Addicted

by Claire Adams

"Nice to meet you." I shook Derek's hand and then Daniels. "I'm uber sensitive to bullshit, so forgive me for running from his lines. I've heard them all before."

  "So has half the country, but he's a good guy." Daniel spoke up as he adjusted his glasses. "I'm going to go get some fresh air. You wanna come? We can bash Brody together?"

  I laughed and nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good."

  Daniel was a good foot taller than me and beanpole thin. Not at all the kind of guy I'd have given a second look to, but he was cute in his own way. His messy brown hair and spattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose made him adorable.

  "Where are you from?" He smiled as we walked out on the patio and moved to the only corner that wasn't occupied.

  I leaned against the railing and smiled over at him. "From just up the road. I just graduated from Arizona State."

  "Oh, nice. Me, too." He glanced out at the yard and grew silent. He wasn't at all like his friend, Brody. Looked like I was going to have to carry the conversation if we were going to have one.

  "Are you staying here after the summer or heading off to a new adventure?" I lifted my punch to my lips and took a long drink. Maybe coming out on the porch with this guy wasn't a good idea, after all.

  "I'll be starting pre-med at Harvard in the fall. I just wanted to get my undergrad near home." He shrugged. "All those guys back there are my buddies from high school. We decided to go to college together, and honestly, it was the best decision I could have made. I'm a better man because of them."

  Brody's voice caused my pulse to spike. "That's sweet, buddy. We feel the same about you, too."

  The sexy frat boy moved up on the other side of me and leaned against the rails, breathing in deeply.

  "You're like a roach." I turned my face toward him. "I just can't get rid of you."

  "Awww, come on, Cora. No need to smash my ego." He licked at his lips subtly as his eyes moved around my face. He was almost too close. I could hear him breathing, smell the mint on his breath, see the promise of something wickedly insane in his eyes.

  "Smash your ego? Who in the world would have a hammer that large?" I glanced over at Daniel as my body warmed and my nipples tightened thanks to Brody's attention. "Nice to meet you, Daniel. See you around."

  I turned and walked back toward the house, shaking my hips just a tad bit more than I would usually.

  Just because I wasn't going to bite the hook didn't mean I didn't want to tug on it a little.

  Chapter 9

  Brody

  "Goddammit," I grumbled as she walked away. Every cell in my body screamed for me to follow her, force her to see me. To hear me.

  "What's up with you tonight, man?" Daniel moved up beside me, his face filled with concern.

  "I don't know." I looked over my shoulder as she shook her hips. Her pretty ass jiggled just under her dress, giving me confirmation that the fox had on a G-string. My cock hardened to the point of throbbing, and yet there was nothing to do about it. She wasn't going to relent, and I wasn't going to push.

  Or was I?

  "Did something happen with you and Cora?" He pushed his shoulder against mine.

  "How do you know her name?" I turned and lifted my eyebrow as my voice dropped a little.

  "Whoa." He stepped back and lifted his hands. "I'm an innocent by-stander here."

  "Yeah, sorry." I patted his chest and rolled my shoulders. "I know it's going to sound crazy, but I haven't had a girl deny me in years."

  "First time for everything?" He laughed and took a drink of his beer. "Come on. There are lots of women here tonight. Let's grab a beer for you and get the fun started. No worrying about the one that got away. She wasn't even that attractive."

  I laughed loudly. "Is this your way of making me feel better?"

  "Yep. She's the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life." He walked to the door to the house and held it open. "She looks like one of those chicks who would rock a business suit and rule the world, yet turn into a complete whore in the bedroom for the right man."

  I popped him in the gut as I walked in and groaned. "Really? Fucker."

  "Sorry, dude. You know I have a problem with not being totally honest all the time." He shrugged. "It was a hard life growing up with older brothers."

  "I want her, Daniel. I haven't wanted anyone for a long time." I glanced around, not seeing her and feeling a sense of relief over it. She wasn't the prettiest girl I'd ever seen in my life, but combined with her attitude and confidence? I was sold on the idea of trying harder than I had in a long time for a girl.

  "Well, it's good to want, right?" He picked up a beer and handed it to me. "It makes us appreciate those things we wanted if we ever get them.”

  "Not now, dude. I can't handle an in-depth discussion over the human psyche. I'm hiding a boner and my heart is racing." I gave him a quick glare.

  "Over one girl? Seems out of character for you." He shrugged and took another drink of his beer before patting my chest. "I'm thinking you have some repressed women issues, but we'll talk later. Go woo the girl."

  I ignored him and looked around for her. She was standing in a group with her friends and some of mine. Perfect.

  Walking over, I stopped beside Clay and lifted my beer to my lips, looking away from the group as if searching for someone. She wanted to play hard to get? Fine. I was down for a challenge. It felt good. Having my heart racing and blood pumping was almost addictive. It had been far too long.

  "Let's go dance." Dedra moved past me as she tugged on her redheaded friend's hand. Cindy? Candy? Cindy.

  "Sounds good to me." Derek tugged at my shirt. "Come on, lover boy. Come show these girls how it's done."

  "Can you dance?" Emily asked me, moving up to my left. The girl was cute, but seemed to be hiding behind her over-sized shirt and tights. I'd seen her on the dock earlier that day without her shirt on. There was no need for her to wear something so unattractive, unless she wasn't looking for attention.

  "I've been known to steal a few hearts on the dance floor." I turned and reached for Cindy, pulling her toward me and spinning her.

  She laughed and pressed her hands to my chest. "Has anyone ever told you that you look like a blond Chris Evans?"

  "Nope. Never." I chuckled, lying to the petite thing. I spun her around the floor, taking care to keep her from running into anyone. I could almost feel Cora's eyes on me, but I ignored the need to turn around and show her just how interested I was in gaining her attention. I'd been playing this fucked up game for most of my life. This wasn't the first time a girl had given me the cold shoulder, just the first time in a really long time. I found that after I took the others like her to bed, the excitement died. It would be no different with her.

  The thought calmed me a little. I enjoyed the high her denial provided. To push too far, too fast would leave it over before it started.

  "Where are you from?" Cindy asked as she pressed herself against the front of me.

  "Around." I winked and glanced up to see Derek headed our way. "I'm thinking my cowboy friend wants to spin you around a little. You up for it?"

  "Absolutely." She turned and walked toward Derek, surprising the big guy, from what I could tell. I laughed and walked past them, patting him on the back and joining the rest of the group. Clay was gone, and so was Dedra, but Daniel, Emily, and Cora were laughing about something.

  "Anyone know anything about this Clint character?" I walked up and stood beside Cora, keeping my attention on Daniel and Emily.

  "Nope. He's just the rich guy in town. Word on the street is that his great grandparents helped found the town. Or maybe it was great-great or maybe great-great-great," Emily responded before giggling.

  "You look like your drink is getting empty." Daniel nodded to Emily's glass. "Let’s go fill you up."

  "Hmmm...that sounds...fun?" She laughed again as Daniel's cheeks turned pink.

  "Oh Lord," Cora mumbled beside me.

  I leaned against the bar, not paying her a bit of attentio
n. My eyes moved out to the floor to find my friends enjoying themselves. Everyone had a beer in their hand, which wasn't good. Someone was supposed to be the designated driver, but from the look of things, no one remembered who it was.

  "Well, damn." I took another sip of my half-drunken beer and tossed it.

  "Beer go bad?" Her voice was firm and non-conversational.

  "Nope. My friends seemed to have forgotten that it wasn't my night to remain sober." I shrugged and slipped my hands in my pockets before moving up toward the dance floor, letting my eyes scan the room.

  "You like to dance?" she asked, moving up beside me.

  "Yeah, you bet. Just don't think it means you're taking me to bed, though." I grabbed her hand before she could correct me. Her question could have been easily misconstrued as a request to dance. Good enough.

  I slid my hands over her hips, enjoying the feel of her under my fingers. Her dress was thin, and I could feel the elastic that lay over her hips, connecting her panties from the small triangle that covered her to the thin string that ran down her ass. My body hardened to the point of pain, my chest tightening with the knowledge that I could find release just thinking about her.

  "What are you doing?" She pressed her hands to my chest, keeping a distance between us.

  I leaned down and pressed my mouth to her ear, breathing in the sweet smell of her perfume. "You asked me to dance. I know how to just be friends with someone, so I figured, why not."

  "I did not." She lifted her eyebrow as I moved back.

  "I can't hear you." I leaned down and turned my face from her as she leaned in, her lips brushing over my ear.

  Fuck.

  "I didn't ask you to dance. I asked if you liked to dance." She moved back and glanced around.

  "Oh, sorry. Shit." I tugged her a little closer. "Our friends are all dancing. Don't leave me out here alone. It wouldn't be very kind of you, and you're already two strikes in."

  "Two strikes? For what?" Her large brown eyes moved around my face as she kept a firm press on my chest.

  "One for the car situation the other day and then the lake this morning. I could have drowned, and then what?" I moved my hands up a little, trying to keep myself from sliding them any lower. I'd already have most women in a closet on their knees, but not this girl. She wasn't going anywhere. Why did I want her too so damn bad?

  She laughed, and the sound drove a stake of desire through me. I wanted to make her laugh again. Even though it was a sarcastic “suck it” laugh.

  "I could care less if I strike out." She glanced around. "You just don't take no for an answer, do you?"

  "I'm not sure what I asked you for that has you wanting to say no. I'm pretty sure I asked you for help today and you said no. And you asked me for a dance, and I didn't deny you. Am I missing something?"

  I spun her, pulling her back against my chest and rocking against her as she started to relax a little. The music was sensual and fun. A few more beers and I might get her to grind against me.

  Might.

  "I'm not interested in guys like you, Brody. You're wasting your time." She pulled from me a little, and I spun her again, pulling her flush against me.

  "Well, the way I see it, our friends are going to want to hang out. Where you and I have nothing going for us, that doesn't mean we can't be buds." I pulled back a little, giving her space. The light pink on her cheeks and down her neck accompanied with the fast ticking vein in the side of her neck let me know just how little I affected her.

  Liar.

  "Buds? Like fuck buddies?" She laughed and pulled back completely. "I don't think so, mister."

  "Fuck buddies? I have plenty of those. I just meant...aw, never mind." I turned and walked to the center of the dance floor, turning and dancing with a large group of girls. I was done for the night. Being overbearing wasn't my style. Teasing her back into my arms would work out much better.

  "Brody?" A feminine voice caught my attention, and I turned to find Dina standing there in a tiny black dress.

  "Wow. You look..."

  "Fucking hot. I know." She moved toward me and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You messed up yesterday. How about you make it up to me tonight?"

  "Whatcha got in mind?" I moved us out to the edge of the floor before sliding my hands over her exposed back. Her skin felt good against my fingers, but she wasn't the girl I wanted beneath me for the night.

  "A long night of making each other moan?" She lifted to her toes as if to kiss me, but I spun her away, pulling her back to my chest and pressed my hand to the front of her taunt stomach.

  "Dance with me first." I leaned down and pressed my lips to the side of her neck, nipping softly as she rolled her hips and massaged me with the steep curve of her ass.

  "Anything you want. Just don't fuck up again." She turned a little to line her face up with mine.

  I moved back slowly and gripped her hips tightly, dancing with the music as she worked her body against mine. She was sexy as hell, and yet I couldn't help but glance around until I found Cora.

  She turned from me the minute our eyes met, the emotion in her gaze one I'd seen far too many times to ignore. Jealousy.

  What do you want from me, sexy girl? You want me to woo you? To sway you to consider me? Is it worth it? For one night?

  Dina turned and ran her hands over my chest and stomach to cup me. "I'm ready to go. I don't wanna dance anymore."

  "Alright, baby." I took her hand and walked toward my friends. Cora and hers were nowhere in sight.

  Daniel turned and glanced down at Dina as his eyes widened. "Hey. We're taking the girls for ice cream. You guys wanna...um, come?"

  "No, but thanks." I ignored his joke and extended my hand. "Give me the keys to the truck. I wanna get home fast."

  "Yeah, sure." Clay pulled the keys out. "We'll leave you guys be. Have fun."

  "You, too." I tugged Dina toward the door as she jogged to keep up with me.

  "Excited?" she asked as we walked down the stairs and passed by Cora and her friends.

  Emily called out to me. "Brody, are you not coming?"

  "Not yet, I'm not." I turned and winked at her before putting my attention back on Dina. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and helped her into the truck.

  The look on Cora's face when I rounded the corner was almost priceless.

  "That's what I was talking about." She nodded toward the truck.

  "Right, well, you don't know me at all. Dina's my cousin and I was joking, but have fun tonight. I'm a little worn out from being judged by someone who doesn't know me from Adam. Good night, Cora."

  I got in the truck and drove out to the lookout point before turning off the truck and letting out a long sigh. There were very few times in my life that I was left questioning my decisions, but this was one of them.

  "God, you're hot. The sexiest thing in this whole damn town." Dina moved across the bench seat and worked on my jeans as I reclined the seat and let out a long breath.

  "You're not too bad yourself, baby." I brushed her hair back as she laid down and tugged my cock free. It was going to take some effort to get it back up after having Cora douse my arousal in her third denial of me. I wasn't even asking for anything more than a conversation.

  I groaned as Dina sucked me deep into her mouth, her hands working where her mouth didn't touch. My fingers tangled into her hair as I leaned back and closed my eyes. I forced myself to stay in the present and not imagine her to be anyone but who she was.

  "Come, Brody." She glanced up as I opened my eyes and nodded.

  "Suck harder and I will, baby." I reached down and ran my hand up the back of her leg, playing with the bottom curve of her ass.

  "I wanna taste you," she mumbled and went back to work, letting her aggression out on me. I couldn't reach the edge or even come close. She was getting frustrated, as was I. The last thing I needed was her mouthing off about me not being able to release to the whole damn town, and she seemed like the kind of girl who would do it
.

  I closed my eyes and imagined Cora on her knees, her chestnut locks in my hand, her mouth filled with me as she looked up and nodded, wanting more of me inside of her.

  My thighs tightened as my breath caught. "You want it?" I whispered. "Tell me you want it."

  She pulled off of me, licking and sucking at the head of my cock as she whispered the words I needed to hear. "I want you."

  Not it. You.

  A cry ripped from my chest as my body convulsed. It had been too long since I'd experienced such a high, and I knew without a doubt that it would only drive me to demand to experience it again. But this time, I wanted the reality, not the fantasy.

  I wanted to keep my eyes open.

  Chapter 10

  Cora

  I spent most of Saturday recovering from the hangover I got Friday night. Brody's friends had joined us for a little while, but gone back to the party when they realized that we were headed for pajamas and a bottle of wine, not hot sex in the back of a truck.

  I couldn't help but think they were like him more than they knew. All of them except Daniel. He was different and not in a way that was too thrilling to think about.

  "What are you thinking about?" Dedra dropped down next to me as she worked to get her sandals on.

  "That yesterday was a waste because of all that liquor I drank." I curled up on my side, pulling my feet away to give her more room. "Are you really going to find a church?"

  "I think laying around yesterday was good for us, and yeah...my grandmother would roll over in her grave if I missed church. You should come with me." She popped my thigh and smiled. "You could ask for forgiveness for all those naughty thoughts you've been having about Brody."

  "I have not." I pulled my blanket up to just under my chin. "He's a man whore."

  "Yep, and like any other woman in this place, I'd pay for him for a night." She laughed and got up.

  "Now who needs to ask for forgiveness?" I pushed at her with my foot as I smiled.

  "I'm not denying it." She shrugged and grabbed the keys to my BMW. "Can I?"

  "Of course." I glanced over toward the kitchen as Cindy walked out.