SocialPreyAllRomance

by Trista Ann Michaels

“Maybe I’ll stay so I have a reason to.”

  Kiley sighed and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “You are such a-“

  “Relax, sunshine. I’m leaving.” Scott stood and turned the chair back around, then pushed it under the table. “If I didn’t know you as well as I do, I would get a complex.” He pouted, making Sharon and the other women feel sorry for him. “See how bad she treats me.”

  “Ah,” Sharon said. “Poor baby.”

  “I know. It’s awful.” He turned and began walking away, but as he left he threw over his shoulder. “Just awful.”

  Sharon and the other girls chuckled, but Kiley frowned. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted him—the more she loved him. What the hell was she going to do?

  “Okay, now that he’s gone…” Sharon began as she spun in her chair to face Kiley. “You want to talk about what the hell all that tension is about?”

  Kiley waved and got the waiter’s attention. Holding up her glass, she indicated she would like another drink. He nodded and headed to the bar. “Do I have to?”

  “Well, we can just make up our own minds about how you have the hots for Scott and use a surly demeanor to cover it up, albeit it badly.”

  Kiley dropped her head in her hands. “Oh, God.” If she was that obvious to them was she that obvious to Scott? “Is it that obvious?”

  “To me,” Sharon replied.

  “Us, too,” Lydia added as she put her arm around Kiley’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

  “It’s not so bad. He’s gorgeous. I would have the hots for him too if I were you.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Is Keith still trying to run your life with that whole stay away from Scott thing?” Sharon asked.

  Kiley lifted her head and nodded. “I understand why. I do. Scott and I work together. If it didn’t work out, which it probably wouldn’t since he’s such a womanizing prick, then things at work would be rough.”

  “Oh, and the way things are now is so much better?” Sharon argued.

  Kiley snorted. “Most days I can avoid him or hide things. Most days Keith is there so it’s easier.

  Now that Keith is in Istanbul and Scott’s bored because all the guys are gone, he’s been spending more time with me.” Kiley squeezed her temple tiredly. “And, it’s getting so very hard to keep my hands off him.”

  “I don’t think getting drunk is going to help that situation any,” Theresa said with amusement.

  “Your drink, hon,” the waiter said.

  Kiley smiled her thanks and took the glass from his extended hand. “I think the not getting drunk thing is a matter of opinion,” Kiley said as she took a big sip of her drink.

  Scott sat at the bar, watching Kiley on the dance floor. Kiley’s toned, tan body swayed and moved to the music; the hot pink mini dress emphasizing every luscious curve to perfection.

  Her brown hair had begun to curl from the moist air created by the fog machines stationed at the four corners of the dance floor. Several men gathered around her, dancing along with her.

  She seemed oblivious to their presence, lost in her own world—in the almost tribal beat of the music.

  He loved watching her dance. She was good. She knew exactly how to move her hips to attract a man. Scott frowned as one of the men dancing with her got a little too close. He stood and started to intervene, but Kiley seemed to have things well in hand.

  Without even looking at the guy, she shifted positions, putting more space between them.

  Maybe she wasn’t quite as drunk as he’d initially thought. She seemed actually pretty observant for someone who’d downed four drinks that he knew of.

  There was a slight change in the tempo of the music, and Kiley stumbled. She caught hold of Sharon’s arm and laughed at her own clumsiness. Nope, Kiley was drunk. It really showed as she slowly and quite wobbly left the dance floor with Sharon following her.

  Scott set his drink down and started over to their table. As he got closer, he heard Kiley say, “I need to get home. I have to be at work tomorrow.”

  “You’re part owner. You can stay home if you want. Besides,” Sharon said firmly as she reached for Kiley’s keys. “You’re in no condition to drive home.”

  Kiley jerked her hand back with surprising speed for someone under the influence. “Then how am I supposed to get there?”

  “I’m driving you.”

  “What about my car?”

  Sharon put her hands on her hips. “One of the other girls will drive it.”

  Scott stood back and let Sharon handle it. Kiley appeared to be thinking it over, then handed her keys to Sharon. “Fine.”

  “Good,” Sharon said with a nod. “Let me go get one of the girls, then we’ll head out.”

  Kiley nodded and dropped into the chair facing the dance floor. Scott caught up with Sharon as she headed toward Lydia, who stood at the far side of the bar talking with another group of girls that had come in.

  “Sharon,” he called.

  She stopped and turned to look at him. “You still here?”

  Scott shrugged good-naturedly. “Nowhere else to go. I can take Kiley’s car home.”

  “What about your car?” she asked over the loud music.

  “I didn’t drive here. I came with one of the other guys, but I think he’s got some girl he wants to take home. They don’t need me as a third wheel, so taking Kiley’s car works out great. I’ll follow you back to her place, then sleep on her couch.”

  “Kiley will have a cow,” Sharon said, grinning.

  Scott returned her grin. “That I drove her car or that I’ll sleep on her couch?”

  “Both.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time for either one of them.”

  Sharon pursed her lips and studied him much too closely. “What’s your thing with Kiley?”

  “My thing?” he asked.

  She crossed her arms. “You know what I mean.”

  Scott sighed. “She’s my best friend’s little sister. Keith would kill me if anything happened to her. He’d also kill me if he knew I was here and didn’t stop her from getting that drunk,” he added as he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “What brought that on, anyway?”

  Sharon rolled her eyes. “If you don’t already know, I’m not about to explain it to you.” She handed him the keys. “I’m in the maroon Pacifica.”

  Scott nodded and watched as Sharon made her way back to Kiley. What in the hell had she meant by that? What was it he was supposed to already know?

  Chapter Nine

  Keith strolled carefully through the halls of the prison complex. They’d used the two door key cards their contact had given them to get in. Two of his men were with him, the others placed in strategic areas around the exit just in case they ran into trouble. They just needed to wait for the explosion that was scheduled. Nothing like a convenient diversion.

  So far, so good, but Keith refused to breathe a sigh of relief just yet. He knew getting out of here would be more difficult than getting in. He fingered one of the guns he had hidden under his jacket. He knew at some point they would have to shoot their way out, he just hoped they were close to the exit before the shooting started.

  All the way to the exit would be the best scenario. That way his men could offer cover. If they got caught inside, it would just be the three of them and their chances of success would be more limited. Not impossible, but certainly in question.

  They kept their heads down and their faces hidden from the cameras. Dressed as prison guards, the only thing that would give them away was their lighter coloring. Especially Keith, but he wanted to be there for Paula. This would be terrifying for her, especially if they had to shoot their way out.

  Keith and his men turned to the right at the end of the hall. Paula’s door was the third on the left. He glanced at his watch and waited. Right on time, an explosion rocked the building. John glanced at him as the walls around them shook from the blast.

  “T
hat was close,” John said.

  Keith nodded as he reached into his pocket for the key his escort had given him. As quickly as possible, but also not trying to raise suspicion, he unlocked Paula’s door.

  He pushed it open and stepped into the tiny room that Paula had called home for the last several days. She stood quickly and stared at him, at first with fear in her eyes, then relief as she realized who he was.

  He held his hand out. “We need to move fast.”

  Paula nodded and put her hand in his. Keith put Paula between himself and John and walked her down the hall as though escorting her to a new location.

  “What was that noise?” she asked. “Did something exploded?”

  “Yes. Keep your head down,” Keith murmured as they walked through the halls.

  Paula lowered her head and kept her hands clasped in front of her. He could tell by how stiffly she walked she was scared to death, but she did everything he said without question.

  Several guards rushed past them, heading to the other side of the building, no doubt in response to the explosion. Keith swept his gaze over the hallway, then turned to check behind him.

  So far, so good. He just hoped their luck held.

  * * * *

  Scott opened the passenger side of Sharon’s door, surprising Kiley. She glanced up at him with wide, startled eyes, then shook her head in denial.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I brought your car home.”

  He held his hand out to her, but instead of taking it, she stared at it blankly.

  “You can go home now,” she murmured.

  “Not until I see you inside.”

  She climbed from the car, ignoring his hand. “I can see myself inside, thank you very much.”

  Sharon snorted, and Scott gave her a sideways grin, silently agreeing with her sentiment.

  The second Kiley stood straight she wobbled dangerously on her high heels. Scott grabbed her around the waist as she fell, full force into his chest. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Kiley this drunk.

  “Yeah, I see how well you can get yourself inside,” he mumbled with amusement.

  She stared up into his eyes and Scott swallowed at the lust shining in her gaze. Was that lust for him? Or in her drunken state, would any man do?

  “Come on, baby. Let’s get you into bed.”

  Kiley nodded and allowed him to put his arm around her shoulders, supporting her as she stumbled along her sidewalk. He turned and waved to Sharon as she backed out of the

  driveway. Through the front windshield, Scott didn’t miss the firm stare she sent his way as if to say, “don’t you dare take advantage of my friend.”

  Scott smiled slightly. As much as he would love to have sex with Kiley, he would turn her down if she came onto him now. He wouldn’t want what he believed would be an amazing encounter ruined by the fact she was drunk.

  At the door, Kiley fumbled with her keys. Scott took them from her hands and pushed the key into the keyhole.

  “I could’ve done it,” she mumbled adorably.

  “I know,” Scott replied. “But I’m kinda in a hurry.”

  He pushed the door open and helped her over the threshold.

  “Why? Do you have a date?” she grumbled.

  He looked down at her, startled at her sudden animosity. Was she jealous? “Would that bother you, Kiley? If I had a date?”

  Her lower lip stuck out in a pout, and Scott resisted the urge to swipe his thumb across it.

  “No,” she said.

  She turned too quickly and almost fell over. With a squeal, she grabbed the back of the chair to keep from falling. Scott reached out to help her, but she slapped his hand away.

  “Go on your date,” she snapped, sounding hurt and sad.

  Scott’s heart ached to tell her she was the only date he wanted. He watched with regret as she made her way down the hall toward her bedroom.

  “I don’t have a date, Kiley,” he whispered. “I just want to get out of here before I do something stupid.”

  She stopped and turned to look at him in confusion. “What do you mean…something stupid?”

  She leaned heavily against the wall. Scott walked toward her and grabbed her arm. Turning her around, he helped her get to her bedroom.

  “The something stupid would be kissing you,” he admitted.

  Why not tell her? She was so drunk she wouldn’t remember it in the morning anyway. Maybe it would make him feel better to get it off his chest.

  Once in the bedroom, she spun around to look at him. Moving too fast, she again lost her balance and fell backward toward the bed with a squeal. Scott snaked his arm out and caught her around the waist. He pulled her toward him much harder than he’d meant, making her land against his chest with an ‘oomph’.

  Laughing, she reached out to grasp his shirt. She was so beautiful when she laughed. Her eyes sparkled, the dimples in her cheeks deepened, her face flushed.

  She looked up at him and tilted her head, her brow creasing into a small frown. “What did you say?” she asked.

  Scott smiled slightly and smoothed the frown lines from her forehead with the tip of his finger.

  “I said I wanted to kiss you.”

  “Really?” she breathed, just barely above a whisper. “Why?”

  His smile widened. “Does the why matter?”

  She slapped at his chest and tried to push out of his arms. “You shouldn’t tease me. You’re just drunk and want to have sex.”

  Splaying his fingers at the base of her spine, he pulled her flush against him. The beat of her heart thumped against his chest, the heat of her body seeped into his and her scent roused the lust that always seemed to be simmering just below the surface whenever he was around her.

  Her hands flattened against his chest as she looked up at him with wide, sparkling eyes. He cupped her face, letting his thumb brush across her cheek. Her skin was so soft, her body so perfectly molded to his.

  This is a mistake. Once you taste her, you won’t be able to stop.

  He lowered his head, bringing his mouth close to hers. Her lips parted in anticipation of his kiss, but he held back, watching the emotions play across her face.

  “I have to be dreaming,” she whispered.

  “No,” he replied and shook his head. As he did, their noses rubbed against each other.

  “I’m not dreaming?”

  His lips twitched. God, she was so cute like this. “No.”

  His lips touched hers, and he knew instantly he was lost. Her taste, her feel, was everything he knew it would be. She drew in a sharp breath, and Scott tightened his arms around her, not wanting her to pull away from him. He pressed his lips more firmly against hers, moving downward slightly to force her lips farther apart.

  She opened for him, and Scott slid his tongue inside, exploring her mouth, her lips. Her tongue flicked against his, and he moaned his encouragement for her to continue. He never expected Kiley to be timid, but that’s almost how she seemed.

  At least at first.

  She quickly jerked back and looked at him with surprise. He expected her to slap him, to shove him away. Instead, she fisted her hand in his shirt and tugged him to her. Her mouth slanted across his, taking control of the kiss and nearly sending him to his knees.

  His fingers tightened in the material of her dress, making it bunch at the small of her back. He slid his palms lower and cupped her firm, warm ass in his hands.

  God, was she not wearing any underwear? Scott moved his hand upward until his thumbs felt the edges of her thong. Kiley moaned and pressed her stomach into his rock hard cock. If he didn’t stop this soon, he’d end up taking her despite his best intentions. He’d never wanted anyone as bad as he wanted her right now.

  And the way she wiggled against him wasn’t helping a damn thing.

  “Kiley,” he murmured against her lips.

  He wanted to stop. He needed to stop, but his fingers had a mind of their own and continued massagi
ng her behind.

  She lowered her hands from his chest to the waistband of his jeans. When the button popped free sanity came back to him. He quickly reached for her hands and removed them from his pants.

  “Kiley,” he repeated, this time more firmly.

  She swallowed and looked up at him in a foggy confusion. This was so wrong. She was so damn drunk. Why did she have to be so damn drunk?

  “We have to stop.”

  “No,” she whispered and tried to kiss him again.

  Scott turned his head and her lips landed against his neck. As she nibbled along the sensitive side of his throat, he could feel his eyes rolling back in pleasure. God, if she didn’t stop this…

  “I need you,” she murmured against his neck. “I want you. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

  Scott’s eyes widened at her admission. She wanted him? He had to stop this.

  With determination, he pushed her away from him. Leaning down slightly so he could meet her eye to eye, he gave her a firm look.

  “I can’t do this, Kiley. You’re drunk off your ass.”

  She pouted. “I’m not that drunk.”

  Scott shook his head and his lips twitched with amusement. “Baby, you’re so far beyond that drunk it’s not even funny.”

  “Don’t you want me?”

  “Oh, God, do I want you,” he growled.

  “Well, I’m just dreaming anyway, so my being drunk doesn’t…” Her words slurred badly, and Scott resisted the urge to chuckle at her. “It doesn’t matter because it’s not real.”

  “Oh, this is very real, Kiley.”

  “How can it be real?” she asked as she stumbled out of his arms. “How can it be real when you—? “ The rest of her words were lost in the material of her dress as she pulled it over her head.

  Scott’s mouth went dry at the sight of her in a matching pink thong and bra. “Son of a bitch.”

  She smiled as she reached behind her and fumbled with the clasp of her bra. She thought she was dreaming? That he wasn’t really here?

  “Kiley, please,” he said as he watched the bra fall to the floor, exposing her firm, perfectly rounded breasts to his hungry gaze. Scott shook his head in doomed resignation. “I am so fucking going to hell.”