Strung(8)

I’m almost embarrassed that he can tell I’m scared to dance. I’ve always been self-conscious about people judging the way I move my body. It doesn’t come as natural to me as it does to others.

Gripping my hip, he begins moving my body with his, biting his bottom lip as he looks down at my waist to watch me begin to sway with him. “Damn, girl,” he teases. “Don’t show me up now.”

I slap his shoulder and laugh. “Don’t tease me. Dancing isn’t my thing.”

He smiles, and it’s so damn cute that my heart jumps a little.

“The only thing getting teased right now is my dick. Trust me.” He lifts me up a bit and begins grinding his crotch into me, dancing so seductively that I can’t help but to get into it myself and move along with him. “Keep grinding like that and I might have to break my promise to your brother.”

My face turns red with embarrassment. “You made a promise to my brother?” I stop dancing and place my free hand on his hard chest. “He’d probably kill you if he saw us dancing like this right now.”

He backs up a little and reaches for his own beer now. “He never said anything about dancing, Tegan. We’re just having a little fun. I know where to draw the line and I don’t plan on crossing it.”

I feel a little disappointed for some reason, and my whole mood seems to change. Dancing close to him is the last thing I want to do now.

“Let’s just skip dancing.” I back out of his arms and tilt my beer back, feeling frustrated with my damn brother. Looking around, I spot two guys playing beer pong. “Let’s play.”

Before he can say anything, I walk over to the beer pong table and watch as they finish their game.

“Are you challenging me?” Micah asks from close behind me.

“Maybe.”

“I like a challenge,” he whispers next to my ear. “What do I get if I win?”

“Doesn’t matter.” I smile and begin setting up the table when the two guys walk away. “You won’t be winning. The question is . . .” I begin filling up some of the cups as he does. “What do I get for winning?”

He stops and lifts a brow at me. “Honestly? I’d give you anything you fucking wanted, but your brother might kill me.” He looks me over as if he wants nothing more than to taste every inch of my body. It has me completely turned on and aching for his touch.

“My brother isn’t here,” I say softly.

His eyes widen as if he heard me, but he doesn’t say a word.

Hell . . . I can’t believe that I said that myself.

There’s just something about Micah that makes me want one night with him. One night to let him do anything and everything that he wants. No strings attached, like the girl I walked in on him with. Just one night of his talented fingers and mouth on my body.

With my brother around that won’t be happening, and I can tell how much my brother’s friendship means to Micah.

By the time we’re down to the end of the game, there’s two cups left on my side and one left on his side. I’m completely buzzed right now and living in the moment.

“You’ve been talking a big game the whole time,” I tease. “When are you going to show me who’s in control here?”

He smirks and holds his ball up. “Right about . . .” he tosses the ball and makes it in one of the cups. “Now. Drink up.”

“Cocky jerk.” I roll my eyes at him and grab the ball out of the cup, before downing the beer. “We still don’t know what the winner gets.”

“The winner gets to kiss the loser anywhere under the dress.” He flashes a cocky grin at me.

I throw the empty cup at him. “You’re not wearing a dress, jerk.”

“Exactly.” He tosses his ball, making it effortlessly into the last cup. “I’m ready for my prize.”

He doesn’t waste any time grabbing my cup away from me and downing the beer, before dropping to his knees in front of me and spreading my legs.

My heart speeds up as I grab onto his hair and pull him back. “What are you doing?” I ask in a panic. “There’s hundreds of people out here.”

He smiles up at me and slightly lifts my skirt up my leg. “Relax. I can’t kiss you where I want to anyway.”

I begin looking around me, but close my eyes and moan when I feel the softness of his lips press against the inside of my thigh. He kisses it a few times, moving higher with each one, before biting me right below my panty line and then licking the spot.

“What the hell!” I scream and jump away from him. “You bit me.”

“I got excited.” He looks up at me and shrugs, before standing up as if nothing unusual just happened. “I’d apologize, but I have a feeling you enjoyed it.”

Did I? Most definitely, but I’m not telling him that.

“You scared me. Biting wasn’t part of the prize.”

He places his hand on the small of my back and walks me away from the table when a small group takes over.

“Sometimes I can’t control myself. You’re lucky I didn’t do what I really wanted to do.”

He gets distracted when some guy with dreadlocks calls his name and jogs over toward him. “You made it.”

Micah grabs his hand and gives him a one-armed hug. “I told you I would.”

The cute guy smiles when he notices me standing next to Micah. “Who’s this beauty?”

I see Micah’s eyes darken as he answers him. “Alexander’s little sister. She’s off limits.”

“I’m not little,” I add with a scowl. “The name is Tegan and my brother isn’t my boss.”

I smile as he looks me over with appreciation. He’s extremely cute and those ice blue eyes have me wanting to stare at them.

“Glad you could make it to my party, Tegan. I’m also glad that your brother isn’t your boss.” He reaches out to shake my hand and winks. “I’m hoping I’ll see you around.”

He pats Micah on the back and then quickly takes off when some people start yelling for him.

I’m still smiling when I turn back around to face Micah. The look on his face says he isn’t so pleased himself. “Kalon just got out of a five-year relationship. He’s on the rebound so don’t let his sweet talk trap you into something that won’t work out.”

“I’m not trying to jump into a relationship with any guy,” I mutter. “You and my brother are going to drive me crazy this summer.”

I walk away and pull out my phone to text Jamie.

“What are you doing?” Micah places his hand on my chin and pulls it up for me to look at him. “I’m sorry if I upset you. I’m just looking out for you.”

“I don’t need either of you looking out for me, Micah. I’m twenty-one now. I’m not the young girl he left when he moved away years ago.” I hit send on my text. “I asked Jamie to come pick me up. We’ve both been drinking and I don’t want you to leave the party early.”

“I think I’ve had enough partying for tonight.” He nods his head toward the side of the house. “Let’s start walking and Jamie can pick us up when she finds us.”

Without hesitation, I begin walking next to Micah, letting him lead the way.

Jamie texts me back a few minutes later, letting us know which way she’ll be coming from.

“What did you do back home?”

I look over at Micah to see him watching me.

“I worked at my family’s convenience store and wrote when I had free time. It didn’t seem I had much though, so I was desperate to get away and stay with Xan for the summer. I just needed some peace and quiet and a little inspiration.”

“I’m glad you came. The people I’m used to being around all seem the same to me. You’re different and it intrigues me.”

I smile. “How so?”

“I’m used to girls jumping all over me the second they meet me. You didn’t. I like that about you, and if I’m honest, it keeps me up at night, thinking of ways to change that.”

I catch myself laughing. “Is that where you get all your charm from? Late night thinking sessions?”

“I do my best thinking at night. Don’t you, for your writing? You probably lay in bed at night, the scenes flowing through your head, giving you ideas on what to write when you wake up. Is that how it works?”

I nod, finding it interesting that he really seems to want to know. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m either lying in bed late at night, taking a shower, or listening to music.”

“I wouldn’t mind being around for two of those,” he teases.

“Come on.” I nudge him with my shoulder when he wiggles his brows at me. “I thought you seriously wanted to know.”

“I do,” he says, sounding serious now. “It impresses the hell out of me that you’re able to write books. I write lyrics in my spare time and it’s hard enough to finish just one song. I can’t imagine writing an entire story for two characters made up in my own mind. That shit can’t be easy and it takes one talented as hell person to be able to pull that off.”

“You write lyrics?” I ask, amazed. “I’d love to hear—” I stop talking when Jamie starts honking to get our attention.