11. Shane
Shane
When I went to Nik’s house after she’d seen me fucked up, I’d planned to put some distance between us. It’s the right thing to do. But then I got there, and she said all the right things, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I’m not doing either of us any favors, but I’m clearly not very good at giving things up.
Add her to the list.
So, because I’m clearly a masochist, I couldn’t turn her down when she asked if I was going to Akers and Theo’s parent’s lake house. I don’t even fucking like parties, but it would seem I’m incapable of passing up a chance to be around her.
She makes me feel good—normal. Like I’m just some kid and she’s just some girl, and I’m not a grenade everyone’s waiting on to detonate with bated breath.
As I pull up in front of her house in my truck, she comes running out in a tiny pair of denim shorts and a white tank top that you can see her black bikini through.
I think I might spontaneously combust. Swallowing, I readjust myself, hoping she doesn’t notice. I feel like I’m goddamn fourteen when I’m with her.
It’s annoying.
“Ready?” I ask as she buckles her seatbelt.
My truck fills with the smell of her coconut shampoo, pulling me into the dreamy state I’ve become addicted to. Her scent is my laughing gas, and I’d do just about anything to breathe it in whenever I can.
And that’s all so very fucked because she’s your sister’s friend, and very, very off limits!
This girl’s tearing me apart. I keep telling myself I’m going to put a stop to whatever’s going on between us, but then I find myself on her fucking doorstep anyway.
“Well, shit. You clean up pretty alright, Michaels.”
I give her the side-eye before returning my gaze to the road.
“I mean it! Clean jeans, the button-up? And wait a minute!” She leans close to me and sniffs. “Fucking hell! Are you wearing cologne?”
“Okay, enough.” I shove her away. “You act like I’m a gremlin or some shit.”
Her brows lift.
“Fuck off,” I mumble, and she grins.
She really is being dramatic, but in her defense, she only sees me after I’ve just gotten off work or when I’m on my lunch break. It’s not like I dress up to spend the day under the hood of some mom’s minivan.
She clears her throat before jabbing me in the ribs.
“Ow! What?”
She huffs, rolling her eyes. “You’re supposed to tell me I look nice too, stupid!”
I laugh, but she pokes her fingers into me again.
“Christ! You look alright, too! Stop doing that!”
“Alright!” she squeals, going in for a third jab.
My words are rushed this time when I say, “More than alright. You look great. Don’t you dare fucking touch me.”
A satisfied grin paints her lips before she sits back in her seat and lifts her chin. “That’s what I thought.”
I shake my head, but I can’t help but laugh in amusement.
When we get to the party, she jumps out of the truck and waltzes right over to the crowd like she owns the place. Akers throws his arms around her when she approaches and heat races up my spine. Gritting my teeth, I push it away and find my way over to the other guys.
They’re just friends.
Hell, we’re just friends.
She bounces around, talking to different people. It’s a little weird to imagine her having issues with others at school because in this setting, she seems pretty relaxed.
Perched on the end of Theo’s tailgate, I watch her out of the corner of my eye. Not even on purpose. I’m just drawn to her.
After a couple of drinks, she’s ditched the tank top and starts dancing around with a couple of other girls in just her shorts and black bikini top.
Stop staring, creep.
“That girl’s—” Theo walks up beside me and shakes his head. “You’re so fucked, man.”
I shoot him a warning look because I’ll knock the shit out of him if he keeps looking at her.
But then some jackass walks up and starts talking to her. She throws her head back laughing.
This idiot is not that funny.
I grip my beer bottle so tight I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter. And when she keeps dancing, he doesn’t leave.
When she grabs his hand and smiles, I grind my teeth.
She’s not yours. Settle the fuck down.
Technically, we are just friends I remind myself again.
He wraps his arm around her waist, but instead of brushing him off, she just keeps dancing.
My skin heats, and rage fills my veins.
She’s allowed to flirt with whoever she wants.
Her hand snakes up his arm and rests on the back of his neck as she says something.
I take a deep breath before hopping up and marching over to them.
Grabbing her arm, I pull her toward me and whisper, “If you keep flirting with him, I’m gonna snap his fucking neck.”
She turns to face me, grinning. “Are you jealous?”
My nostrils flare as I stared down at her.
“Just stop dancing with him,” I mutter.
Then she really tests my patience because she bites her bottom lip before saying, “Make me.”
Every ounce of blood in my body lights on fire.
Her eyes burn into mine, unwavering.
Huffing a breath, I suck my teeth before leaning down and throwing her over my shoulder.
If she won’t get away from this dumbass, I’ll get her away from him myself.
Am I being a psychopath?
Maybe.
Am I marking my territory?
Also maybe, but I shouldn’t be because she isn’t mine.
Except, who the fuck am I kidding?
She absolutely is.
“Shane! You dumb motherfucker! Put me down!” she shouts, punching my back.
“No,” I say coolly, stomping to the edge of the dock with her screaming the entire way.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” she warns, thrashing around in my arms. “Shane! I’m serious. I will kick your ass if you—”
I toss her directly into the water.
She shrieks when her head breaks the surface, her hair soaked and sticking to her face. She looks like a beautiful sea monster.
“Oh, you are gonna get it!” she says, swimming to the edge and climbing out. She brushes her wet strands out of her face before taking a deep breath to compose herself.
Slowly she moves toward me.
When she gets within arm’s reach, she says, “Actually, you know what? I forgive you. Let’s hug and make up.”
She lunges.
I dodge her. “Hell no. Get the fuck away from me!”
I can’t stop laughing as she chases me around, giggling.
“Come on. Just hug me.”
“You’re fucking crazy. Don’t touch me!” I jump out of her path at the last second, but she gets ahold of my sleeve right as my foot slips in the mud, and I go down, dragging her with me.
Our laughter swirls around us as she curls into me. The sound coming from her is warm and bright, and I think I’d do just about anything to keep her laughing like that.
“I hate you,” she says with a huge smile.
“No, you don’t.”
Her eyes drop to my mouth.
I’ve been fighting the urge to kiss her all damn night. Really, I’ve been fighting it for weeks, but watching her flit around the party has been torture. I know I shouldn’t but fuck, I want to.
Don’t do it.
She rolls into me and threads her fingers with mine.
She’s your sister’s best friend.
She lifts her chin.
Do not fucking kiss her.
She bites her bottom lip.
Fuck it.
I grip the back of her neck and pull her to me.
And then our mouths collide. It’s soft and slow. I’ve never kissed anyone like this. It’s always just been a means to getting to the main event, but that’s not what this is. This isn’t about sex at all.
It’s just about being.
Being alive and not alone.
Up until now, I’ve been able to get by on my own, but I realize in this very moment, that will never be the case again.
When our mouths part, her eyes are softer, and her lids are heavy. Apparently, my cock takes that as an invitation and joins the party.
I pull her to me again, and she leans into the kiss as our tongues tangle. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I roll onto my back and pull her on top of me.
She straddles my hips, her hands sliding up my chest and into my hair. I devour her mouth, nipping at her bottom lip as she grinds into me. Slipping my arm around her, I rest my hand on the small of her back and weave my fingers into her hair with the other.
She pulls my hair hard enough that I tip my head back and our mouths part. Her lips meet my neck, and her tits press into my chest. Her hips roll just as she bites me hard enough to make me hiss.
Fuck, I think I love that.
She soothes it with her tongue before running it up my neck to my ear.
A groan rolls from between my teeth.
Pulling her back, I murmur against her lips, “Are you trying to make it so I have to walk out of here with a raging hard-on?”
She bites her bottom lip. “Maybe?”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah? Or…” She quirks a brow. “Maybe I’m hoping you’ll let me fix it before we leave?”
When I don’t say anything right away, she slips a hand between us and palms me through my jeans.
Her eyes widen.
I smirk as she sits up and yanks her hand away.
“You’re not putting that in me.”
Sitting up on my elbows, I laugh.
“No. I’m serious. That will tear something.” She points at my crotch like it might bite her. “I’m so sorry, but this is the end of the road for us.”
“Shut up. You’re so dramatic.” I grab her head and pull her mouth to mine.
“Shane, I mean it!” she says against my mouth, but her hips tell a different story as she starts moving in a slow circular motion again.
I slide my hand down her bare abdomen until I reach her waistband. “Okay. Do you want me to stop?”
She keeps rolling her hips but doesn’t answer.
I grip her with both hands, stopping her movement. Her eyes meet mine.
“Answer the question. Do you want me to touch you, or do you want me to stop?”
She swallows, her voice quiet this time when she says, “I want you to touch me.”
Without missing a beat, I rip open the button on her shorts and shove my hand down the front of them.
Her head falls back, and her nails dig into her thighs when I slide my fingers against her wet pussy. She moans, riding my hand. She looks so fucking beautiful—her blonde hair down her back, her tits pushed out in that tiny black bikini top.