“I need more booze.”
That’s all the warning Seth gets before I crush the can in my hand and make my way to the keg. I throw the can away in a random trash bag hanging off a bar stool as I pass, and then I grab the cup from on top of the dispenser to serve myself. His presence is felt before I see him, and I’m able to take in his scent. He smells clean, what I would assume luxury smells like—just rich and manly and very,veryyummy.
“Hi.” His deep voice sends a shiver down my spine again before he nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. It’s like we’re long time lovers, but, in reality, we don’t know each other at all. We’re just two souls who happened to be at the right place at the right time. Our lives are clearly too different. I’m buried inbooks, and he’s buried in football and parties. Both are fine, just very,verydifferent.
“Hi,” I say, my voice breathier than I intend.
“I’d like to get your number.”
I stop pouring, my cup completely full, and step to the side, allowing him to take my spot. He fills his own cup before turning to me and taking a drink. Foam covers his top lip, the normally soft pink, pillowy flesh now white with suds that I want to drag my tongue over. I take a drink too and hold back a moan. Yep, this tastes exactly like him. Sin, desire, yummy man-ness…
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Another sip of beer to remind myself what I’m going to be missing—it tastes a little more like regret now.
“What? Why?”
“We live two different lives. You don’t want to be with a nerd like me. You’re the football star, for crying out loud. Sure, you might be gay, or bi, or pan, or whatever the fuck your sexual orientation is, but you don’t wantme.” I make sure to jab my own finger into my chest, as if we don’t know exactly who we’re both talking about here. “What? Did your friends put you up to this?”
“No? I don’t understand?”
“It’s okay. That was…undoubtedly hot. I won’t deny that, but come on. It just wouldn’t work.”
With nothing else to say, I turn around and walk back to Seth.
“What was that? And why is he still staring at you?”
“I just turned him down. Can we leave?”
“What the fuck, Jax? Seriously? You turned him down?”
Peeking over my shoulder, I see him still staring, just as Seth said.
“Yeah, I did. I’m over this. I’m going to head out with or without you.”
I don’t even bother turning back towards the front entrance, instead making my way towards some sliding glass doors outside. I dump the remaining liquid into the grass before placing the empty cup on the back porch. Seth catches up with me, and we walk around the house, back in the direction we came not even an hour ago.
CHAPTER FIVE
JAX
My head swimsas I stare at the ceiling. I’ve never been overly worried about how quiet my place is, never had a reason to care, but suddenly, it’s overwhelming. Being too quiet wasn’t something I thought possible, but here I am, my skin itching with it.
The remote to the TV is on the bedside table next to me; it’s not like I couldn’t turn it on if I wanted to, but I can’t seem to remove myself from my thoughts long enough to actually do it.
My mind keeps being filled with chocolate brown eyes and a touch that leaves my body feeling electric.
His tongue tangling against my own.
The hot breath that skated across my lips.
Sticky skin resting against my forehead.
Little things that shouldn’t have that much of an effect on me, but here I am, with a boner, while I remember every little fucking second.
Was turning him down a bad decision? I really feel like it was, but what if it’s also just my gut saving me from a lifetime of pain and suffering?
Fuck this.
I fling my arm over to grab the remote and my phone. After the TV is on, I start scrolling social media, desperate to fill my mind with something other than him. Of course, what’s the first thing I see? Us.