My voice rings out as I bring my own beer bottle to my lips, taking a small sip. I expect someone to drink with me, indicating they’ve done it, but no one does. I find this odd, considering I thought Lincoln was on the brink of slamming me against the wall of the elevator earlier this morning.
“Remember, we’re in a bubble. Circle of trust. Blackout Club and all that. It’s okay if you have.” I shift my eyes to where Izzy and Asher sit on an identical sofa across from Lincoln and me. “Just think of all the people stuck in elevators because of this blackout who are probably screwing at this very moment. I guarantee we’ll see an increased number of births nine months from now. The blackout boom.”
“They might be getting it on. Or having a panic attack,” Izzy says. “That would be me.”
“Don’t like tight spaces?” Asher asks, leaning back in the sofa.
“No. That doesn’t bother me. But it’s… What? Around ten? Power went out a little after six. That’s four hours stuck without a bathroom. I’ve already peed a dozen times.”
“I don’t think you’ve peed that much,” he retorts playfully.
“Still. Can you imagine being stuck in an elevator and having to hold it that long? At some point, I’d probably say fuck it and just squat to get it over with.”
“How did we go from getting freaky in an elevator to talking about you peeing in an elevator?” I ask.
“I don’t know, but looks like you earned a penalty round.” She pushes the bottle and dice my way.
So far, everyone else has done this at least once. The first time, Izzy had to touch Lincoln’s finger. We all laughed when they did a little E.T. finger touch with each other, Izzy fanning herself afterward, pretending to be all hot and bothered from the contact.
A few minutes later, Lincoln had to roll after he couldn’t come up with something in enough time. Lucky him. He had to blow on Asher’s chest. Things started to heat up a little when Asher had to bite Izzy’s ear. The instant his teeth clamped onto her lobe, her face flushed and lips parted as her eyes fluttered closed. She can insist they’re just friends all she wants. There’s more going on.
Doing my best to push down the hint of nervousness about this, I reach for the dice and toss them onto the coffee table. They teeter on their edges before falling over, landing on SUCK and TONGUE.
A chorus of “whoa” and a few whistles fill the night sky as I swallow hard.
“Looks like things are about to get very interesting,” Izzy comments.
“I suppose they are.” I grab the bottle and give it a spin, watching as it moves around in a circle. Now I know how contestants on The Price is Right must feel when they spin the wheel, trying to get as close to a dollar as they can without going over. The anticipation and tightening in their body as it nears that magical number, then the despair when it lands on a nickel. I glance at Lincoln, a flutter in my stomach when I see the smirk on his lips. I wonder if Lincoln is my dollar, or if he’s simply a nickel and I should spin again.
The seconds seem to stretch as the bottle spins around the circle a few more times, each journey getting slower and slower until it gradually bypasses Asher, then stops close to Lincoln.
When I float my eyes to his, my body buzzes to life. With all the confidence I’ve found sexy since the beginning, he leans back, draping an arm along the back of the couch.
“You can use your pass if you want,” he says flirtatiously, raking his gaze over my body before zeroing in on my lips. “I’ll understand.”
“Rules are rules,” I reply in a throaty voice, batting my lashes. “Plus, I’d rather save my pass for when I have to suck on Izzy’s chest.”
Both men groan. I can’t help but laugh. What is it about two girls together that always seems to force men to revert to hormone-crazed teenagers?
“Please don’t,” Asher begs. “Use your pass if you have to touch her ear, but not that. Anything but that.”
“We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it. But for now…” Smiling a coy smile, I turn to Lincoln, crawling across the couch and into his lap, my legs straddling him. He instantly hardens beneath me, his jaw clenching, his eyes darkening as they remain focused on me. Inching my mouth toward his, I murmur, “I believe the dice have spoken.”
“I believe they have.”
“And that red flag that was being waved earlier?”
“It’s green, baby.” He brings his hand to my head, digging his fingers into my scalp. “Conditions are very favorable.”
“I can feel that.”
Slowly, I erase the last bit of distance between us, pressing my mouth to his. The kiss is soft and tender at first, neither one of us pushing forward. I can’t, not yet, breathless from the sensation of this first touching of our lips, a spark shooting through me. If this is how I react from an innocent kiss, I shudder to think what will happen when he deepens it. I don’t have to wait long to find out.
A groan rips from his throat, his hold on me tightening as he yanks my body even harder against his. I gasp at the feel of him, how excited he is. He takes advantage of my open mouth and swipes his tongue against mine. Instant fireworks erupt in my stomach, the raw need making me kiss him with more urgency, more desperation, more unsatisfied hunger.
I pull his body against mine, grasping at him, subtly circling my hips to relieve some of the pressure building inside me. But I fear nothing will extinguish the match he lit at our first meeting, the spark he’s flamed with each subsequent encounter, so much so that the fire won’t be put out easily. Not anymore.
He brings his hands to my face, the urgency of our kiss turning into something sweeter, more reverent, more personal, offering me a different side of him. An unexpected side. He exhales, breathing into me. It’s such a strange thing, feeling another person’s air expand in your lungs, giving you life. I don’t even know this man, but that’s what he’s doing — making me feel alive.
He sensually caresses my tongue with his, heat curling down my spine as I try to remember the last time a kiss made me feel this. I don’t even know what this is. And for once, I don’t care. I’m just enjoying the moment before the bubble bursts the instant the lights come back on.
Our motions slowing, I gradually pull back, still resting my lips on his. I don’t want to stop feeling them, tasting them, savoring them. Not yet. His kisses are the sweetest drug and I an addict, wanting to squeeze every last drop I can.
“Say you want more,” he whispers, his grip on my head keeping me from escaping his demand. I wouldn’t want to escape him even if I could.
“I want more.”
A smile slowly curves his mouth. “I want more, too. I want so much more.”
CHAPTER 11
“Mmm…,” I moan, squirming in my seat. My breathing is labored as I run my hand down my chest and along my stomach. “That’s it. I’ve always wanted someone to blow on my finger.”
I stop moving, opening my eyes to Lincoln’s and Asher’s disappointed pouts, Izzy’s giggles echoing around us.
As the night wore on, it’s become more and more difficult to come up with something original before time’s up, which has resulted in more throwing of the dice and spinning of the bottle. When Izzy spun and it landed on me, Asher’s and Lincoln’s eyes lit up like a kid running downstairs on Christmas morning. But when they looked to the dice and saw all she had to do was blow on my finger, both wore a similar expression, this time of a little kid who was told they’re about to go to Disneyland and end up at the dentist instead.
“What? Were you hoping for something hotter?” I smirk as Izzy returns to the couch, Asher draping his arm along her shoulders.
As things got more personal and heated, the sexual tension within our little bubble has become palpable. Where Izzy and Asher once kept some space between them, they’re now practically on top of each other. And Lincoln and I… Well, I’m desperate for another lap around the track. I get the feeling he is, too, considering last time I excused myself to use the bathroom, he waited for me in t
he hallway, where he proceeded to slam me against the wall, stealing another kiss. But when I attempted to drag him up to my room, he resisted, said we weren’t there yet. If nothing else, the man has incredible restraint. I imagine when we finally do make it to the bedroom, that restraint will make things even more incredible.
“Honestly, yes,” Asher responds, tearing me out of my hormone-filled thoughts. “We’ve been waiting for one of you to spin the other and it hasn’t happened. When it finally does, all you have to do is blow on her finger? I feel short-changed.”
“Rules are rules,” Izzy sings. “We can’t just make out because you want us to, hornball.” She playfully jabs him in the stomach. “If you want to watch girls make out, go watch a porno.”
He waggles his brows at her, giving her a mischievous smirk. “Want to join me?”
She narrows her eyes. “Maybe later,” she murmurs seductively, inching even closer to his mouth.
The raw need I see coming off Asher has me wanting them to kiss, too. I can only imagine the sparks that will fly when they finally do.
“Too bad there’s no power. It’s your turn.” She abruptly pulls back from Asher, leaving him momentarily bewildered, and grabs Lincoln’s cell from the table. Opening the timer, she hits START. “Go.”
Asher takes a minute to compose himself, then says, “Never have I ever taken a sexy selfie.”
“Nope!” Izzy responds, then imitates an annoying buzzer. “Already asked. Try again.”
Asher leans his head against the back of the couch. “Never have I ever slept with someone whose name I couldn’t remember the next morning.”
“Try again!” Izzy shouts once more. For being as buzzed as she is, she has an incredible ability to recall everything that’s been said. Then again, she’s always been ridiculously smart.
“Shit,” Asher mutters as he licks his lips, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Tick-tock,” Izzy teases. “Time’s running out. Almost time to spin the bottle. You may just have to bite Lincoln’s neck.” She breaks into a fit of giggles at the thought. I can’t help but laugh at the horrified expression on his face. On both their faces.
“Never have I ever…” He runs his hand through his hair as he struggles to come up with something.
“Five seconds,” Lincoln taunts.
“Never have I ever…,” Asher says again, but still nothing.
“Four. Three.”
“Never have I ever…,” he repeats once more.
We all join in with Lincoln’s countdown, shouting, “Two. One!”
Izzy grabs the bottle and thrusts it into his hand. “Spin it, baby!”
He groans in playful irritation as he places the bottle back onto the table. Taking the dice, he rolls as we all lean closer to see under the dim lighting of a few flickering candles and the firepit. When they land on KISS and LIPS, Izzy and I erupt into cheers and whistles.
“I’m so looking forward to watching you two make out,” I joke, jabbing Lincoln playfully in his side.
He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him. The heat of his breath against my neck makes my heart skip a beat. “I’d much rather make out with you again,” he murmurs in a barely audible growl that has me involuntarily squeezing my thighs together. “I’d much rather do a lot more than make out.”
“Like what?” I murmur, swallowing hard, his heavy growl hitting me in all the right places.
He leans closer. “Be a good girl and you’ll find out.”
I float my eyes to his, closing the gap between us, our breath intermingling. “Maybe I like being bad.”
His jaw tightens as his body becomes rigid. I flick my gaze to his shorts, able to make out the subtle definition of his erection reawakening.
“Is that so?”
I slowly nod, my lips hovering near his. “Oh, baby. You have no idea how bad I can really be.”
He shifts in his seat, a low groan escaping his mouth, just as Izzy says, “Time to spin, Asher.”
Reminded we’re not alone, we tear away from each other, returning our attention to the game. At first, it thrilled me, the promise of what could happen. Now all I want is to go to my room and have a different kind of game night with Lincoln.
Asher grabs the bottle and gives it a spin. Every time it closes in on Lincoln, Izzy’s eyes brim with hope.
As it slows and inches toward me, Lincoln’s hold on me tightens, almost protective. His reaction to the mere thought of me having to kiss Asher is endearing. Then again, I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be a problem. He’d most certainly use his pass, just like Izzy used her pass when she was supposed to suck on Lincoln’s earlobe. I wouldn’t have minded. But we don’t exactly have the same history Izzy and Asher apparently have.
Finally, the bottle rolls past me and lands on Izzy. She gives him a flirtatious smile. They’ve had to do a few risqué things over the course of the evening, like sucking on an ear or biting a neck, but nothing more than that.
“Well then…,” he begins smoothly, a smirk tugging on the corners of his lips as he looks her up and down. “I suppose it’s time we finally kiss.”
His statement momentarily surprises me. I’m not sure what I thought. I guess I assumed they already had.
“Unless—”
Before he can say another word, she clutches his cheeks, pulling him toward her. “I suppose it is,” she murmurs, lowering herself back onto the couch, bringing him on top of her.
“I suppose it is,” he repeats, brushing his mouth against hers, nipping on her lower lip.
“The dice says kiss my lips, not bite them.”
“I know, but I’ve imagined this for years now. I need to take advantage of it while I can, while we’re still in the bubble.”
Izzy tenses below him. “Years?”
Asher nods, rubbing his nose against hers. “Yes, Iz. Years.”
All the tension seems to roll off her as she hooks a leg around his waist, yanking him even tighter against her.
“What are you waiting for?”
She clutches his face in her hands and brings his lips to hers. Their kiss starts out simple and innocent, just a light meeting of mouths. But it doesn’t take long for it to become more intense, more heated, more…greedy.
A finger trails down my neck as I watch them, feeling like a voyeur, but I can’t look away. When Lincoln brushes my hair behind my shoulder, exposing my skin, I crane my head, silently giving him permission to keep touching me. The heat of his breath hits my flesh, his soft lips feathering against me causing a shiver to roll through me.
“I don’t recall you rolling the dice,” I whisper.
I feel his mouth curve into a smile. “It’ll be our little secret.” He brings his hand to my leg, brushing it up and down my thigh.
“Our little secret,” I repeat.
Glancing across the table to see Asher and Izzy still going at it, oblivious to the world around him, I part my legs, an open invitation for Lincoln to continue.
His teeth clamp onto my neck and I struggle not to yelp, the pain remarkably pleasurable. His hand inches higher and higher, my chest rising and falling in a quicker rhythm. When his fingers ghost against my center, sparks shoot through me. I really wish I hadn’t changed into jeans. If I still had on my bathing suit, this would be even more erotic, if that’s possible.
“I want you,” he says gruffly.
I swallow hard, biting back my moan.
“Do you want me?”
“Yes…,” I whimper.
He steals a glimpse to make sure Izzy and Asher are still occupied, which they are. “Here’s what I want you to do. When the two lovebirds break away, you’re going to excuse yourself. Say you’re tired. I’m sure they’ll want to have some privacy themselves. Once they head up, I’ll come to you. Okay?”
I stare straight ahead as Izzy and Asher’s passionate exchange wanes, their kiss slowly coming to an end. Lincoln squeezes my thigh. “Okay?” he asks again, more forceful.
“Oka
y,” I answer in a breathy voice.
“Okay,” he repeats, removing his hand from me, increasing the distance between us.
A giggle bursts through, and I glance up to see Asher helping a rather flushed Izzy back into a sitting position.
“Well, that was unexpected.”
“Hopefully in a good way.” He wraps his arm around her, pulling her close.
“In an amazing way.” She beams, fanning herself. “Now, I believe it’s Lincoln’s turn. Or is it Chloe’s?” She blushes, obviously flustered.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Lincoln’s gaze, a silent reminder of our plan.
“Actually…” I stand up. “I hate to be the one to put an end to game night, but I’m beat. It’s been a long day. And tomorrow will be another long one with heading back home.”
Izzy pouts playfully. “Always the responsible one, aren’t you?”
“Always.”
Her expression brightens. “It’s okay. I’ll probably be heading up to bed soon myself.”
“Alone?” I waggle my brows.
She bites her lower lip, flicking a mischievous grin to Asher as she squeezes his thigh. “Only time will tell.”
After saying my goodbyes to Asher, thanking him once more for allowing us to crash here, I start to head inside.
“Let me walk you,” Lincoln offers, surprising me. This certainly was not part of the plan.
“I’ll be fine,” I insist.
“I’m sure you will, but I’d feel better if I walked with you.” The tone of his voice makes it clear that this isn’t up for debate. I actually like the idea of him walking me to my room. I’ve never been with someone who so much as walked me to my Uber or the subway station after a date. Hell, a lot of them couldn’t even be asked to get out of bed to walk me to the door of their apartment.
“Okay,” I say.
“Okay.” He places his hand on the small of my back, shining the flashlight of his cell in front of us, illuminating the path toward the stairs.
Blackout: A Romance Anthology Page 37
