“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Come on. What do you want?”
I refused to admit that I didn’t know. The first and only time I’d been drunk was when I’d checked it off my cousin’s list. I’d accomplished that with wine coolers at my friend Marie’s house. Not something I’d recommend…watermelon doesn’t taste as good coming back up.
“Really, don’t worry about it.”
Dylan gave me a funny look. “She’ll have an amaretto sour, and get me my usual.”
He led me over to a spot on the couch that was barely big enough for one, let alone two. His solution was to have me sit on his lap.
I couldn’t have been more uncomfortable as everyone stared at us. I’d met a bunch of the guys and some of the girls the night before, but it was one thing to meet them standing. It was something completely different to face them while sitting on top of a guy.
Dylan whispered in my ear, “You need to wear skirts every day. You have incredible legs.” He ran a hand up my leg, not stopping when he reached my skirt. He left his hand on my thigh. If I thought sitting on his lap was uncomfortable, having Dylan’s hand up my skirt made it so much worse. I shifted, subtly trying to get him to remove his hand. All that accomplished was getting him aroused. I figured that out pretty quickly. In case I hadn’t noticed the large bulge pushing into me, Dylan filled me in. “I want you so bad.”
The pledge returned with our drinks, sparing me from making a reply.
“Thanks.”
He nodded and let his eyes roam to my legs. “No problem.” He handed Dylan his drink. “Here, sir.”
“Did you just check out my girl, pledge?”
“No.”
“Good.”
The pledge didn’t wait to be dismissed.
I struggled to move off Dylan’s lap, but he used his free arm to stop me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To sit somewhere else.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t particularly comfortable.”
“It’s your fault.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“Well, I like you where you are.” He took a sip of his drink.
I used Dylan’s momentary distraction to stand up. I didn’t look at him as I stood, sipping my surprisingly good drink. I’d have to remember it. It was better than what I’d had the night before.
I looked around the room. Everyone was busy in conversation—that is besides Ryan. He eyed me with an amused smile. “Dylan, it looks like your girl is anxious to get to your room.”
Not exactly. I couldn’t have been less in the mood.
“Not as anxious as I am to get her up there.” Dylan walked toward me. “I’ll let her finish her drink first.”
I knew without looking that everyone in the room was staring at us. Mortification had taken on new meaning. Did they have to make it obvious to everyone? Maybe I could sip my drink so slowly that people would forget by the time I finished.
Dylan watched me.
“What?”
“I’m just enjoying the view.”
“Can’t you stare somewhere else?” He only attracted more attention.
“Nope, I want to look at you.” He reached out to touch my face.
I’d been so brave at the beach house, but I was nervous. I couldn’t do it. There was no way I was walking upstairs to his room when everyone in the house knew we were about to have sex.
“If you don’t finish that drink in thirty seconds, I’m carrying you upstairs.”
“Dylan, I don’t think—”
He brushed some hair that had fallen out of my bun from my face and leaned over to speak quietly. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You know that.”
“So, it’s okay if I go?”
“If I really thought you wanted to, I’d take you home right now. I think you want to stay but you feel embarrassed. Am I right?”
“Yeah.” I tried to smile. At least he got it.
“I’m sorry. I could have done this better. I just like showing you off.”
“I’m nothing to show off.” I looked down.
“Oh, Juliet, you most definitely are. Every guy in here, even the ones with girlfriends, wants to be me right now.”
I’m sure I blushed. “You don’t have to say things like that.”
“It’s the truth. Why do you think you got the job? That guy wants you.”
“No, that’s not true.”
“It is, but it’s okay because he can’t have you. I’m not sharing you.” He leaned over and kissed me. There was nothing gentle about the kiss. He pushed into my mouth. It took me a moment to respond, but I couldn’t help it. The guy could kiss. By the time he pulled away, with a huge grin on his face, I was like putty in his hands.
He smiled, brushing a finger over my now swollen lips. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” He took my cup from me and set it down on the bottom stair.
Taking my hand, he led the way. Cat calls followed us. “Have a good time, you two!” I knew that was Ryan.
We were almost out of sight when Dylan slapped my ass. “Don’t wait up for us. We won’t be coming back down tonight.”
“Was that necessary?”
“Completely.” He opened up his door and switched on the overhead light. I looked around. The main furniture in the room was a double bed pushed against the wall, a dresser, and a desk under the window. Everything was neat and orderly. It was exactly the opposite of Reed’s room. The background picture on his computer was from the beach at Kiawah. Nervous as I was, it was comforting to see a familiar image.
Dylan closed and locked the door. “Finally, I have you to myself.” He didn’t waste any time. His arms wrapped around my waist, and he leaned down to kiss me. I groaned as his tongue once again pushed its way into my mouth. He moved a hand under my tank top and bra. He squeezed my breast harder than I’d expected.
He didn’t seem to notice. He used his other hand to unbutton my skirt and tug it down over my hips. By the time it hit the floor, he had his hand moving underneath the cotton fabric of my panties. I definitely hadn’t worn that pair with the intent of having sex. They were light purple and definitely not sexy. I don’t think he noticed them before pushing them down as well. He stopped kissing me long enough to pull off my tank top and to unclasp my bra. He took a step back and watched me. I instinctively covered myself with my arms.