Chapter 5 Tate
CHAPTER FIVE
TATE
“He’s cute, right? Or am I trippin’?” Daija asks before taking a sip of her strawberry margarita, peering over the rim at Jake as he laughs loudly and obnoxiously across the living room.
“I don’t know, girl . . .” I hedge. She might be trippin’.
“Oh, shut it, tater tot,” she scolds, playfully slapping my arm. “It’s kinda nice having someone obsessed with you.” Daija shrugs and continues to stare across the room at Jake, who’s completely oblivious to her admiration.
I snort sardonically, taking a sip of my margarita before swiping my tongue along the sugar rim.
No one’s ever been obsessed with me. No one’s ever cared beyond getting their rocks off or trying something new.
Especially straight boys. But that’s what makes it so easy, I guess.
No feelings equals no chance of getting hurt.
I’m not looking for anything serious. I’ve been there, done that, and I won’t let it happen again.
I’d much rather have a good time and keep my heart guarded.
And that’s definitely what’s going on with Spencer Hayes. The polite, straight-A finance bro you could take home to your mama. Because there’s no way this is anything more than mild curiosity on his part. An itch to scratch.
And that’s perfect.
I make eye contact with him across the room, his intense gaze pinning me to the spot.
Leaning forward, I take another lick of sugar, this time more suggestively.
He stares back, and I swear his eyes darken, like he’s thinking of all the possible things my tongue can do.
I lick it again, sugar crystals bursting across my taste buds before I take another sip of the syrupy-sweet margarita.
I’m not sure what game we’re playing right now, but the top-shelf tequila Spencer brought is going straight to my head.
“Time to spin the bottle!” a pretty girl with long red hair and a cute sundress with cherries on it shouts, shaking an empty bottle of rum while smiling teasingly. I can’t remember her name, but I know she’s one of Daija’s friends.
“Let’s go, everyone!” Daija co-signs before finishing off her drink and carefully placing it on the end table. I do the same, and then she grabs my hand, tugging me over to the couches.
Two guys lift the coffee table, moving it out of the way so that there’s room to spin the bottle.
“Kaylee first!” Daija shouts, winking at her friend. The redhead bends down, places the empty rum bottle on the ground, and gives it a good spin. Everyone stares silently as the bottle whirls around for a good ten seconds before slowly coming to a stop on our friend Grayson.
“Ooh! Yeah! Let’s go, boy!” his buddies shout, slapping him on the back and hyping him up.
Bless their hearts. Straight boys can be so embarrassing.
Kaylee seems excited, though, tiptoeing over to him and straddling his lap.
Grayson boldly grabs hold of her ass as she leans forward and shoves her tongue down his throat.
Messy slurps and wet kisses drown out the background music as we all stare at the softcore porno happening live in front of us.
I glance over at Daija, widening my eyes and trying to silently communicate with her.
Do we need to stop this?
She looks at them again, then back at me, and shrugs helplessly.
Before either of us is forced to say something borderline rude, they finally break apart on their own, breathing inappropriately hard afterward.
Jesus.
“Jake’s turn!” Kaylee declares now that she’s done sucking Grayson’s face off. She doesn’t go back to her spot, merely turning around on his lap and facing the center.
Jake leans forward, hesitantly gripping the bottle. His unusually vulnerable stare locks onto Daija as he spins it. I hold my breath, only releasing it when the bottle finally stops, and it’s somehow pointing at Daija. Thank God. I know it would have hurt her to see him kiss someone else.
Without missing a beat, Jake crosses the space, holding out a palm for Daija.
She accepts, placing her delicate hand in his and allowing him to hoist her up.
They stare at each other for a tense moment before she turns her head, tapping her cheek twice.
Jake instinctively knows to keep it respectful and plants a quick peck there.
The whole room is silent until the moment fully plays out, and they take their seats.
Grayson lets out a long whistle. “Oh, boy. That was fucking intense,” he jokes. “Looks like Spencer’s up next.”
My heart plummets into my stomach as I watch Spencer reach forward slowly. Dark eyes are pinned to me, and I can feel the heat pooling in my cheeks and my groin.
Please, God. Let it land on me. I’ve never asked for much in my life.
He spins the bottle with a quick flick of his wrist, and I watch in suspended agony as it goes round and round.
I have my sights set on him, and if it lands on anyone other than me, I might crash out at my own fucking party.
The bottle finally stops, and it’s halfway between me and the girl next to me, Margo.
“It landed on me!” Margo shouts excitedly, but I’m not having it.
“I don’t think so,” I argue. “It’s closer to me than you.”
“Definitely,” Daija agrees immediately, cosigning me like the bestie that she is.
Margo folds her arms across her chest, pouting a little, but I don’t let it dampen the mood. I focus on Spencer, and a little thrill runs through me at the idea of having our first kiss be so public, but if he’s okay with it, then so am I.
“Are you sure about this?” I whisper, as we grip forearms in the middle of the circle.
“Yes,” he practically growls, wrapping an arm around my lower back and tugging my body to his. “It’s just a game, right?”
“Right,” I confirm.
Everyone else melts away when I feel Spencer’s soft lips press against mine.
Tentative at first and then almost possessive.
His tongue snakes its way into my mouth, tangling with mine and making me crave more.
His stubble scrapes against my skin deliciously, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been more hot and bothered by a kiss in my life.
Before we get carried away, Spencer pulls back, giving me one last peck and then taking his seat on the opposite couch once again.
Holy fucking shitballs.
“Damn! That was smokin’ hot!” Jake shouts, cutting the tension with his loud mouth and making a few of the girls giggle.
Phillip, the guy sitting next to Spencer, takes his turn next.
It lands on Kira, a shy girl from my English class who loves to read.
She doesn’t party much, but I convinced her to come, claiming it’d be low-key.
I feel a little bad that she’s put on the spot right now, but my worries are dashed away when she confidently stands up with a twinkle in her eye and struts over to Phillip.
He meets her halfway, grabbing hold of her tiny waist and hoisting her up.
Kira wraps her long legs around his hips and presses her glossy lips to his.
I’m as gay as they come, honey, but seeing this many people make out and get just as horny as I am is doing something to me.
My eyes wander back to Spencer, expecting to find his gaze glued to the latest couple putting on a show, but instead, they’re staring back at me.
I chew on my lower lip, practically squirming in my shorts.
Spencer Hayes is like a powerful magnet, pulling me closer, whether I try to resist him or not.
But who am I kidding, I couldn’t resist those eyes even if I tried.
The stupid party game makes its way around one full rotation before it’s retired, and luckily, it never lands on Spencer or me again.
“Shots!” Jake shouts, rushing to the kitchen with Daija’s arm looped through his. She looks happy and, most importantly, safe, so I don’t bother her about it; instead, making my way to the island to grab what appears to be a lemon drop.
After Jake finishes making more than a dozen shots, Daija proposes a toast. “Thanks for coming to our summer kick-off party!” she shouts, holding her plastic shot glass up in the air while she leans against Jake. Her glassy eyes meet mine, and she smiles sweetly.
I wink and blow her a kiss, adding to her toast. “Cheers to good friends, good drinks, and the entire summer ahead of us!”
“Cheers!” everyone shouts in unison before tipping their shots back.
Once we all disperse, and the music turns up again, I weave through the crowd, grabbing Spencer’s wrist and tugging him away from the party before he gets stuck in a conversation with someone.
I don’t make it two feet down the dark hallway before I’m grabbed from behind, spun around, and my back pressed against the wall.
He leans forward and kisses me fiercely, biting and sucking on my bottom lip, while his hands dive into my curls and tilt my head just right.
I’m dizzy with lust and ready to get him in my bed.
I start subtly moving us toward it, my lips still attached to his.
“Where are we going?” he mumbles against my mouth.
“Bedroom. Duh.” I keep pecking and biting and licking at him. I can’t get enough.
Spencer pauses for a moment, pulling back to stare me in the eyes. God, he’s tempting, and he’s looking at me like he’s ready to fulfill his long-overdue promise. We hurry into my bedroom without another word, and I lock us in.
The bass is thumping on the other side of the door while we stand here and stare at each other, neither of us making a move.
“Should we pick up where we left off?” Spencer asks somewhat hesitantly, and I realize this might be his first time with a guy.
Despite his sexy confidence, I know I need to reassure him. I bite my lower lip and nod slowly, lost in the bottomless depths of his dark brown eyes.
He slowly reaches for his belt buckle for the second time tonight, and the anticipation is killing me.
If I die before getting to see this man’s dick, then I will haunt every single person at this party for all eternity.