A cheer went into the air as I heard someone scream, their cry echoing off the gorge. I got a glimpse of a figure through the railing, plunging into the valley below. What the hell? Moving next to Smith, I watched gravity pull the figure toward the ground with rapid speed. His body reaching almost the water before he recoiled back, flying through the air. Hoots and bellows rang out from him while what I figured was his girlfriend cheered from above, already harnessed and ready to go next.
Two guys and one girl seemed to be in charge, their traveling bungee jump business all set up and ready to go, trying to entice the next idiot to tie themselves to rubber bands and jump off a bridge. Bungee jumping had never been on my list.
“What say you?” Smith peered down at me, an eyebrow cocking.
“What?” I laughed. “You’re not serious.”
“Completely.”
I laughed again.
“Hell no.”
“Why not?” He folded his arms. “Afraid?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t see the point.”
“Of course, you don’t,” he said slowly.
“What does that mean?”
“You think you are so different from your siblings.”
I frowned, my arms going over my chest.
“You all are very logical. By the book… don’t color out of the lines.” He tipped his head, his blue eyes bright underneath his ball cap, penetrating mine. “Little uptight.”
“Excuse me? I am not uptight.”
He smiled, like, Sure, sweetie.
“This can be my pick today. Try it at least once, then you can decide if you like it or not.”
“No.” My head automatically shook as I looked at the girl preparing to jump. “Absolutely not.”
He looked away, a told you so expression on his face, only sparking ire up the back of my neck.
“It’s not because I’m uptight or scared.” Lie. I was both. “I just don’t want to.” But in my head, I couldn’t think of a reason why. Actually, even standing there, the lure of it sent adrenaline thrilling me with the idea, pounding my heart.
“O-kay.” He shrugged, reaching down to stroke Goat’s soft ears. “But I’m doing it.”
“Fine,” I replied, rolling my shoulders back, my stubbornness kicking in, digging in its heels. Because I couldn’t deny my interest, half wishing he’d push me.
“You’re really missing out. The high you get. The freedom and rush.” His eyes slid to me, watching me. “Almost as good as sex.”
The single word darted my attention to him, our eyes connecting. Air leaked from my lungs at the intensity of his gaze.
“I’m not going to make you. You have to decide for yourself, but I thought this whole trip was about exploring and figuring things out. Grow. If you don’t do anything different or take a chance, you don’t change anything. Sometimes the best way to do it is let go of the reins, climb out of your safety bubble, and live.” He leaned closer, forcing me to suck in. “Do something that scares you.”
“Smith Blackburn? You’re up next,” one of the bungee leaders called out.
Smith’s eyes stayed on me for another beat before his head turned and threaded through the crowd to the railing, the crew starting to get him in the harnesses.
I could feel his insightful words filling my chest and itching my legs. He was right. If you didn’t push yourself out of your box, nothing would change. Stagnate. Bored. I had come on this trip to experience life. To take chances and feel… alive.
Don’t be stubborn and miss out. Do it, Kinsley.
My feet moved, Goat weaving with me to Smith. His head jerked up, our gazes meeting.
“I want to do it too.” I spoke to the bungee staff, but my eyes stayed on him. A smug grin hinted on his mouth, his eyes flashing with delight.
“Awesome!” The purple-haired female crew member grabbed another harness, stepping up to me.
“But I have him… and he’s afraid of men.” I nodded down to Goat.
“I’ll watch him.” She rubbed his head softly. “I have three dogs at home. I’ll be happy to watch over this sweet guy while you two jump.” She took the leash. “You can’t skip something like this. He’ll be fine with me, I promise.”
The two other guys moved around Smith and me, clipping us in and instructing us on what to do once we got to the bottom. Their fourth crew member sat in a boat, ready to pick us up.
Every word they spoke and the forms they wanted us to sign, saying they weren’t liable, caused my heart to pound so loudly my ears hummed.
“Don’t worry; we got this down. I mean, it took us all morning to really get the hang of it, but after losing the third or fourth jumper, we started to get in a groove.” A blond guy in his early twenties winked playfully at me.
“You are not funny.” My voice quivered, my body trembling. I knew he was trying to tease and distract me. He was cute enough. Shaggy white-blond hair and hazel eyes, his smile cheeky enough it drew you in, telling you he was all trouble.
“Your boyfriend’s idea?”
“Not my boyfriend.” I reacted instantly.
“Oh, really?” His smile brightened, his eyes moving down my jean shorts and tank.
Feeling a sensation prickle my skin, my focus darted to Smith. His lids lowered, looking between us, a scowl curling his lip.
“Don’t worry.” The guy rubbed my back as he tightened the belt, pinging my attention back to him. “I’ve been doing this for three years. Haven’t lost one yet.” He laughed when I glared at him. “I’m Chad, by the way.” He winked at me again before leading me closer to the railing.
My stomach dropped, panic setting in, my bones shaking so hard my teeth chattered.
“Who’s first?” The older, dark-haired crew member motioned between Smith and me.
Was I really doing this? The need to run back to safety and say I changed my mind was on my tongue, mixing with the bitter taste of adrenaline.
“Can we go together?” Smith tilted his head, his hands on his hips.
“Yeah,” the guy replied, curling his finger for us to move in closer.
“Together?” Panic hitched my lungs, sending another quake through my body. An alarm went off in the back of my head, understanding I was going to be very close to Smith. Danger.
“Be fun this way.” He smirked down at me. “Plus, you can’t back out now.”
“Wrap your arms around her,” the older guy directed. Smith’s arms pulled me into him, his huge body enveloping mine. The heat and strength of his body pressing into mine as they linked us together actually evened out my breath. “Tighter.”
Smith squeezed me into him, my awareness of everything elevated. The sensation of his cock thick against me spiked my breath and heartbeat, spinning my head.
The lead guy rattled off more instructions, but I heard nothing as Smith inched us closer to the ledge.
“Ready?” Chad called out. “On three.” The crowd buzzed with excitement, ready to watch us plummet.
I sucked in, my fingers digging into Smith’s back, my body flattening into his.
“One!”
“Relax.” Smith husky voice slithered down my neck.
“Two!”
“I got you.”
“Three!”
With a single tip to the side, our bodies plunged toward the river far below.
Free-falling, a scream tore from my mouth, the rush of the water and jagged rocks coming at us. My stomach froze in fear and shock, my mind slower to process. The wind rushed through my hair, slapping against my face, waking me up like I had been sleeping forever. The view of the gorge, the dramatic rock formations sliding across my vision…
My lungs hurled out sound involuntarily, Smith’s deep voice booming against mine, our forms so tight there wasn’t an inch of space.
I could feel the band start to stretch, and we rebounded, forcing another cry from my mouth, but this time I could hear the joy, the elation springing from me.
We recoiled a
few more times before gravity and our weight slowed us down, sinking us closer to the river.
“Whoo-hoo!” Smith yelled, stretching his arms above his head, curving his pelvis more into me, dizzying me even more. “Fuck! That was awesome!” He tipped his head down to me, his mouth so close to mine I could feel the heat coming off him, his gaze trying to assess my reaction. “Did you like it?”
I blinked, my emotions suddenly slamming into me with a punch. “Holy. Shit.” I gaped at him, a huge smile breaking over my face. “That was frickin’ amazing. Can we go again?”
His hands clasped the sides of my face, his eyes glinting with verve, a hungry smile curving his mouth. “I knew you’d like it.” His eyes tracked mine, and I felt him twitch against my stomach, flooding my body with desire. I sucked in but didn’t look away; our eyes locked, wild and raw.
Kiss me, my body screamed, but my mind was still too dazed to speak up.
As if he heard me, his attention dropped to my mouth, his huge build curving forward, our mouths only a breath apart. Holy hell, this was happening. A tiny warning beeped in the back of my head, but not loud enough for me to want to stop. My senses were too overwhelmed, needing this. Badly.
His fingers dug into my head, his heat throbbing against my skin.
“Hey,” a man’s voice shouted, jerking us back with a sharp inhale and twisting us to look at a young guy in a boat coming below where we hung. “They are going to lower you into the boat. You ready?”
“Yeah,” Smith grumbled, the crewmember shoving us back into reality. What the hell were you about to do? How selfish and horrible are you, Kins?
We were brought down into the boat and unlatched, our figures moving to opposite sides of the tiny boat.
“First time?” the guy asked, steering us back to shore.
“Mine.” I held up my palm.
“Like it?”
Unconsciously my gaze darted back to Smith, remembering the feel of his cock pushing against me, his body enveloping mine, his mouth brushing my lips, the adrenaline shooting through my veins, quaking my limbs.
I felt alive. Free. The first time I matched the person inside.
I nodded fervently. “Hell yes.”
Chapter 12
Smith
Fuck. Me. I needed to get laid. Now.
It was at my fingertips, the bar full of girls, many giving me clear indication they would be more than willing. But I couldn’t seem to keep my attention off the one in front of me, no matter how much I wanted or pretended. And shit if I hadn’t almost kissed her earlier. I blame the adrenaline pumping through my veins, being caught in the moment. Looking at her lick the salt off her lip, my dick was still as interested as it was when she had been pressed into me, flying through the air.
No. This one you can’t touch.
Not even a little. I had ruthlessly learned not to mix friends, relationships, and business—a lesson still tarnishing my life. My life was beyond a mess, twisted and convoluted. I could barely see through the muck. I was only designed to have someone for a night. No strings attached. Kinsley Maxwell came with a web of strings. And a rope her brother would hang me on.
All because I let people in. Which taught me not to care again. To ever fall in love.
A flare of anger and resentment burned up my spine. Fuck them. They destroyed my life. Took everything. Even my father. Now I had nothing except guilt, hate, and bitterness.
“Another!” Kinsley shoved a shot glass into my hand filled with tequila, drawing me out of my punishing memories with a snap, her smile waving off the darkness like a wand. She bounced on her toes, her high from the jump earlier still buzzing at full speed, the grin not leaving her face. Her brightness eased my chest, lightened the darkness as I watched her bubble with energy.
Damn, she was sexy.
I grunted, shoving the thought from my head, looking over at a group of girls loitering close to me.
It was her idea to go to a local bar when we arrived in Santa Fe, needing to release the high rushing through her blood. She practically skipped to the pub down the street from our RV park. Goat left with treats and his toy, happily spread over her bed like a king.
Shooting the liquor down, my forehead crunched at the burn sliding down my throat. The dive bar was packed, thrumming with energy, music, and horny coeds. The lights were low, disguising the seediness of the place, but it still coiled in the air, whispering in your ear to let the sordidness and dirtiness take over. The night felt electrical, the heat adding to the sinful need.
A small pool/darts section was set up in the back, but some girls had turned the little space between there and the bar into a dance floor, jiggling their barely dressed figures around, trails of glistening sweat trickling down their forms.
“Two more doubles.” Kinsley leaned over the bar, her tank tightening around her breasts, her smile flirty as she spoke to the bartender.
“Sure thing, sweetheart.” He winked at her, causing a growl to flood my throat. His eyes snapped to me, his sexy grin vanishing, his demeanor stiffening so fast it almost made me laugh.
Yeah, that’s right, buddy. Off limits.
Feeling Kinsley stare, my attention jumped to her. Her lids narrowed, her arms crossed, an eyebrow lifted.
“What?” Except I knew what.
She tipped her head the opposite way. She was good at looking threatening, but damn if it didn’t make her look even hotter. Her legs were long and sculpted in those barely there shorts, her pert breasts snug in her backless black tank showing off the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her long, silky, dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail. The impulse to sweep one hand over the bare skin, while the other wrapped in her hair, tugging it hard, twitched my fingers.
“Thought I was free to screw the next douchebag until my heart’s desire?”
Another wave of possessiveness stiffened my spine as I tried to hide my response.
“Him?” I motioned at the guy grabbing the tequila bottle for our order. “That’s the one you choose?”
“Why do I have to choose one?” She tipped one shoulder, grinning cheekily, turning back to the bar. “This place is full of possible one-night stands.”
Extreme jealousy slinked up my back, curling around my shoulders, making me grit my teeth.
The bartender poured two more doubles and quickly moved to the next patron, not even giving Kins a second glance.
She frowned.
I smirked.
“Well, cheers to you throwing yourself off a bridge.” I held up the glass at her. “Next, we’ll try skydiving.”
I expected her to refute my challenge, but she grinned, holding up her cup to mine.
“Bring it.” She knocked it against my glass and downed hers, my gaze stroking over her mouth and down her throat.
I shook my head, looking away from her as I drank mine. The third double shot was starting to warm up my muscles, but Kinsley’s eyes were starting to gloss, her cheeks reddening, her smile huge, hips swinging sexually to the music, sending a tightness into my chest and my pants.
“Hey,” I yelled over at another bartender who had moved to our side. A pretty girl with a figure I usually gravitated toward smiled seductively the moment her eyes landed on me.
“What can I get you, sexy?” She sauntered up, leaning on the bar to hear me better.
“A bourbon.” The side of my mouth hitched.
“Anything else?” She eyed me intently. I was no stranger to women hitting on me, but I had been out of the game for a while.
“One for me as well.” Kinsley’s slim body slid over, worming slightly in front of me, the curve of her ass bumping into my dick.
Jesus.
Kinsley tipped her head slightly, staring at the girl. She wasn’t being catty, but you could still feel the challenge hanging between them.
What the hell?
Like the male bartender, the girl’s inviting smile dropped away, her gaze going between us before she nodded, turning to pour our order. She
dropped the glasses on the bar and took the money without looking at me again.
A smug grin ghosted Kinsley’s face as she scooped up her drink and took a sip.
“Ah.” I chuckled. “Getting back at me?”
With her drink poised at her lips, something flicked over her face too fast for me to catch. Her head dipped. “Yep.” She took another drink, not meeting my eyes. “You cock-blocked me twice now. Only fair.”
“Is that right?” My voice went lower than I meant it to. Our bodies so close, my neck craned to peer down at her, the heat of her skin brushing against mine. Against my demands, warnings, and advisement, my dick reacted on its own, pushing painfully against my jeans. Not giving a shit about what was right or wrong. Probably made her more desirable.
Her gaze dropped for a moment, her throat swallowing roughly, giving no doubt she noticed. The pulse in her neck fluttered against her damp skin, making my cock jump again, liking her attention far too much. The rush of desire moved me toward her, like a child running for his mommy.
“Uh.” My throat hitched, my thumb automatically pointing back. “You want to play pool? Or darts?”
She blinked at me.
I turned before she could respond, needing to put space between us. I scanned the crowd for another choice as I moved, hoping some girl would pique my interest like the one behind me. Anyone would do… It just couldn’t be her. Pretty faces and figures swam in my view, but my gaze didn’t land on one in particular. Sadly, it didn’t matter. Tonight, I had to go with one of them. Give them the best night of their life, and let my body have what it’s wanted for so long. Anything to stop the need pulsing inside my boxer-briefs. It had been a while, and being in close proximity to Kinsley had put her at the top of the list. That was the only reason. Any woman I was spending time with would have me feeling like this.
Would you feel the same if it were Kasey here instead?
I tried to imagine her in Kinsley’s place. I had seen recent pictures of her on Kyle’s Facebook page. She hadn’t changed much, still beautiful, still very much in shape, with a huge smile.
Her sensual smile and batting lashes flooded my head, the memory of her in her nightgown, finding me in the hallway one time as I exited the bathroom. She was coy, twisting my shirt, talking in a slight baby voice, like I would find that sexier.
Smug Bastard: A Hero Club Novel Page 9
