Save Me(WITSEC #2)(16)

“I’ll make it up to you later,” she said before putting her mouth to his ear and whispering something to him.

Ethan’s smile grew bigger and bigger as he listened to whatever she was telling him. I couldn’t help but watch them—their intimacy and how comfortable they were with each other. I couldn’t stop myself from comparing my relationship with Colt and Creed to theirs. Mine was so different. Not bad. Just different. But I wanted that intimacy and connection with Colt and Creed. Was it sex that brought Isabelle and Ethan that close? Was I ready to take that step with Colt and Creed? I think I am.

A hand touched my back. “You alright?” Colt whispered in my ear.

I nodded. “Yeah, I was just thinking,” I whispered back.

“About?” he asked.

I smiled. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay,” Ethan said, picking up the Fireball shot. “You ready?”

I scooped up my shot. We clanked our glasses and threw them back. Fireball was whiskey, so it wasn’t that bad. Ethan’s eyes watered a little, but other than that he had no reaction. We both looked down at the last shot. Bacardi 151. Cheese and rice. I had to give myself a mental pep talk before picking up the shot. I’d endured worse. I’d tasted worse. I will not react. I will not react.

Everyone was quiet as they watched us tap our glasses together and take the shots. My eyes burned and the alcohol tasted foul as it rolled over my tongue, but I held my composure.

Ethan coughed and his face scrunched up. Isabelle, Colt, and Creed cheered, claiming me as the winner. I let out a breath and gagged. “That was terrible. I need something to get rid of the taste in my mouth,” I begged the guys.

“Want a beer or a soda?” Colt asked.

“Beer, please,” I said.

Smiling, Colt put a hand on Ethan’s slumped shoulder. “You were bound to lose at something one of these days. Come on, let's go get a beer.”

Ethan threw an arm over Isabelle’s shoulders and the three of them headed out onto the back patio.

Creed’s arm wrapped around me and his hand flattened on my lower stomach, pulling me against him. I leaned back against his chest and tilted my head so I could look up at him. He was frowning toward the living room. I looked in that direction and saw Gabe standing with some of his teammates from the baseball team. He was smirking at Creed. As if feeling me staring at him, Gabe’s gaze shifted to me and his eyes turned predatory as they slid down my body. I knew it wasn’t because he found me attractive. It was to taunt Creed.

I caught sight of Cassy sitting with Amber on the couch a few feet away from her cousin, Gabe. She was watching Creed’s unease with disturbing smugness.

The need to slap that smugness off her face bubbled inside me. I spun to face Creed. “Will you indulge my need to be petty?”

He stared down at me with an unsure look. “What?”

My cheeks warmed, but I could blame it on the alcohol. “Will you kiss me?”

His brows shot up before his mouth stretched into a smile. “Alright,” he said, leaning close.

I put my fingers on his mouth, stopping him. “Kiss me like you’ve never kissed her.”

He pulled my hand away. “I’ve never kissed her like I’ve kissed you.” He slid his hand behind my neck, pulling me even closer until my head was tilted back and his lips hovered over mine. “She was just to pass the time. When I’m with you, time doesn’t exist. There’s just you.”

Cassy and everything around us ceased to exist. I wanted to smile or gush with happiness, but I kept my cool. “Good.” I pushed up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. I got to have my way with him until my tongue touched his. Then he took over, kissing the crap out of me. His tongue was skilled and the way it stroked mine made my thoughts wander to the memory of when he’d had it between my legs.

My head was a little dizzy when he eventually pulled away. Staring down at me, he whispered, “You’re flushed.”

I cleared my throat. “It’s the alcohol.”

He huffed a laugh. “Sure it is.”

The moment was ruined when I looked over at Cassy. She was standing, hands fisted at her sides, and by her expression, she was fuming. I gave her the same smug look she had given Creed and that sent her stomping away.

“I should encourage you not to stoop to her level,” Creed said as he pressed his lips just below my ear.

I shivered. “I blame you.”

He pulled away. “Me?”

I smiled up at him. “You called me your girlfriend.”

He smiled down at me. “Caught that, did you?”

“You know, we haven’t discussed what we are—you, me, and Colt. Or how this relationship works.”

He frowned a little. “I thought it was obvious.”

“Maybe it is.” I stepped back, needing a little space. “I’ve never done this before, let alone with two people.”

A red plastic cup appeared in front of me. Colt was standing next to us. “If that’s what you need, babe, we can talk about it. Later, though.”

“That’s fine.” I took the cup from him. “You should know that since you’ve already called me your girlfriend, I’ve claimed the title and there are no take-backs.”

They both smiled.