“You can do this. Imagine we are all naked.” I smiled at him and took a sip of my drink that was now a mixture of melted ice, cranberry, and vodka. Did I flirt? I don’t know where that came from.
“Well, if that’s the case I hope you are ready for my full attention.” He beamed across the table at me with sweat already building on his forehead. Poor guy, he really didn’t want to do this. “Aren’t you going to wish me luck?” He asked me before chugging the rest of his beer.
“Who needs luck,” I asked him, “when you will have all of your fan girls throwing their panties at you regardless of your talents?”
He quirked up his eyebrow at that. “I don’t suppose your panties will be flying at me?” I shook my head and tried to hide my smile when he sauntered away from the table obviously very proud of himself.
* * *
With the exception of August who sulked up to the DJ, we all took seats around one of the bar tables. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to this. I could stare at him unabashedly. “I couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in your eye.” Lennon leaned over and whispered to me.
“No twinkling here.” Deny. Deny. Deny.
“Bullshit. I’ve only seen you twinkle for three reasons. Dance, chocolate, and ... well, okay two reasons. I've gotta assume the third is for August.”
“His very own twinkle, huh?”
“Appears so, and if he crushes your twinkle, I crush him.” She pounded her fist into her palm. Bless her feisty heart. She believed she was intimidating. “And don’t think I didn’t catch onto your little stunt you pulled back there. Stop looking for reasons to stay away from him.”
My eyes followed August who was taking his place on the small make shift stage. Capri caught me admiring her brother and gave me a reassuring smile. I knew what that meant. She was giving me her blessing. Within twenty-four short hours I found myself immersed in twinkles and blessings. Not a bad place to be, scary, but not bad. Maybe I should try some optimism and look for reasons to be around him.
With August fidgeting on the stage I sensed a steady beat start to pulse through my chair. Others around me still remained engaged in their conversations unaware of the music starting. A familiar song poured through the speakers sending a hush rippling across the tiny bar.
"Oh no, he didn't." Lennon giggled and bounced her head to the music. "That's your man."
"Not my man." My man. The words nestled themselves onto my lips.
August started as the chorus of The Humpty Dance came on; or talk, was this even singing? Whatever it was, it was ludicrous, but entertaining. We cheered and hollered for August as he wobbled his head up and down to the beat and sloppily rapped the song. He stepped down from the stage and plodded toward us thrusting his hips every half beat. I’m not sure what words could describe his moves. A good dancer he was not, but endearing, yes. My eyes were blurry with tears as he came up to our table. The playful glint in his eyes stole the laugh from my throat. I put my hands up at him and shook my head.
As the chorus blared to life again he grabbed my hand and pulled me from my chair. I indulged in the feel of his rough palm against mine once again, and followed him up. I think I'd follow him off a bridge if he were holding my hand. In this case, I let him thrust and grind himself around me before he left to return the microphone to the D.J.
It wasn’t long before nearly the entire crowd was on their feet. The D.J. went with the momentum and continued to play a string of hip hop and dance hits from the 90’s. Capri and I danced suggestively with each other trying to get Lennon up from the table. She laughed at us, but sat firmly in her chair.
I caught sight of Wes to our left dancing with one of his many girls, and I was shocked at what a skilled dancer he was. He moved with an undeniable amount of swagger and intimately connected with his partner. I turned my attention towards Capri and saw she was watching the same thing, but where I was impressed her face was shrouded in annoyance. I nudged her with my hip breaking her icy stare when a grin graced her face.
I smelled him before I felt him. He smelled like a hunky man covered in soap. Delicious. I resisted the urge to turn around and nibble into him, instead dancing as if I hadn’t noticed his presence. Instead I focused on the crowd moving in a steading rolling motion. The lights had been turned down adding a glow to the dance floor.
Ignoring August became impossible the moment his hands gripped my waist. I froze stumbling back into him. My breath was paralyzed in my lungs. I hadn’t been this physically close to a man in three years. The thought made me want to flee.
“Relax.” He whispered into my neck sending an immediate tremble down my body leaving a trail of heat that begged for the tickle of his breath. He slid one hand from its welcome place on my hip along the front of my stomach and pulled me further into him. I went willingly relishing the feel of his solid arm draped across me. The urge to move away faded into the beat of the music.
August gently moved me along with him keeping us pressed close. Watching him move on his own during his performance was nothing compared to being held in his arms. I thought he was uncoordinated and stiff, but now it was clear he knew what he was doing.
My solid and jagged movements softened allowing my body to meld into his. He swayed us together closely and intimately. Allowing me to forget where I was. The space around us dimmed further until it was just he and I. August’s fingers pulsed with the music kneading into my skin. I sunk further into his large shielding frame welcoming the safety of his touch.
Surrendering to the music and waving my white flag to August, I dropped my head back onto his shoulder. He took the invitation and nuzzled his nose into the crook of my neck. My warming skin welcomed his nearness, and my stomach fluttered at his touch. I tilted my head to the side allowing him more access. I wanted to feel his lips against the sensitive space. I wanted the wetness of his tongue against the heat of my skin. When he didn’t comply, I ground myself back into him stealing a growl from his throat. His nose brushed across my neck sending my stomach into a welcome spasm, but still I needed more.
I turned to face him and draped my arms over his shoulders. August followed my lead and wrapped his arm around my waist letting his hands rest on my backside. I kept my eyes averted from his and I straddled my legs around one of his. He took this invitation and hauled me in so that I was practically sitting on his thigh. The jolt of the closeness shook me to my core. The lyrics of the music had vanished, and all that remained was the steady beat thrumming where our bodies connected.
I couldn’t control the quiet moan that left my lips at the moment of contact. He responded with a grip of his hands and I smirked at the knowledge that he enjoyed my response. We continued to move together. Every roll of my hips and every lunge of his leg built a steady need within me. I began subconsciously pulling at his firm, rounded shoulders within my hands.
I leaned into August and brushed my nose up his solid chest and made my way up along his neck. He tilted his head to the side in a groan and I continued my path tracing his jawline up to his chin inhaling his clean scent.
He dipped his head into me aligning our parted lips, and bringing them close, so damn close. I inhaled his breath and he gripped me tighter in his hands. I felt the tips of his nails dig into me and sucked in a shaky breath at the feel of his need against me. Suddenly, the faintest trace of his lips brushed against mine. In the softest and slowest movement, August’s tongue met my bottom lip in a wet and sweeping motion. My mind followed its glide from corner to corner.
I looked up at August for the first time since our dance began and connected with his lowered eyes. They screamed in lust and want begging for me to return the action. I sucked in a sharp breath and fell away from his embrace. What was I doing?
I stumbled back another step almost falling into the couple behind me, but August reached out and caught my arms.
“What’s wrong?” He asked voice gruff and so damn sexy.
“I just, I…” I couldn’t find
my voice. I wanted to say I got carried away, and I had. I wanted to tell him to move away, but I only wanted him close again. I wanted to run for the door, but I felt the need to reattach myself to him and sink my lips into his. Completely caught up in confusion I shook my head and stumbled my way back to the safety of our table.
“Holy hump dance, what was that?” Lennon asked sliding a glass of water across the table at me. I took it without response and drank half of it in a few gulps. I shook my head at her still lost for words.
“It was hot. I’ll tell you that much. I need a cold shower and I wasn’t even the one dancing.” She fanned herself off.
“I got carried away.” I said pulling my hair up off my neck.
“And what’s wrong with that?” Lennon asked.
“A lot. A lot is wrong with that.” I said thinking about how quickly I could have given myself over to him, and how easily we both could have regretted it. We barely knew each other.
“For as long as I’ve known you, you have maintained control in everything you can. That,” she nodded her head towards the dance floor, “is the first time I have witnessed you lost in a moment. If you were able to get carried away in August, then dammit Kensie, let him take you.”
I huffed out a frustrated grunt. Lennon was right. No guy had swept me up so quickly, but that was exactly what I needed to be wary of. If I couldn’t control myself around August, then I needed to keep my distance.
Not even a few minutes later August took his seat across the table from me. He didn’t look up at me, but I could feel the heat roll off of him. Heat we created only moments ago. I blushed and looked down at my glass of water.
I felt Capri take her seat next to me and glanced at her. Her eyes were practically bugging out of her head at me. I shook my head at her advising her not to ask. The table was awkwardly silent with knowing when Wes found his way back to us.
“Whew, it was getting’ sexified out there.” He said and every head snapped to him. “What?” he asked innocently. Still silent, the gentle vibration of our table had all of us checking our cell phones. I saw it wasn’t me getting a call and placed mine back into my pocket. I looked up at saw August staring at his phone with furrowed brows.
“I gotta take this.” He mumbled and stood up from the table quickly retreating to the door.
Capri eyed him warily from across the table.She and Wes whispered heatedly with each other while August was gone. Capri would gesture towards the door and Wes would nod seeming to try and calm her down.
"What do you suppose this is all about?" I asked Lennon who had been watching the exchange with me.
"Not sure. She seems upset with August’s phone call."
"My thoughts exactly. I wonder who it is?"
"Let's find out." Lennon waved to Capri to get her attention, " Should Kensie be worried?"
"What the hell?" I smacked Lennon on the arm. "I'm not worried." Lie.
Capri shook her head reassuringly. "Nope, just family stuff." That explained it. I certainly could relate.
When August came back in, he took his seat on his own side of the table, but still hadn’t looked at me. I couldn’t blame him. I was the one who ran away.
Sensing the shift of atmosphere Lennon stood up from the table. “Time to head out.” She said stretching her arms above her head. “Capri and I have an early study date tomorrow.”
I nodded and stood up to join her, but not before looking one last time towards August. My eyes collided with his. I was surprised to see, not disgust or disappointment in his eyes, but something else. Curiosity maybe. Like he couldn’t figure me out. Good luck buddy. I’m still working on that myself, I thought and gave him a soft downturned smile. He returned the same exact smile to me before I turned away and headed with my girls for the door.
Chapter 3
One thing I’ve always been certain of is the strength of my friendships. I’ve always chosen quality over quantity preferring a few close friends I know I can trust to a truckload of acquaintances I can sometimes count on. Since coming to college I met a lot of really great people, but only two have stuck. Lennon and Capri were the best kind of friends. If they fell, I’d pick them up and help them fly. Right now, I’d let those bitches fall.
“Can you guys keep it down?” I mumbled from somewhere under my pillow. I knew they had a study date, but what I didn’t know is that it would be in my room at the butt ass crack of dawn.
“Wait, did you hear something? Was that Sleeping Beauty? Guess you can call your brother and tell him we won’t need him to come by after all.” Lennon told Capri making her laugh.
“Ha.” I said shoving my pillow aside and glaring at them through one squinted eye. “Why are you studying here anyway? Isn’t there a coffee house or a library you can be at?” I asked them pulling the pillow back over my head. Why is the sun so bright in the morning?
“Yeah,” Lennon said, “but then I’d have to get dressed. This way we can study in our pajamas.”
“I brought you a coffee.” Capri’s voice twinkled through the air, God love her.
I stuck my hand out from under my blanket and pulsed my fingers open and closed before a warm cup was placed into them.
“I love you. You’re my favorite.” I said sitting up and letting the pillow fall to the ground.
“You’re my favorite too.” She said smiling while Lennon flipped us both off.
I took a slow steady sip of the delicious brown goodness when Capri’s phone chimed. “You even have people call you at this hour? What’s wrong with you people?” I grumbled taking another sip.
“Right now?” Capri said to the person on the other line. “It’s eight a.m. Why can’t you get them later?”
“See. We only grace you with our presence this early. Others have to wait.” Lennon said flashing me a charming smile that didn’t belong anywhere on her petite face.
Capri hung up the phone with a huff and tossed it back into her purse. “Who was it?” I asked cradling my coffee in my hands.
“My brother.” She said casually. See that’s the thing. Capri has always mentioned her brother, but has never called him by name. Had she done that I may have been able to connect the dots on who he was. Then, I could have avoided Tommy’s last night and our entire awkward dance floor exchange that left me both mortified and completely turned on like a damn light. Then, I could have avoided the searing pain from the burn of the coffee I just spilled on my leg at the mention of Capri’s brother.
“Shit.” I cursed blotting off the scalding liquid with my bed sheet.
“Is he looking for Kensie?” Lennon asked.
Capri tapped her pen against her chin and pursed her lips. “Probably, actually. He said he needed to come get his jumper cables from my car for Wes. I guess his car died at some hussy’s house. I personally think August should let him perform the walk of shame all the way home.”
“I’d pay to see that.” Lennon laughed. “So what did August say?”
“He said he would be here in five minutes.” Capri said casually with a gleam in her eye escalating Lennon’s laugh.
“What?” I shouted and jumped up from my bed spilling more coffee onto my toe this time. “Shit. Hot. Hot.” I put the cup down on my nightstand and ran my fingers through my matted hair. I hurried to my closet and pulled out my shower caddy slamming the doors closed. I turned in a circle looking for my sandals when I caught sight of two smirking bitches on Lennon’s bed.
“What?” I said teetering on my feet trying to appear as calm as possible. Neither of them spoke, so I turned on my heel and headed out the door. I turned to yank it shut, and spun around towards the hallway. My efforts were thwarted when I ran smack dab into the middle of a solid clean smelling, delicious man. Crap.
“Good morning.” His chest rumbled against my hand that was splayed across it. I yanked it back quickly and placed it stiffly at my side.
“Good morning.” I said keeping my voice as even and unaffected as possible. I was completely affected
though. At this point, I wanted to scale him like a tree and reenact the whole his tongue on my lip thing from last night.
“Nice jammies.” He said smirking. His eyes lazily traced their way down my body widening and appraising with each sweep of his gaze. I followed his heated stare tilting my head down and gasped when I saw what I was wearing.
I stared down at my tank and boy short underwear combo. How could I forget I slept in my underwear? I had two choices right now. I could cower back into my room and put some real pajamas on, or I could proudly strut myself down to the restrooms without a care in the world.
I straightened my shoulders and looked up at August. “Thanks.” I said confidently and moved to make my way around him. His arm shot out towards the wall and blocked off my way. “Excuse me.” I said as pleasantly as possible, though my heart was hammering in my head.
“What happened last night?” He asked leaning towards me much closer than he was a second ago. I took a step towards the wall and away from him.
“What do you mean?” Ugh, why did I just say that? Of course I knew what he meant. I was buying myself time though. Time to figure out what on earth I was going to say next.
“When we were dancing. I thought we were having a good time, well” he stopped himself, “ I was having a good time. A damn good time, and then you…you-“
“Freaked out.” I finished his sentence for him. “And I was um, enjoying myself.” God this was so awkward.
“You were?” He asked taking another step towards me and placing his other arm on the wall boxing me in. His scent assaulted me in the most perfect way. With arms propped up on either side of me he took another step closer to me. I could feel the warmth of our bodies twirling together in the tiny space between us. I wanted to close the distance, but stood my ground, against the wall.
“Is this okay?” He asked bending his head down toward me and brushing the tip of his nose along my cheek.
“Yes.” I whispered losing sight as my eyes closed. I leaned my head into him. My pulse pounded through my veins and my breathing became ragged in anticipation. I wanted so badly to have his lips on mine, to have his body press against me. His breath brushed down my face and stopped suddenly. What was he going to do? Kiss me? Turn away? I held my breath waiting for his decision. I just wanted him to grab me and throw me up against the wall already. Then, his lips pressed gently onto my skin and wrapped themselves around my jawline. I inhaled quickly losing all sense of myself in a haze of want, no need. My shower caddy tumbled from my fingertips in a loud clatter on the ground.
Truth In Wildflowers Page 4
