Bait: The Wake Series, Book One(4)

He took the beer from my hand and placed it on the nearby ledge and asked, “Okay, honeybee. You in?” I wasn't sure what he was asking me, but my answer was yes. He only waited for the start of my smile before he had his hands on my hips, pulling me into him.

He held me tight. His right hand circled all the way around my lower half and his left ran straight up the center of my back. My chest was pressed beneath his and I could feel how hard his pecs were.

Instinctively, I brought my hands around his neck and clasped them together. I felt shy and possibly guilty.

I had a boyfriend.

I had an almost fiancé.

I was a ho.

I was about to stop the whole charade; my arms began to slip from our embrace. But before I could retreat, he put his nose against my cheek and breathed into my ear. “Hold on to me, Blake.”

Willingly, I tightened my hold on him. And then he moved us. His hips swayed our bodies side-to-side and back-and-forth and Led Zeppelin begged the girl, “Don't go.”

Casey sang along immodestly the whole time. With every “Oh” and “Ay” I felt him vibrate. There was no turning back. I shouldn't have, but I wanted him. I should have stopped, but I also knew that I wouldn't. I couldn't. It felt too right.

The stubble on his cheek scratched against my forehead. Our bodies created friction everywhere. My hands were hot and had clenched fists full of Casey's shirt. I could not get close enough. I didn't know this man. He didn't know me, but hell if the two people dancing on that dance floor didn't fit in the most fundamental of ways.

The hand he had possessively resting on my spine trailed its way into my hair. His long fingers fanned across my skull which created a tingly sensation down to my toes. He clutched the hair at the nape of my neck and pulled my head away from his.

I smelled the delicious beer on his lips as he confessed, “I like your trouble.”

My words failed. I didn't know if it was the beer, the music, or the man attached to me, but I felt pliant.

Anything could happen.

Anything at all.

Looking back, it was the first night of so many that I thought those exact words. Anything I could get from Casey Moore was better than nothing at all. I would take any scrap of this man I was offered. That's the night my heart split into two equal and separate pieces. That's the night I gave one to a perfect stranger, and the remaining piece felt fuller even being left in half.

We danced forever. Our bodies moved easily to the rhythms of songs, both fast and slow. I forgot where I was and who I was with. I especially forgot about who I wasn't with and, I should have paid so much more attention to that.

“Here come the lovebirds,” Casey said looking over my shoulder. Weren't they dancing, too? I looked around and the bar was almost empty and we were the only couple on the floor.

“Blake, I think we are going to head out. I have a big day tomorrow with the family and everything. I'll see you at graduation?” Micah looked tired and she swayed. She'd had a belly full of beer, too.

“Sure, I bet you have a lot to do. I'm staying across the street. I'm fine. I'll go get my things from the bar.” I separated myself from Casey, but I didn't miss the look Cory shot him.

“Do you want to share a cab?” Cory asked his brother, staring at him pointedly.

“No, I think I might meet some friends downtown,” he answered looking at his watch. “I'll see you later. Call me if you need anything tomorrow.” They did a one-handed, back-pat type of hug and Casey leaned in to kiss Micah on the cheek. “Congratulations and thanks for inviting me out tonight, Mic. You guys get some sleep.” He winked and wagged suggestive eyebrows in their direction.

“Be good, Casey.” She scolded and smacked his arm.

Cory gave me a hug and I accepted it. He told me it was a pleasure to meet me, but he needed to get Micah home since she had to be up bright and early.



Casey and I walked to the bar where my things, thankfully, were still intact. How f*cking dumb was I to walk off and leave the only belongings I still had?

“Night cap?” Casey asked eying me up. His smile alone could get me drunk.

“Sure, what time is it?” I looked for my phone in my over-sized travel bag and found that not only had I missed calls from both my mother and Grant, but also there were texts to accompany them.

The bartender looked busy, like he was tidying up. I noted the time at one-thirty and asked him, “What time do you close?”