Nineteen
Stacy
Who the hell is Chelsea, anyway?
Pretty, friendly, sexy Chelsea who’s definitely hooking up with Reece.
Where did he even meet her? Is she smart?
Or funny? Does she have anything to offer him besides some perky tits and casual sex?
Is she good in bed? Of course she’s good in bed.
Reece wouldn’t go back over and over again if she sucked.
I try and shake the thoughts away as I continue to dance with Devin.
We’ve hung out at a couple of different parties in the past and I’d definitely consider us acquaintances but I want nothing more from the burly football player.
He’s asked me on dates a couple of times in the past, but I always brush him off and tell him I’m too busy for a boyfriend.
Apparently not too busy for a fake boyfriend, though.
A fake boyfriend who is still gallivanting around with all of his little friends with benefits even though we’re supposed to be dating. Pretend dating.
Damn it.
Something sick and nauseating twisted in my stomach the second I saw that pretty brunette with her arms around Reece.
It took me a few seconds to process the fact that the feeling was indeed jealousy.
That big green monster that I’ve never felt before in relation to any man, but I feel it when it comes to Reece motherfucking Taylor.
I feel it so hard that I’ve been stewing for hours now, ever since our run-in with the lovely Chelsea after the football game.
It’s twisted up my insides, made me feel small, and pushed me right into the arms of a guy I’ve friend-zoned more times than I care to admit.
But if Reece can fuck Chelsea, I can dance on Devin, dammit.
We have no actual commitment to each other so what does it matter?
If he wants to invite Chelsea over tonight so she can do that thing with her tongue that Reece likes (gag me), then I can grind my ass on this very conventionally attractive D1 athlete.
Fuck, maybe I’ll even take Devin up on his offer and let him take me home tonight. Why not?
It’s not like Reece is going to be sleeping alone. Why should I?
Dear god, Stacy. Get yourself together. You’re not even dating him, you’re in a fake relationship and you’re acting insane!
The music shifts to something more sultry and less upbeat as Christina leans over to me. “Why does Taylor look like he’s going to murder somebody?” she shouts over the music, nodding towards the living room entryway.
My eyes snap in that direction, zeroing in on the friends with benefits pro himself.
Reece is making his way through the sea of people, his sights set on me.
Christina’s right. His dark brows are furrowed and his hair is tousled, sharp jaw clenched, and I can tell from across the room that his face is flushed. He does look pissed.
And he looks good .
I’ve never seen Reece angry. I’ve never seen the vein pop out in his forehead or his fists balled up at his sides and the look is doing nothing but egg on the ridiculous claim I feel over him.
He’s not even wearing anything fancy, just jeans with a black quarter-zip, but the attire makes me clench my thighs.
Something about the way his green eyes are boring into me makes the jealousy deep in my gut shift into something else. Something deeper, something hotter.
Something much more treacherous.
I don’t break eye contact with Reece as he storms up to me and Devin. His nostrils flare as he comes to a stop in front of me and I feel Devin slow his dance moves behind me.
My chin juts up in defiance as I narrow my eyes at Reece. “Nice to see you made it. Thought maybe you’d be busy with someone else.”
Reece wraps his hand around my wrist and flames lick at my skin. “ What are you doing?” he hisses, his eyes flicking back and forth between me and Devin.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I take a step away from Devin, gesturing between the two men. “Devin, you know Reece, right?”
“‘Sup, man?” Devin asks, going to fist bump Reece.
Reece does nothing but glare at his extended fist before snapping his furious gaze back to me. “Do you know who’s at this party, Stacy?”
I wait, crossing my arms over my chest because I’ll be damned if I respond to his snarky questions and shitty attitude.
“Lily’s here,” he goes on.
“Oh, shit, Holmes’s girl? She’s so cool. Hot as hell, too,” Devin chimes in from behind us .
Reece cuts his eyes over to Devin again before yanking the red solo cup out of my hand and handing it to him. “Stacy needs a refill,” he says by way of dismissal.
Devin says nothing before taking my cup and sliding past us, disappearing into the sea of people.
I scoff as Reece turns his attention back to me. “What is your problem?” I demand.
“My problem, angel, is that Tashia’s best friend is here and my quote unquote girlfriend is grinding on Devin McVeigh.”
My jaw ticks. Of course that’s what he cares about. It’s all about Tashia, not about me. That same green monster that’s been taking up residence in my stomach all day hasn’t even bothered him once. Seeing me with Devin did nothing to him because this is all about Tashia.
It’s always been about Tashia.
“I’m just having some casual fun. Are we not allowed to have casual fun, Reece?” I spit.
“Are you drunk?”
My jaw drops because I’m not drunk. Not at all, but Reece has to assume that I’m under the influence because I’m dancing on another guy. As if I’m not a free woman capable of making her own decisions, because heaven knows he’s been acting like a free man.
“No, I’m not drunk,” I seethe. “I was dancing with a friend. A good friend. You know a lot about those, no?”
Reece takes a step into me and I feel all of the hair on my body stand on end.
His woodsy smell surrounds me like a thick fog and he’s so close that I can feel the heat radiating off of his body.
He dips his head down and when he speaks, I feel his warm breath fan across my face.
“Is this about Chelsea?” he mutters, almost too low for me to hear .
I gawk and avert my eyes, scoffing like he just suggested the most ridiculous notion. “I mean, if you’re hooking up with other people, why can’t I dance with other guys?”
Reece’s jaw ticks and something dangerous flares in his eyes. “Stace—”
“Because Lily,” I cut him off. “I know. You don’t want Lily to see me with another man because then she’ll run off and tell Tashia. And what on earth could be worse than your ex-girlfriend knowing you’re actually single? Finding out that maybe she doesn’t want you back—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Reece has me by both of my biceps, walking us backwards until my back finds the rough living room wall.
No one else seems to notice, no one else seems to care, but my world stands still.
Reece pushes his frame up against mine and my body soars, goosebumps popping up all over my skin despite the sweat and the packed room we’re in.
Whatever has been boiling deep in my chest all day threatens to spill over, but I don’t think it’s jealousy anymore.
No, no.
This is something much more dangerous.
“You can’t dance with other guys because you’re fucking mine, Stacy,” Reece growls into my ear, his voice low and wild. A tone I’ve never heard him use before.
A tone that makes my knees weak and my stomach drop.
He backs up slightly, catching my gaze with that same menacing glint in his eye and my mouth goes dry. I lick my lips once, twice, three times as we hold each other’s stares, the noise from the party all but fading away as my breathing turns erratic.
Finally, I whisper, “Prove it. ”
A million emotions flicker across Reece’s face until his expression finally settles into one I recognize all too well.
Lust.
Reece looks tortured for a beat, sucking his bottom lip into his teeth as his hands grip my jawline. He strokes his thumbs over my skin, a small groan escaping his throat as his molten eyes search my face.
He mutters, “Fuck it.”
And suddenly Reece’s lips are crushing mine.
His hands snake up to twist in my hair and an involuntary moan slips out of my throat as my mouth widens to invite him in.
He takes the invitation, slipping his tongue into my mouth to meld with mine, pulling back slightly to bite on my lower lip before going in again.
This kiss isn’t hesitant, it’s not slow or gentle.
It’s raw. It’s primal.
Reece presses his body up against mine, letting his hands sink from my hair down to my ass.
He cups me through my jeans and it takes all of my willpower to stay standing as I hear Reece groan against my lips.
I let my own hands trail across his body, his back, his huge traps, his roped biceps, before landing on his abdomen.
I bunch his black shirt up in my fists, pulling him impossibly closer to my body as he devours my mouth like a starving man.
He tastes so good. Like mint and candy and Reece .
The thought flashes across my mind that I wish we were alone. I wish I could taste all of him, let my tongue travel across the defined lines of his body, replace any thought of any other woman that he’s ever had.
And the way he’s kissing me with rapt desire makes me think he feels the exact same way .
I’ve never been kissed like this. I’ve never been kissed in a way that makes me feel every emotion at once, that causes my brain to short-circuit and fizzle out.
I’ve never been kissed like this before but I know for a fact that I want to be kissed like this again, over and over, a million more times.
Reece tugs at my bottom lip again with his teeth. “This fucking lip,” he moans before bringing his hands back up to cup my face and pressing his mouth back to mine.
My body’s on fire. I’m burning down to embers from the inside out by the hands of Reece Taylor and I don’t want it to stop. Every one of my senses is heightened, every inch of my body tingles, and I just want more .
I want it all.
“Reece! Stacy! I’ve been looking for you two,” a voice from behind us interrupts, making us both jump as Reece pulls away.
We glance to find Lily behind us, holding hands with an astoundingly tall Troy.
She’s grinning at us but I can’t decipher whether or not it’s a vindictive smile because I’m still trying to calm down from the greatest kiss I’ve ever had.
My chest is heaving, my body covered in heat, but Lily’s presence smothers all of the flames.
Because it reminds me of why Reece even kissed me in the first place.
I’m his pawn. We’re pawns in each other’s lives and that’s exactly what I agreed to. That’s perfectly fine.
But I have to remind myself that it’s just a game before I get hurt.