“You gonna tell me why you drove Marcus’ car?” I looked up and my eyes met his, then I instantly looked away. “I saw you get out of the car from across the street.

  “He loaned it to me.”

  Simple and to the point, no reason to explain any further.

  “Because?”

  So much for that thought.

  “Mine wouldn’t start.” I shrugged as I reached out to take a drink of the water the waitress had brought. Suddenly my throat felt very dry. I was thankful when she paused next to our table once again, ready to take our order. By the look on Eli’s face, though, I sensed the conversation wasn’t over.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Elijah

  Dinner felt off and I knew it had to do with me pushing the conversation. But I wasn’t used to this kinda thing. Most girls talked so much they made my head fucking spin. But not Catherine, she was quiet, at least when it came to herself.

  “You still have a bit of a tan.” I looked up from my plate to see her grinning. “I got to thinking this afternoon about the fact that I never took a picture.”

  “A picture?”

  “Yeah, torturing you would have been fun. I could have made you my screensaver.”

  “Comedienne, I see.”

  She was trying to break the ice and honestly I was thankful. I was worried that I had really fucked this night up.

  “I’m sure if you ask dickhead he’ll have a few he could send you. I’ve already heard the ones of me with my ass hanging out are viral.”

  Cat sputtered when I said this—she was in the process of taking a drink.

  “You’ll learn that hanging with us guys you never truly know what’s gonna happen from one day to the next. We’re full of surprises.” I looked down at my wrist and when I looked back up I saw her watching me.

  “Can I show you something?” she asked as she reached into her purse. Holding up a small traveling container of hand sanitizer, she grabbed for one of the extra napkins our waitress brought.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Just give me your wrist.” She was a bossy little thing and it made me smile. Lifting my hand, I placed it on the table in front of her, palm up. Her name was right there on full display for both of us. Now that I knew who it belonged to, I’d removed the bandage.

  She saturated the tattoo with hand sanitizer, and instead of rubbing it she left it pooled on top of the ink. “What are you—”

  “Just wait.” With her thumb she made circular motions over the tattoo, almost like she was massaging it into my skin.

  I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, minutes maybe, but then I began to see it. The ink was beginning to lift, making the tattoo lighten.

  When she looked up at me with a smirk, I narrowed my eyes.

  “Were you in on this too?”

  “Nope.” She over-enunciated the P in the word. “I’ve just seen a lot of fake tattoos on people and they look different than real ones.”

  “So all this time…” I was starting to think little Miss Cat was as bad as the boys. When she shrugged just before wiping away the liquid from my wrist, taking part of the tattoo with her, suddenly I felt disappointed.

  “If you use baby oil or rubbing alcohol over the next day or two it should be gone.” She closed the lid on her sanitizer and placed it back inside her purse.

  I lifted my wrist and could still see her name, though much lighter. “I think you enjoyed watching me sweat.”

  “Everyone was talking about the fact that they could never outdo you in the prank department. I didn’t want to be the one to kill the buzz of their revenge.”

  “Whose team are you on?”

  When she laughed I couldn’t help but smile in return. Her laughter was infectious. I’d do what it took to make her smile just like that as often as possible.

  “I’m still trying to decide who’s side I want to be on.”

  “Oh is that right?” I slid from the chair and stood at the side of the table looking down at her. “Do you need a little more persuasion?”

  “Do you ever play fair?” She was flirting with me and I fucking loved it.

  Leaning over, I brought my face even closer to hers. “Never,” I said just before skimming my lips over hers. When I pulled back before actually kissing her, she groaned in disappointment. It was a soft noise but I heard it.

  “We’re gonna be late for our movie,” I told her as I stood tall and held my hand out to her. The urge to laugh when she looked up at me with a confused expression. “You ready?”

  “You did that on purpose.” She narrowed her eyes and at that point I did chuckle.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Reaching out, I took her hand in mine and pulled her from her chair. When her body was pressed firmly to mine I circled her waist with my arm and held her. “I wanted to kiss you but unfortunately I don’t kiss the enemy.”

  “Enemy?”

  “You’re either on my team, sweetheart, or you’re against me.” She watched my lips as I spoke so I moved in just a little closer to tease her more. “But I can assure you being on my team has much better benefits.”

  Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard.

  “You let me know when you decide.” I moved back, let go of her, and walked away, leaving her staring after me. I was enjoying this intriguing little teasing game we had going on.

  ***

  I take it back. I take it all back.

  The withheld kisses, the choosing of teams, I wanted to retract every single word I’d spoken on those topics. Blake, Catherine, Cat, god damn it, whatever, she was good. She had quickly figured out how to reverse the teasing game and I was paying for it now.

  After the movie we’d decided to meet up with Morgan and Xavier at a club not too far from the theater. Once there I was being tortured by her ass, literally. She made sure every time she shook it, it was in my direct view. She was fully aware of what she was doing and watched teasingly over her shoulder.

  God damned torture.

  “That girl is playing you hard.” I didn’t even look at Xavier. He was right, there was no need to argue. A simple nod was all I offered. “Did you start this or—”

  “I asked her what team she was on, because she was enjoying my misery entirely too much.” I explained yet still watched Cat wiggle and taunt. “She knew the tattoo was fake, she played a part in the balloon explosion. Fuck, she wanted to have a picture of my brown head so she could tease me with it. So I playfully told her she had to choose teams, mine or all of you.”

  “The girl has sass.”

  “I teased her a few times thinking I had the upper hand.”

  “Clearly you don’t.” X laughed as he shook his head. “You look miserable.”

  With her hips swaying and Cat watching me over her shoulder at the same time I was finding it real hard to sit still.

  I watched as Cat turned around, completely facing me, Morgan and Marcus behind her. She lifted her hands above her head, her hips shifting from side to side, seductively twisting. Her hands lowered to lift her hair up and comb her fingers through the ends. When her hair was back down around her shoulders, she very slowly motioned for me to come closer.

  “That looks like an invite to me,” Xavier chuckled as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “You just gonna sit here and let some other asshole take what she’s offering?”

  I didn’t even bother with an answer. I stood up and began moving across the club. I half expected to see her to back away and change her mind, but she stepped forward and suddenly we were chest to chest.

  “Did you need something?” My heart was racing as she looked up at me and nodded. “Whatever you want.” I meant it, too; at that moment I’d do whatever she asked. Those big doe eyes looking up at me, her pouty lip, they all made my knees weak.

  “What if I just want you to dance with me?”

  I didn’t answer her. I wrapped my arm around her waist and spread my hand out over her lower back. Her body felt so tiny against my own. I slowly began to move my hips, guiding her to do the same.

  Our gazes locked on one another and her hands were running upward over my chest, pausing over my pecs. “This what you wanted?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was nothing more than a breathy whisper, and I’ll admit, it was good for my ego to know I affected her.

  I’m not the dancing type, I never had been, but for her I’d do it. Just to see the way her eyes lit up, and the way her breathing shifted to more of a pant was worth showing off my lack of dancing skills. Apparently I had to be doing something right, but again the tables turned.

  Cat turned in my hold and placed her back to my chest. Her ass arched back, pushing into me and almost on instinct I began to grind against her. “I don’t usually dance,” I whispered near her ear as I slid my hand around her hip.

  “You’re doing…” she took in a deep breath, “…a really good job.”

  I shifted my hips forward and rotated them, allowing her to fully feel what being that close to her was doing to me. “It’s more you than me,” I said. It was all her.

  I took a chance and leaned forward, kissing along the side of her neck. She arched her head to the side, giving me more of a playground. It was an invitation I accepted without hesitation. Chills broke out over her skin just from the tip of my tongue skimming over her sensitive skin. The whole experience was thrilling.

  “That feels incredible.” That didn’t even begin to describe my thoughts but I’d take it. I paused, trying my best to control my urges but with each shift of her ass against my cock I found it almost impossible. With a slight turn of her head, her lips skimmed over my jaw and I swear it took everything I had inside me to not toss her to the floor right then and there and give her more than a simple kiss.

  Lifting my hand, I cupped her jaw and turned her face to me, bringing her mouth closer to my own. “You know exactly what you’re doing to me, don’t you?”

  “I’m just dancing,” she whispered against my lips, making me smile. “Is it working?”

  Fuck me.

  “Depends on what you’re hoping for.”

  “Freedom to enjoy whatever happens,”

  “We can do that,” I assured her. “We can do whatever you want.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Catherine

  “Good morning, Buttercup.” The smell of fresh coffee filled my senses as I slowly opened my eyes.

  “This couch is heaven,” I gushed, stretching my arms out and feeling the soft plush cushions beneath me. “Like sleeping on a cloud of amazing. Even better than my bed at home.”

  “How you feeling?”

  I squinted up at Marcus as he stood behind the couch, holding a cup of coffee tightly in his hands. “Good.” Once I was able to see him more clearly I noticed he was watching me with a curious look in his eyes, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Why?”

  “After last night I suspected you’d feel like shit.”

  Nothing about that sounded good.

  I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know what he was referring to. I remember dancing, sharing a few shots with Marcus and Morgan, dancing some more. I also remember Eli joining me on the dance floor and the way he—

  “Oh shit, what happened?”

  Marcus began laughing as he walked away toward the kitchen, shaking his head. I didn’t let him get too far before I was scrambling off the couch, tripping over the blanket that got wrapped around my feet in the process.

  “Marcus?”

  He took a long sip of his coffee. “Damn, that’s good.”

  “Marcus, what the hell aren’t you telling me?”

  “He’s not telling you how you and Red were practically dry humping each other on the dance floor.” I spun around to find Morgan entering the kitchen. She brushed past me and opened the refrigerator. “Or that had it not been for Red, you would have hiked up your skirt and rode his Prince right on the hood of his car.”

  “What?”

  I looked between Morgan and Marcus repeatedly, hoping, wishing that one of them would tell me this was a joke. Only they didn’t, and I was mortified.

  “You said had it not been for him.” I leaned back against the countertop no longer feeling fully rested from a night of sleeping on a couch made in heaven. They both just watched me, smiling like it was the greatest thing in the world. “What was it exactly that he did?”

  “I can tell by the expression on your face you’re thinking he somehow denied you, but let me just assure you, he copped a feel or ten before he slowed things down.” Morgan took a seat at the table and placed her cup down in front of her. “Let’s just say the guy has some major control. There you were, practically begging him to take you home with him. You were all over him, and at one point I think he had you outside, pinned to the side of the club. Then he convinced you to walk with him and I’ll admit, I was surprised when he led you to Marcus’ car and placed you securely in the passenger seat.”

  “Oh my god.” I hung my head in shame.

  “It was hilarious to watch him struggle as he shut the car door and walked away. I think he paused a good four times, turning back only to stop and spin back around again.” Morgan looked thrilled.

  “You know he went home and took a long cold shower.” Leave it to Marcus to add that little extra push of humiliation.

  “I’m never looking him in the eyes again.”

  “Good luck with that.” Morgan tucked her legs beneath her. “That boy is already on his way over to get you.”

  “What, what?” The doorbell rang and I spun around looking at the door. “How, when did…” Oh god damn my life.

  Marcus hurried off before I could stop him and I suddenly realized those two were loving my uncomfortable stage. They were eating it up.

  “Hey Buttercup, you’ve got company,” Marcus announced as he entered the kitchen, followed by Elijah. I looked down, avoiding eye contact as I tugged on the hem of the t-shirt I was wearing.

  “Cat.” I felt my cheeks heat with the embarrassing memories from last night. “Blake?”

  Hearing him say my first name gained my full attention and I looked up at him to find him smiling that sweet smile of his. “There’s my girl.”

  His girl?

  “How you feeling today?”

  “Good, fine.” I was well aware I was stuttering nervously. “I’m great, thanks.”

  His grin only grew wider making me aware that he sensed my embarrassment.

  A phone rang, and I jumped in surprise. Marcus laughed just as Morgan answered her phone. “Oh my hell, tell him to stop yelling.” I turned around just enough to see Morgan hold the phone out from her ear. “What is wrong with him? He sounds like he’s mumbling.”

  The sound of Elijah’s deep chuckle has me looking back toward him.

  “What did you do?”

  All I got in return is a shrug.

  “Vaseline,” Morgan says while laughing, “in his toothbrush?”

  I listened to her while staring at Eli. He chuckled but I could tell he was attempting to hold back his laughter.

  “Videotape it,” Morgan said through her laughter. “Are his lips sticking to his gums?” There was a pause. “Oh my god, seriously, Xavier record that. You know if the tables were turned Clayton would be holding his phone out documenting every second of your discomfort.”

  “Payback?” I asked Eli and he nodded, still smiling and obviously very pleased with himself.

  “Ever tried brushing your teeth with Vaseline?”

  “That is awful.” I could almost imagine what that would feel like. Or just how difficult it would be to get the Vaseline off your teeth.

  “Awful, yes.” He finally moved toward me. “But funny as fuck.”

  When he was only a few feet away I tilted my head and looked up at him. “I think I want to be on your team.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “You’re definitely more conniving when it comes to this trickery thing. That should scare me, but somehow it only makes me feel safe and excited.”

  “Good choice.” Reaching out, he tilted my face up and leaned in to press a soft kiss to my lips. “Now about last night.”

  Suddenly I felt overheated, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the kiss he’d just given me. I hung my head, attempting to hide my humiliation.

  “It’s a little hazy, but,” he slouched enough to force me to look at him, “there is nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  “Dry humping your leg on the dance floor or begging you to do me on a hood shouldn’t embarrass me?”

  God damn brain to mouth filter.

  I close my eyes tight to avoid the humorous look that now covered his lips. “You weren’t the only one dry humping, sweetheart.” My shoulders sagged. I just wanted to disappear right then and there. “But as for the begging, I think it was more you finally sharing your wants. It seems my girl is loose lipped when she drinks.”

  “I’m so embarrassed,” I mumbled.

  “Don’t be.” I opened my eyes and looked at him, raising my brows. “Seriously, it was extremely sexy.”

  “You’re only making my embarrassment worse.”

  “Okay.” He cupped my cheeks in his hands. “It’s forgotten.” I gave him that whatever look; I knew this was so not forgotten. “Okay fine, not forgotten just something I won’t mention.”

  He may not mention it, but I know those who witnessed it wouldn’t let me live it down.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Elijah

  “Where are we going?” she asked for the third time as I lead her down the path toward our destination. I may have had some help from Aunt Meg on this one but I had to agree, it was a perfect spot.

  As we stepped into the clearing I hear her gasp and can’t help but smile.

  “Wow, I’ve never seen water that shade of blue, like turquoise almost.” I stopped and allowed her to step closer to Ginnie Springs. Watching her from the side I was able to see the wonder in her eyes. “This is so beautiful.”

  “I thought you might like it.”