look, and she lowered her voice.
“Where’s Liv?” I asked, mildly concerned.
When she disappeared, it usually wasn’t nothing .
Kim just tilted her head to the left, and sure enough, there was Livy sitting on some guy’s lap, her lips to his ear, giggling away.
“She wastes no time,” I murmured, shaking my head.
The sound of crunching footsteps alerted me to Zack’s return.
“Don’t tell me I picked the wrong freshman to flirt with,” he smirked, staring at Liv.
My stomach instantly dropped. “Um, what?”
His blue eyes flashed with challenge. “Just a joke, babe. Dial back the tone a little.” He rubbed his hand over my knee. “I’m sorry, it takes people a while to get used to my sense of humor. I wasn’t trying to be a dick.”
I willed the knot in my stomach to untangle, forcing myself to move on. Kimmy just pressed her lips together, looking uncomfortable. Zack pressed a wine cooler in my hand, rather than my requested water, apparently abandoning his earlier warning.
Okay then.
“So, do you guys wanna head upstairs? That’s where the real party is anyway,” he let out, finishing what was left of his new drink.
“Sure,” I answered, though I could feel Kim’s eyes burning a hole into the back of my head. We stood and traipsed through the crowd and up a questionably stable outdoor staircase to the main house. Zack opened a large sliding glass door to let us in.
Vader’s house, well, his and whomever his roommates were, was what I imagined any house full of twenty-something males to look like. It wasn’t in need of a hazmat suit or anything, but I wouldn’t have eaten a chip if it fell onto the counter.
Zack tugged me along before I could start judging anything else. There was a large round table in the next room with several guys sitting around it. Upon drawing nearer, I saw that they were playing poker, and my nerves settled.
Just cards, I realized, laughing inwardly. What did you think was going on up here?
I wasn’t exactly sure, but poker didn’t scare me.
I kind of kicked ass, actually, thanks to my dad’s monthly poker nights over the years.
Zack took a seat and patted his thigh expectantly.
I glanced around the table, wondering how out-of-place I was about to look sitting on his lap, but no one seemed to be paying attention one way or another.
I blew out a breath as subtly as I could and obliged, attempting to find a comfortable position.
He wrapped a tattooed forearm around my waist, and I no longer cared about being uncomfortable.
He pulled out the chair next to us for Kim, and she slid in and joined in the round of introductions before Vader dealt the cards.
“Be my good luck charm?” he asked, pressing his lips into an almost-kiss along my jaw.
My stomach turned upside-down, and I found myself nodding even though I wanted to play my own hand, distracted by the goosebumps scattering down my arms. I held my breath for a moment as he tightened his hold on me, his hand making its way under the hoodie and my cami, coming to rest on my bare skin.
The warmth from his touch branched out, sinking into the rest of my body.
As it turned out, he was shit at poker. I was quite good though, obviously, and he ended up winning some money in the end. He squeezed my side and pressed a kiss on my cheek, lighting up nerve endings everywhere he touched.
“Not bad, Vanessa. I dare say I should take these earnings and treat you to dinner,” he murmured against my skin.
“You can call me V,” I answered. “And I think that would be only fair.
He kissed my cheek again just as I caught sight of the clock in the kitchen.
“Shit. We gotta head out,” I told him reluctantly, really not ready to be done feeling his mouth on me yet.
“At ten-thirty?” he asked incredulously.
I was mentally cursing my mother for this ridiculous curfew.
You are NINETEEN. You have to negotiate better .
“I know it’s ridiculous. I got in trouble a while ago…it’s a whole long story, but there are some consequences I’m still su ffering from,” I explained, hoping I sounded like a rebel and not a complete idiot.
“Seriously? Okay then. Consider me intrigued. I can’t imagine you doing anything all that bad, but I’m willing to be proven wrong.” His deep blue eyes sparkled in amusement. “Let me walk you guys down.”
Kimmy pushed out her chair, seeming relieved that we had to go, but she thanked the guy next to her for teaching her how to play. When we reached the bottom of the staircase, I sent Kim on a mission to find our wayward friend before giving him back his sweatshirt.
“Thanks for inviting me. I had fun tonight,” I said lightly. His almost-black hair was harsh in the outdoor lighting, but those lips were inviting.
“Me too. Do you have any dinner requests?” he asked, his fingers tracing the space between mine. My heart-rate increased at the thought of him asking me on an actual date, but I tried to act unaffected.
“Ummm, somewhere with good dessert,” I decided, dreaming about the brownie sundae at Max and Erma’s .
“Oh, I can think of a few excellent ideas for dessert,” he responded, his brows drawing together.
His comment knocked me off my game a little, and I giggled, not totally sure how to respond. I’d dated plenty of guys, and flirted with even more, but Zack seemed…serious, when he said that.
Finally, he let out a chuckle, and I relaxed slightly. “I’ll think of somewhere. Promise.” He held my gaze on the word promise , and I was getting dizzy trying not to get lost in it.
I realized in the middle of getting all sorts of fluttery feelings that I had no idea how to end this conversation. This wasn’t really a date , but it was date-like?
“I’ll talk to you then,” I said, hoping a natural exit would come to me.
He leaned in, and I mirrored him without thinking.
I didn’t have a chance to fully appreciate the moment, but his beautiful, soft lips were on mine, and I was so grateful for the stick of gum I’d had while we were playing poker.
He tasted like beer, and I didn’t even care.
His hands made their way around my waist, and he tugged me forward.
My fingers landed on his biceps and curled into the softness of his sweatshirt.
The kiss became more insistent as he tugged my bottom lip into his mouth and bit down lightly, sending electricity down my spine. His fingertips made pathways over my hips, making me shiver, when my friends sauntered up. He let go of me slowly and said a polite ‘goodnight’ to Kim and Liv.
“I’ll call you,” he promised before disappearing up the stairs. I was still catching my breath when Kim started to speak.
“Not a word until we get to the car,” I insisted. We walked in anticipatory silence, and I might as well have been floating if not for the precarious position my heels put me in.
“Evening ladies,” a cheerful voice called out as we made our way to the top of the hill. “V, good to see you,” Luke Miller said, grinning, his hands shoved in his pockets.
I swear to god he’s flexing under that shirt.
“Luke,” I responded flatly. “Good to see you, too. Enjoy the party.”
“How can that be possible when the three of you are leaving?” He grinned even wider, showing off his stupid perfect teeth.
I rolled my eyes forcefully. “Do those lines ever actually work, Miller?”
“All.The.Time.” He just laughed and started down the hill.
“Jesus, do you have some sort of hot-guy perfume I should know about?” Kim asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Luke Miller was just flirting with you.”
“Luke Miller was just annoying me. He had his chance to flirt with me freshman year of high school, and he went out with Elena instead. Too bad for him, I hold a grudge,” I explained, approaching the Jeep .
“Seriously? You’re pissed because he went out with Elena four years ago? You’re insane. He’s sure as hell single now,” Liv interjected.
“Yeah, I’m not sure if you’ve met me, but I don’t really just…let things go.”
“That is a true statement if I’ve ever heard one,” Kim agreed. She took the car keys and unlocked the Wrangler.
“Spill,” Liv demanded upon the doors closing.
“Spill what? There’s not a lot to tell. We kissed, he asked me to dinner, that’s it,” I said, giving no emotion away.
“Yeah, sure, no big deal,” Livy spat. I did revel a little bit in the jealousy in her voice. “You know you’re dying to talk about that kiss.”
“His lips are just so pretty,” I admitted. “But you’re one to talk, Miss I-Make-Out-With-Random-Strangers.”
“Eh, he was cute, but wayyyyy into his car. Like, I now know more than I ever wanted to about piston rings.”
“Whatever, I hate you both,” Kim interjected. We tried, unsuccessfully, to advise her to loosen up when we went out, but she wasn’t in a mood for advice.
“Let me fix you up with someone!” I insisted.
“Ugh, no, that’s humiliating.”
“It is not. Not when I do it. I swear it won’t be embarrassing. Plus, any guy that knows me at all is a little scared of me, so they won’t mess with you.”
“I do not want someone to go out with me because they’re afraid of you, V. Seriously, let’s just move on,” Kim begged.
“Fine, fine.” I turned up Avril, and we danced and sang our way back to my house