Page 16 of Reckless Youth
I looked toward Cam, who had one foot out the door and his hand tapping at the steering wheel.
When he said nothing further, I bit the bullet and made my desires known.
“I want to do that again sometime – with both of you. I liked it. A lot. But maybe more privacy next time.”
I bit my lip and smiled when their mouths dropped open in utter shock. I’d always heard how easy it was to shut up a boy by using your body, but who knew you could drive them speechless with just a suggestive idea?
“Yes, ma’am,” Cam politely responded, with just an edge of desire laced within the words.
And Sage agreed, “I’m good with that, too.”
Agreements made, we each gathered our things from the bed of Cam’s truck and trekked into the wooded area until we came to the open field where at least thirty people drank, smoked, laughed and partied.
Although we each separated several times throughout the night, their sheer presence lingered on my lips, my tongue and my body. The ghost of their touches and kisses consumed me and made me hotter than any bonfire could ever do.
With heated gazes shared throughout the night and friendly touches and gestures given, we remained connected as the evening progressed and people began leaving the party.
At one point, as I chatted with my friend, Chloe, Booker stumbled into me, wrapping an arm around my waist and nearly taking me down to the ground with his wobbling stance.
“So,” he slurred, spittle flying out of his mouth with the smell of beer and maybe vomit. “Our own sweet goodie-two-shoes likes to be gangbanged. Isn’t that right, London?”
Due to his incoherent speech, it was hard to decipher what he said unless you knew what he meant. Chloe gave him a disdainful glare, probably because she was used to his idiocy when she dated him a few years earlier. I immediately scanned the party to locate Cam and Sage, hoping they’d come to my rescue and dispose of Booker’s gross and raunchy behavior.
My eyes locked on Cam’s, who was standing on the other side of the bonfire talking with a few of his football buddies. I opened my eyes wide, biting my lip in the hope that he’d get the hint.
There was no way I was going to get Sage’s attention. He was sitting on a log, hunched over his guitar amid playingStairway to Heaven, his favorite tune. He was also surrounded by several girls, so he was in his element.
Booker began to cackle in husky, drunken laughter, talking about some porn movie he’d watched and how maybe someday he’d see me in one of those ‘sexy librarian’films. It wasn’t until one of his hands landed on my shoulder, a way to keep himself upright, that he tripped on his own two feet, grabbing hold of my T-shirt at the collar and ripping it with the force of his fall.
I screamed in horror as Booker toppled to the ground, my shirt dangling open to expose my shoulder, arm and bra. Chloe jumped out of the way and my head popped up to see Cam charging toward us.
My worried gaze then moved to Sage, who immediately laid his guitar on the ground and jumped to his feet, aiming in my direction, as well.
I sloppily adjusted my clothing, trying as best I could to cover up my nakedness, as my face heated with humiliation. Cam got to me first, confirming that I was okay, Sage stepping in behind me, covering my shoulders with his jacket.
All the tension and turmoil immediately dissipated with just the scent of Sage’s warm, leather against my skin. The scent of spice and something just him calmed my nerves and relieved my embarrassment as the gawkers around the fire stared at us and snickered. Like we were some kind of circus, parading in front of them for their entertainment.
In that moment, I hated everyone in our class and couldn’t wait until graduation and then I could leave this small-minded town and could get out of here for college.
Although that thought should have made me happy, it turned into a sad realization. I’d not only be leaving a town of gossips and backstabbers, but also my two loves. My best friends and confidants. The two I relied on for more than half my life.
“Get up, you piece of shit,” Cam snarled at a confused Booker, who was seriously too far gone to even realize what he’d done wrong. “Don’t you ever grab her like that again.”
I reached out and placed a trembling hand on Cam’s solid forearm, pleading with him through touch to let it go. It wasn’t worth it. The damage had already been done and all I wanted to do was go home and leave this crowd of unworthy people behind.
Sage moved to my side, adjusting his arm around my shoulder as I leaned into his embrace – warm and safe.
“Come on Cam, just leave him. He didn’t know what the fuck he was doing. Let’s just get out of here.”
As he spoke, Sage’s voice shook. I didn’t know if he’d feared for my safety or if it was something else. Either way, when I spoke, my words were meant for both of them.
“I’m fine. Really. I just want to go home.”
Without another word, we left the lingering crowd behind us, the heat of the roaring fire, and the whispered gossip and headed back to Cam’s truck, side-by-side.
We may have left the bonfire, but the fire between us had just begun to burn. And it would soon blaze hotter than the sun in a Tennessee July.
Chapter 9
