Page 70 of Love Me
I made sure I looked at them all. I didn’t want to, but I knew that I had to. So I made a game of it. Take in their bloody costume, keep my breathing deep and slow, while trying to figure out if I recognized who they were from school. Did I have a class with them? I took in their smiles and laughter as they interacted with others. I made myself see that they were alive. As I did this, the more times I crossed paths with someone dressed horrifically, the easier it became to detach from the fear—from what seeing the fake blood and gore reminded me of.
During all this, Colt and Creed never left my side. Recognizing that I was fighting to win something tonight, Isabelle always made sure I had a drink in my hand. It was as if she knew I needed an advantage. An unhealthy one, but an advantage nonetheless. Feeling the warm buzz of alcohol did help ease some of my anxiety.
Now that the party was in full swing, I was a tad bit tipsy and, honestly, feeling triumphant. Tonight felt like a huge step forward. After my failure last night, I hadn’t wanted to admit that I’d had doubts about tonight. I was proud of myself for pushing through that doubt. Some of this could be the booze talking, but I was happy. Probably the happiest I’d been in a long time. Not only that, I was optimistic. I could do this. I was on the right path and maybe for once, after being so lost for so long, I could allow myself to envision a future.
Isabelle and I had claimed a spot to dance in the living room and hadn’t left that spot for a handful of songs. I was smiling and laughing and just enjoying having fun with her.
“I think you’re becoming my best friend,” I shouted over the music.
Isabelle grabbed my hands and together we moved to the beat of “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa. “I think you’re becoming my best friend, too,” she shouted back and spun me.
I laughed and spun her next. As the song ended, another began and I was ready for another drink. “I’m going to get a beer. Do you want one?”
She shook her head as she danced. I started weaving through the crowd of dancing bodies. I spotted Colt and Creed by the opened deck doors, their eyes following me as they talked to their friends. I gestured that I was getting a drink with my hand by my mouth.
Colt moved to come with me, but I waved him off and shook my head. “I’m fine,” I mouthed, and he nodded.
I squeezed past people to get into the kitchen and over to the fridge. I didn’t have the patience to make a mixed drink and it was probably best to switch to beer anyway. I was a little past the point of being buzzed and I didn’t want to ruin tonight by getting trashed.
Opening the fridge, I pulled out a beer. I stood there for a moment, sipping it and letting myself cool off a little. It got hot dancing.
I people-watched. I was happy to not see Cassy, Amber, or Gabe here. They hadn’t been invited, but I wouldn’t have put it past them to crash.
My gaze drifted to the hall that led to Knox’s room and I began wondering about him and Keelan. Taking my beer with me, I ducked under the caution tape and went down the hall to the door that led to his room.
I walked in without knocking and both looked in my direction, ready to yell at me like I was an intruder. Neither of them had moved from the spots I’d last seen them in. Which reminded me of our conversation we’d had before. Keelan wanted me and he would have taken me in front of Knox if I’d let him.
“You doing all right?” Knox asked.
I closed the door and leaned against it. “I’m hot.”
One side of Keelan’s mouth lifted. “Yeah, you are.”
I smiled and pushed off the door. I set my beer down on the dresser as I made my way across the room. I came to stand in front of Keelan, very aware of Knox watching. Keelan stared up at me and the look on my face must have given away my intentions, because he smirked knowingly. I brought my knee up on the bed beside his hip, then climbed onto his lap, straddling him.
He dropped his controller, without caring that it clattered on the floor and probably broke, to grab me by my hips. “What are you thinking, baby girl?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You know exactly what I’m thinking,” I said against his lips before I kissed him.
He accepted my kiss and tried to deepen it with his tongue demanding entry into my mouth. I let him have a little taste and parted my lips long enough to lap my tongue along his before pulling away. His hands slid up my back in protest, wanting me to stay close enough to devour. I tilted my head back as he tried to reclaim my mouth. His lips pressed to my neck, and he trailed them up at the same time his hands moved up my back, past my shoulders, until they reached the back of my neck. He made me look at him. “How much have you had to drink?”
I shoved him backward until he was lying beneath me. “I’m sober enough to consent.” I crawled over him, and he let me pin his arms above his head. I brushed my nose along his ear. “I’m in the mood to pray,” I whispered and ran my tongue up his neck.
He let out a groan and I pulled away to stare down at him. His eyes were hooded and hungry. “I’m a bastard enough to believe you.”
“Keelan,” Knox said. I’d been wondering when he’d finally break his silence.
I rocked my hips against Keelan’s hardening cock as I smiled over my shoulder. “Don’t be such a cockblock, Knox. It’s ruining the moment.”
Keelan’s body shook beneath me as he laughed.
I returned my attention to him. “Don’t turn me down.” I pressed my lips to his with a quick kiss.
He freed his hand from under mine and brought it to my cheek. “You want me to fuck you, baby girl?”
I gave him the best puppy-dog eyes I could muster. “Please.”
“So fucking adorable,” he groaned, and in an instant, I was pinned beneath him. “I want to see more of this sexy minx side of you. Show me her again. Tell me how badly you want me to fuck you.”
