Addicted

by Claire Adams

  I held the door for her before grabbing a beer and walked back out to the patio. Clay and Emily followed me out, and I was grateful to see the door close behind them. While Cora was exactly the type of woman I wanted to press to the bed beneath me, she was quickly turning me off with her pissy, “better than you” attitude.

  "Let's get the grill fired up and we can put the brats out here." I glanced over at Emily. "Did you guys want me to put anything else on here will I'm at it?"

  "Yeah. I think we got”

  "Corn and hot dogs." Cindy walked out and gave me a warm smile. "I can't believe you got The Notebook. It's my favorite, though I swear I never make it past the first scene."

  I laughed and nodded. "Exactly. It's a make-out movie, right?"

  "Totally." She moved up beside and helped lay everything out on the grill before glancing over her shoulder. "Hey, I'm sorry about Cora."

  "What? What about Cora?" I didn't turn my attention on her. I couldn't.

  "She's gone through some rough shit this last semester. Her boyfriend of two years was cheating on her and had been for the whole two years. She's just incredibly sensitive right now." Cindy closed the grill, and I turned as Emily started talking.

  "She's a really great girl. The best." Emily smiled and moved into Clay's lap, leaving me needy for someone to reach out and show me a bit of attention. Not someone: Cora.

  "I'm sure she is." I shrugged and took the beer that Cindy offered me. "I don't want to cause any trouble, but I am who I am."

  "And, we love you that way, buddy." Clay lifted his beer. "You make us feel better about ourselves."

  I laughed. "Jerk."

  "Only with you can I be myself." Clay wrapped an arm around Emily before pulling her down for a long, passionate kiss. I turned my attention to Cindy and shook my head.

  "These kids nowadays." I followed her back into the house, not at all thrilled to see Cora laughing at something Daniel was saying. Maybe he was a better match for her mentally. Physically, it was one hundred percent me, but maybe she was too broken to do anything but seek out the weakest link. Cool. I could deal with that.

  "You're too funny." Cindy glanced over her shoulder. "Did Derek tell you I made a new dessert for you guys?"

  Derek piped up. "For me, girl. For me."

  "For all of us." I picked up a pillow on the couch and tossed it across the room to him.

  "For all of you." She smiled and turned her attention on Derek. "You want a beer?"

  "A pretty redhead who can dance, cook, and offers to get me a beer?" Derek let out a long dramatic sigh and let his head fall back. "Marry me, Cindy."

  "I need to make sure you're good in bed first, but if so...then yes." She giggled and walked toward the kitchen as a genuine smile lifted my lips. I turned to follow her as Derek continued to sing the girl's praises.

  Cora glanced over at me from the kitchen table, but I ignored her. She was damaged goods. Better let Daniel handle her, instead. He was the sensitive type of guy.

  I would hang out for a little while and then be on my way. There was no need to stand around in hopes of something that wasn't going to happen.

  "You know," Cindy turned from the counter where she was working on uncovering a bowl of dip, "if you work on being friends rather than trying to get her in bed, it might work."

  "I don't need it to work, but thanks." I kept my voice soft and friendly, even though I felt the exact opposite. I wasn't a lovesick fool with my eyes on one woman. I was interested in the sexy brunette at the kitchen table for a few hours of sweaty fun. Nothing else. Obviously, I was giving off the wrong vibe to everyone, seeing that they were all handing out advice or teasing the hell out of me over her.

  "I'm sure you don't, but we have the rest of the summer, and if I was going to go after anyone on this whole lake, it would be Cora." Cindy shrugged. "She's the full deal. Smart, beautiful, sexy, funny, daring, strong, and the best friend we all have."

  I glanced over at her as my heart swelled in my chest. It wasn't love. It was infatuation to know the woman Cindy was talking about. I'd seen enough of that around the edges of the cold-hearted bitch that had Daniel laughing like a school girl, but I wanted to see more.

  "I'm sure she is, Cindy, but she's not interested, and I'm not the kind of man who chases after a woman. I'm just not." I opened the bag of chips closest to me and walked over with a chip in hand. "Now, stop trying to sell me off to the nearest available girl and let me taste your dip."

  She smirked and held out the bowl. "You're lucky that cowboy in the other room is so cute, or I'd let you do more than taste my dip."

  I laughed. "Good to know."

  "What are you two giggling over?" Emily walked into the kitchen and picked up the bag of chips. "Oooo, is this Cindy's enchilada dip?"

  "No clue, but it's fucking amazing." I reached over for a few more chips as the flavor of the dip rushed across my tongue. It had to be one of the best things I'd ever tasted.

  "It's the taco dip, but close enough." She gave us a sweet smile. "Do you guys really like it, or are you just being nice."

  "Just being nice. It tastes like shit." I grabbed the bowl and the bag of chips and walked to the living room. "I'll take one for the team and eat it all."

  "No, you won't." Cora walked into the living room and sat down beside me.

  Daniel dropped down beside her.

  "What's the big deal with the dip?" He pulled his glasses off and cleaned them. "Is it really that good?"

  "The best." Cora reached for the chips, but I pulled the bag away.

  "What do you say when you want something someone else has?" I let my eyes move down to the thickness of her bottom lip, wondering how good it would feel pressed between mine. She had to taste like passion and feel like heaven.

  "Give me the chips or I'll kick you in the crotch?" She smirked and reached for the chips.

  I leaned in, unable to help myself.

  Her breath caught as I paused just before kissing her and let my eyes move up to lock onto hers. Being close to her tore down my facade and stripped me for the moment.

  "You say, please," I whispered and licked at my lips before moving back and handing her the bag.

  The slight widening of her eyes and the fast ticking along the side of her neck left me with no doubt that she was at least curious. Maybe not interested, but curious.

  "Please." She took a chip and dipped it into the dip before handing it to Daniel, who was standing up, looking around. "Here. Try it."

  "Daniel," Dedra called from the porch. "Come here. I want to get you to look at this bite. I swear it's a spider.”

  "Coming." He took the chip from Cora and smiled. "Always nice to be needed even before I finish my schooling."

  "You'll always be needed, buddy." I smiled at him and tugged the chips back from Cora before leaning back and pressing my shoulder against hers as she reclined into the couch next to me. "So, I know Emily can cook, and Cindy obviously can. How about you?"

  "Looking for a woman who can fuck all night and still make you breakfast in the morning?" She glanced over at me, the emotion on her face drawing me in.

  "Wow. That was almost a record for us, and we just met." I took another chip from the bag and dipped it in the creamy rose-colored dip. I lifted it to her lips and nodded. "Why do you keep bringing up sex, Cora? Is that all you think about when you look at me?"

  She leaned forward and bit the chip, not answering me. "I'm getting a beer; you want one?"

  "Yep." I pushed at her back to help her off the old couch and couldn't help but breathe in deeply as the scent that was uniquely her rolled over me. A mixture of coconuts and cinnamon. Delicious.

  She handed me a beer as she walked back in and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry."

  "For not popping the top? You should be." I moved the chip bag from behind her and winked at her. "Derek gets a woman who loves to cook and totally gets why The Notebook is a make out movie, and I get berated for being a guy with hormones. Typical Sunday
night!"

  She smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry about being an ass. I just-”

  "No. Don't let up on me just yet. I was starting to think I needed to change my ways. Keep giving me shit, and I might turn into a good guy at some point this summer." I ran my finger around the side of the bowl and licked at it. "Fuck, this is good."

  Her eyes moved along my face as she leaned back and ran her finger along the inside of the bowl, too. "I'm not sleeping with you."

  "Why do you think that I'm interested in sleeping with you?" I laughed, wanting to be crude and make her feel as if she were the furthest thing from something I might desire, but I couldn't do it. I wouldn't. Not after Cindy told me about her situation. I'd never cheated on a girl, but then again, I'd never been in a relationship long enough to consider it.

  "You're kidding, right?" She licked at her finger sensually. Bitch. She had to be playing a game with me. I couldn't even seem to tell anymore with her.

  "Brats are done!" Clay walked in with his hands in the air. "No thanks to you."

  "Me?" I got up, ignoring the desire to grab Cora's hand and lick her finger clean for her. She had no clue how good I could make her feel, nor would she if she kept it up. I could handle a bit more, and then I was hitting the door.

  Keep telling yourself that.

  We gathered around the large kitchen table in the dining room as Dedra and Emily started to open windows. The spread on the table looked great, and my stomach growled as I reached for a plate.

  "Hold up, handsome. We gotta pray over the food." Dedra bumped me with her hip and smiled.

  "Go for it." I smiled at her and bowed my head as she prayed. I glanced up to see Cora watching me as if she wanted to ask a question. I mouthed, “what?”

  She mouthed back, “Close your eyes.”

  I winked at her and closed my eyes, licking at my lips in hopes that she would know that I was teasing her for not closing her eyes, too.

  "Amen," Dedra finished up and lifted her hands. "Eat up. We'll start the movie after this."

  "The horror movie, right?" Clay grabbed a plate. "Cause Brody here hates a fucking chick flick."

  I pretended to gag. "Only good for one thing."

  "Making out!" Cindy laughed.

  "Exactly. That's my girl." I pointed to her as Derek growled at me. "Or your girl?"

  Clay shook his head at us. "You guys are ridiculous. A chick flick is the perfect excuse to get out a good cry and still keep your man card."

  "A good cry?" Derek laughed. "That's it. Get his card." He nodded toward me, and I handed my plate to Cora who'd moved up beside me. We moved toward Clay as he lifted his hands.

  "Come on, man. Not here in front of the girls." He tossed his empty plate at me as the girls started to laugh and Derek moved around the other side of the table, effectively helping me trap Clay at the back of the table.

  "Leave him alone, or I'll get you both." Emily held up the large squeeze container of mustard.

  "And, I'll help her." Cora grabbed a bottle of ketchup, giving me the chance to turn on her instead of Clay.

  "Oh yeah? I thought you like mustard with your wieners." I moved toward her as Emily opened the mustard.

  "Watch it, mister. We'll get you." Emily wagged it at me. I reached out and grabbed it from her, squirting some in my mouth as they laughed.

  "Everyone calm down. Let's eat and get the movie started. Friday the 13th is my favorite." Daniel chucked a hot dog bun at me, and I turned in time to catch it.

  "Alright, fine, but I'm taking all of you out the first time I get you in the lake." I wagged my eyebrows and glanced around at them, landing on Cora. "Especially you."

  "Me?" She lifted her eyebrows as she sat the ketchup down. "Fine, but I'm going to tell everyone that you cried during The Notebook."

  "Psssttt. I'm not crying tonight. I might make out a little if you're up for it, but crying? Never." I couldn't help but laugh at the cute look on her face. Somehow, it would seem that I was the last person in the room she would consider snuggling up to. Too bad, because as much as I was done with being judged by her, I didn't see myself leaving any time soon. There was far too much possibility between us.

  "Don't hold your breath." She shrugged nonchalantly and grabbed a plate as I moved in behind her with a cocky smile on my face.

  "God, I love a challenge." I glanced over at Clay as he shook his head.

  "Oh fuck, here we go," he mumbled, causing all of us to laugh.

  Chapter 14

  Cora

  I laughed harder than I had in a long time during dinner, and the laughter of my friends left me open, raw. I was tired of being a bitch in hopes of Brody shoving off. It had only been a few short conversations with him, but watching him interact with Clay and Daniel showed me a very different guy as Emily had hinted he was.

  I wasn't inviting him in my bed anytime soon, but I could, at least, relent a little.

  "Come on. I don't bite unless you ask me to." He patted the couch next to him as I walked into the living room. The way he watched me left me wanting to beg him to put his teeth on me, but I ignored the desire and dropped down next to him.

  "No biting, no touching, and no misunderstanding my squeals for neediness. I'm an independent girl with no desire for a knight in shining armor." I glanced over at him, lifting my eyebrow in warning.

  "He's no knight in shining armor." Derek settled down into the chair closest to me and dipped his spoon into a big bowl of banana pudding. "Not that I am, either."

  "You're not?" Cindy walked in and squeezed into the chair with him as Clay hit the button for the movie to start.

  "For you, yes." Derek wrapped an arm around her and handed her the bowl. "Hold this so I can eat it?"

  "Brother," Brody mumbled beside me and reached for a handful of popcorn. "Don't tell anyone when I scream like a girl. Got it?"

  "You? Screaming?" I glanced over at him, wanting to make a thousand inappropriate comments and yet knowing that it would just start him up again. Seeing that he'd been acting a bit more chill for the last few hours, I almost hated the idea of getting him started up again.

  "Only when the moment calls for it." His eyes lingered on me, making me feel attractive, pretty.

  "Stop. Behave or you're out." I turned to the TV and stiffened as the lights went low and he moved closer, pressing his face against the side of my hair.

  "You don't want me to behave, Cora. I promise." He brushed his lips by my ear as my heart started to race. "But for the sake of our friends and your denial of a good time, I'll try."

  I turned to face him, almost brushing my nose by his. "Denial of a good time?"

  His eyes moved down toward my lips as his breathing got a little off. "Yeah. A really good time."

  "Orgasmic?" I whispered and leaned in a little farther as the movie started to play. Everyone around us could go to hell. This guy wanted to tease me as if I was the sweet sensitive type that would fall to his good looks and his suave moves?

  He licked his lips and nodded. "Fuck, yeah."

  "Sounds fun, but I'm not one to have just one bite of anything. Especially weenies." I turned back to the movie like nothing had happened.

  Clay snorted and laughed. "You did not just say that shit."

  "She did." Emily piped in and snuggled up against me, causing me to have to move over a little more toward Brody.

  "Sorry," I mumbled at him and shoved my mouth full of popcorn.

  "Payback is hell, baby girl." He glanced over at me and smirked. "Should be fun, though."

  "Shhh...I'm trying to watch this." Dedra turned from the floor in front of the TV and glared at us.

  "We should make the boys watch the chick flick. Really. I want to see Brody suffer." I turned to look at Cindy and Derek, hoping for some support.

  "Keep denying him. That'll do more than the movie could hope to." Daniel glanced back and laughed before his eyes got wide as we laughed. "Sorry, dude. Just kidding around."

  "Right." Brody sunk into
the couch and turned his attention toward the TV as the creepy music started.

  "You almost look cute when you pout," I whispered and watched him for another second while he ignored me. "Almost."

  I tried to focus on the movie, but it was so hard with him next to me. The slightest movement, and my attention was back on him. His arm brushed by mine several times, and dammit if I didn't feel like I was in junior high again. He didn't seem to notice at all, but I was sure it was part of his game.

  A scream ripped from me as I glanced back to the TV screen and Jason popped out from under a bed, leaving my heart racing and goosebumps all over my arms and legs.

  "Fuck," Emily yelled beside me.

  I laughed and glanced over to find Brody chuckling.

  "Not funny." I moved to the edge of the couch and got up, taking the popcorn with me. "Anyone else want a beer?"

  Several hands went up, and I counted them before I walked into the kitchen. My heart racing over the movie was almost a relief to the fact that my pulse kept spiking over Brody.

  "Need some help?" The softness in his voice was out of place, and not a good thing, at all.

  "Yeah. Sure." I glanced over my shoulder to watch him watching me.

  "You look good tonight, by the way. I know it sounds like a come-on, and I've been trying not to tell you all night, but I figure I might as well get it over with and let the next round of berating start." He smirked as I pulled a few beers from the fridge and sat them down on the countertop next to me.

  "Berating?" I took a few steps toward him as desire rolled through me. His white polo shirt looked good against his summer tan and blond hair. I should have been running from the room screaming at the thoughts that drove through me, pounding in the need to relent to him.

  "Yep." He reached around me, his shoulder brushing by my breasts. "You seem to have it out for me for some odd reason."

  "Not really. I'm just not interested. I've said that a few times, though." I stiffened as he moved closer.

  "Something tells me that you're fighting a good fight where I'm concerned." He touched the bottom of my chin, lifting my head a little. "Why not relent? I'm not a bad guy."