Strung(24)

“Fuck it.”

I grab two beers and head toward the beer pong table. Looks like I’ll have to show Parker to stay in his lane before he crashes and gets hurt.

If I know one thing . . . it’s that he won’t be leaving here with Tegan. Not as long as I’m around . . .





AT FIRST, I WAS A little nervous when I found out the party we were attending was going to be at Kalon’s house. The first time I came here I was with Micah, and even though he had his way of driving me crazy we had a lot of fun. I think it might’ve been the moment I realized I was beginning to really like him, even though I was fighting my hardest not to.

But Parker has been doing everything in his power to make me feel comfortable and at ease, and I’m just now beginning to loosen up a bit and push Micah out of my mind.

Kalon remembers me from last time, but he hasn’t once mentioned Micah or asked why I’m here with Parker now.

It’s as if he’s used to most girls only making one appearance with Micah and that’s exactly why my brother warned me to stay away.

“Do you got this?” Parker asks with an excited smile. “Just one more ball and we beat the champs.”

“Oh, I’ve got this alright. I’ve been playing this game since I was fifteen.” I smile and turn away from Parker’s beaming face to concentrate on making this last ball in, but right as I get ready to toss the ball I make the mistake of looking up to see Micah walking toward us.

The sight of him in a pair of faded jeans and a snug black shirt hugging his sculpted chest to perfection has me dropping the ball before I get the chance to throw it.

“Oh, come on, Tegan. Something got you distracted?” Kalon throws his arms up and laughs, before reaching for the ball and throwing it up, catching it. “You’ve been a pro the whole night and now you can’t even hold the ball. Here.” He tosses the ball my way, but I don’t even make an attempt to catch it, because I still haven’t been able to pull my eyes away from the beautiful temptation in front of me.

After not seeing him for almost three days the sight of him has my heartbeat speeding up and my palms sweating.

Is it possible he’s gotten even sexier than before?

Look away, Tegan . . . look away.

Just as I finally get the strength to look away from Micah, he looks up, his intense gaze locking with mine.

“ . . . are you okay? Want me to go for you?”

I hear Parker talking to me, but I can’t seem to make sense of much at the moment.

I shake my head, and even though I don’t want to look away, I finally force myself to so I can grab the ball out of Parker’s hand.

“I’m fine. I’m ready.”

“Micah fucking Beck,” Kalon hollers. “Well, shit . . . now I know why Tegan lost the ability to throw a ball.”

The moment Kalon mentions Micah, Parker stands up straight and pushes his shoulders out a bit as if to make himself look bigger.

It does nothing to bring him to Micah’s level, though, and that knowledge has me reaching for the two cups in front of me left from our game and drinking what little bit of beer is in them.

“I didn’t lose my ability to throw a ball,” I say pathetically. “It slipped from my hand.”

My entire body heats when Micah steps up in my personal space and leans in close to my ear. “Don’t let my presence mess up your little date. I know I can be quite a fucking distraction, but I’m only over here to bring you a much-needed beer.”

He steps back and holds out a bottle, refusing to pull his eyes away from mine until I take it from him.

“I needed to get away from the bar scene tonight,” he says stiffly, before turning to face Kalon. “I was hoping to get some air, but I have a feeling that won’t be happening now that I have someone to look out for.”

His eyes meet mine as he says the last part, and I can’t help but to be pissed off that he’s acting as if I’m going to ruin his night by being here.

“Yeah, well you and my brother can piss off, because I don’t need either one of you to look out for me like I’m a child.” I tilt back the bottle in my hand, taking a quick swig. “So, why don’t you run off and have fun so I can enjoy my date.”

Micah’s jaw flexes and his nostrils flare out as if he’s the one who’s pissed now.

Well, good for him.

How do you like it?

He hasn’t been around in days and now he thinks he has the right to try and make me feel like shit for being at the same party as him.

I’m not having it.

“Let’s go, Parker.” I grab Parker’s arm and walk away, before Micah can attempt to intimidate him and make him feel uncomfortable.

But from the stiffness of his arm I guess that he’s already both. It’s as if he’s worried about me touching him, but I don’t give Micah the satisfaction of releasing Parker’s arm until we’re on the other side of the pool and away from him.

“Please ignore Micah. Apparently he’s had a bad night and wants to ruin ours too.”

“Yeah . . .” Parker nods and takes a step back from me so we’re not standing too close. “I’m not sure if that is the case, but I can’t risk pissing your brother off and losing the management position I haven’t even started yet. Are you sure he’s okay with this? He said he was, but . . . I don’t know. Did he send Micah here to watch us?”

I shake my head and clench my jaw. Everything was fun until Micah had to come over and ruin things. It’s not as if I see Parker as anything more than just a friend, but he’s a nice guy and shouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable when he’s with me.

“I’ll take care of my brother, so let’s not worry about him. It’s not like we’re kissing or anything. We’re just hanging out and enjoying a nice night.”

“That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to kiss you, Tegan.”

His confession has me feeling nervous and uncomfortable now. Especially since Micah is clearly watching us, even though he’s now talking to some guy.

As pissed off as I am at Micah, the thought of kissing another guy in front of him sends me into panic mode.

Parker steps in close and grips my hip, giving it a light squeeze. “What do you think Micah would do if I did?”

I swallow and let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure I want to find out.”

“I can show you if you really fucking want me to.”

Micah approaching us has Parker and I both taking a step back from each other, and before I can say anything he’s pulling me away from Parker and into the house.

Everyone seems to be outside, so it’s just the two of us, and everything about this moment is intense as he backs me up against the wall and places his hands above my head.

I suck in a deep breath and stiffen, unsure of what to expect, but the moment he lowers his head so his lips can brush over my ear, I find my entire body relaxing and leaning into him.

“If you want to be kissed then I’ll be the one to do it. Do you got that, Tegan?”

I swallow and close my eyes as his lips move across my skin, making their way closer and closer to my mouth as he continues talking.

“My lips . . . my tongue . . . I can place them all over your body if you want.” I let out a small moan as he swipes his tongue across my lips, before sucking my bottom one into his mouth with a sexy growl. “But I’ll start with your lips because I miss the fucking taste.”

Next thing I know his hands are pinning my wrists against the wall and his body presses against mine, showing me just how hard he is.

My entire body shudders with need as he grinds against me and I find myself wanting to reach out for his long hair so I can tug on it like last time.

“Fuck this, Tegan.”

The words barely leave his mouth before his lips capture mine, him kissing me hard and needy.

We both grab at each other, losing control as his tongue swirls around mine with perfection. Because he’s Micah Beck and every little thing he does with his mouth is flawless.

His hips push me up the wall and I tug his hair harder, causing him to move one of his hands down to wrap around my throat.

The light squeeze he gives it as he deepens the kiss has me moaning out, but louder this time.

We’re so lost in each other that we don’t even realize someone has joined us in the kitchen until we hear a throat clear.

“Fuck.” I push on Micah’s chest a few times before he finally backs away from me and runs his hands through his wild hair.

I go to wipe my hand over my mouth at the same time I look over to see Kalon grinning at us. “Aren’t you on a date with another guy?”

“Shit,” is all I can manage to say as I fix my clothes and fight to catch my breath.

But when I look over at Micah he’s got his hands against the wall, his head bowed as he cusses aloud.

We both know we messed up, and apparently he regrets kissing me again.

“I need some air,” I breathe out, before turning around and heading for the door as quickly as I can.

I don’t even bother trying to find Parker at the moment. I’m not sure I can look at him, because I know that what I did was wrong. I might not look at this as a date, but I know he does and I just kissed another guy.

Talk about being completely confused.

It’s been a few minutes since I stepped outside and I’m just beginning to calm down and catch my breath when I hear Parker calling out my name.