Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(53)

“Make me some popcorn, wench!” Krista yelled back, reaching Sean.

The front door opened and closed.

Sean was happier now than he could ever remember. Sharing embarrassing stories from one’s youth was something a person did among their loved ones, which was exactly what had happened. Sean had all the people he cared most about in the world, besides Ray’s two kids, in one room. It made his heart swell with emotion he’d always hoped, but never thought he’d experience.

“Damn it!” Cassie exclaimed, cutting through his reverie.

“Cass, language,” Sean said automatically.

Cassie shot him an irritated glare across the counter.

“Leave him, Cassie,” Krista called, standing next to Sean but not putting her arm around him for some reason. Sean got a spark of insecurity out of nowhere. “He’s probably just going to get high.”

Cassie froze. Mary did, too. Everyone looked at Krista.

“What?” Mary said with wide eyes.

Cassie walked into the living room. “High?”

“Five?” Krista answered with a raised hand. To Cassie’s straight face, she said, “Not funny?”

“How do you know that?” Cassie was focused entirely on Krista. Sean wasn’t sure what was happening.

Krista put a hand on her hip, “Seriously? Dude stares at inanimate objects, he hides in corners, he creeps around all the time, and he wants to escape to the beach on a cold and miserable night alone? He’s getting high. Bet you.”

“That ass**le!” Cassie said, then glared at Sean, daring him to say something about her language. “He promised he would stop.”

“That was probably before you dumped him,” Krista snickered.

“Huh.” Cassie looked back at the door. “Good point. I’ll put on some music.”

Krista shrugged and turned back to the guys, who were looking bewildered at Cassie’s quick and indifferent change of mood. They both decided that they would never understand women, plain and simple.

~*~*~*~

In a couple hours they all had buzzes and everyone was deciding to head to bed.

“Is everyone staying here?” Krista asked Sean, swooping her hand low on his stomach.

“Yeah, it’s a three-bedroom,” he said quietly, looking at her fixedly.

“We don’t get away from the kids much,” Mary slurred. “Even when we do we aren’t as wild and crazy as we once were, I’m afraid.” She got up and moved purposely to the stairs. She was a little beyond buzzed, it looked like.

Ray moved to go with her, looking pretty steady. “G’night,” he muttered.

So…not as sober as he looked.

Cassie got up, too. “I better go and get that lunatic.”

Keith still hadn’t returned from his forays.

“I’ll go with you,” Sean said protectively, rising.

Cassie stopped suddenly, “Why? Is it dangerous here?”

“No,” Krista said, staying seated on the love seat where she and Sean had been sitting. She had a half-glass of wine to finish. “Sean thinks all darkness is dangerous, but you’ll be fine. It will probably be a ghost town out there. But take Sean, in case I’m wrong and you find the only ax-murder in the city wandering around on the beach.”

Cassie smiled and patted Sean’s arm. “Thanks big bro, but it would be better if you weren’t around. Last thing I need is my big g*y brother showing up to marshal in my homophobe ex-boyfriend.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, walking with her to the edge of the living room.

“Go sit down. You’re being rude to your guest.” She pushed him back toward Krista. He didn’t budge of course--pushing a six-foot pile of muscle wasn’t easy or effective--but he got the hint and let her go on her hunt for her stoner boyfriend.

Sean came back and sat beside Krista again. He turned his body toward her and leaned over, lightly nuzzling her neck. The heat was there from earlier, but it was softer. It was a contained wildfire.

“Touch me,” she said.

“I don’t know if that is such a good idea,” he whispered hoarsely in her ear.

“It is definitely not, no. Why?”

“I need to take things slowly, Krista. All sorts of new issues come with sex. We can still call what we are doing friendship. Friendly friendship. As soon as sex is in the picture, things get real.”

“And real messes with the head.”

“Precisely.”

“So, if we pretend I am a virgin and not ready for sex, would that work?”

Sean’s lips curved into a smile as he kissed down her neck to her chest. “Are you sure you’re that good of an actor?”

“Har har.” She slipped her dress strap over her shoulder so he had more access to flesh.

He took advantage immediately. His hand went back down to her inner thigh and began to inch up. Krista opened her legs slowly and leaned back, allowing him more access, wanting that clever hand where she needed it most.

Before he reached her sweet spot, or her nipple for that matter, the front door opened again. Sean languidly straightened up and brought her with him, content with the teasing.

“You look fine,” he said as they heard voices arguing. She continued to smooth out her dress, not believing him.