Don't Kiss the Messenger (Edgelake High School, #1)(53)

“You know why Wisconsin people drink so fast?” Prentice asked her.

Bryn shook her head.

“It’s so cold up here. We need to drink the beer before it freezes,” he said.

“I thought the trick was drinking it through a straw?” I asked.

“You’re such a smart-ass, Edmonds,” Prentice told me.

I felt like I was encroaching on Prentice’s flirt space. I took a step back and looked around the room and noticed Emmett walk through the front door with a couple of his teammates. His eyes locked on Bryn like her presence was some kind of a visual vacuum. Prentice noticed him walking up and reluctantly pulled his hand off of Bryn. I was impressed. Apparently it was campus wide news that Emmett and Bryn were now heralded as the city’s Zeus and Hera, ruling on high from their godly lookout on Mount Olympus. The rest of us were mere commoners in comparison, lowly mortal souls.

Prentice looked over at Bryn and I swear he lost his beer buzz. The giddy smile left his face. I had never actually seen Prentice look upset before. It’s like the guy had two emotions—horny and competitive. But he actually looked vulnerable right now.

“You invited Brady?” Prentice asked Bryn.

Bryn nodded. “I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”

I bit my lips together. It was never okay to invite a pack of guys to a party hosted by guys. I barely went out, and even I understood this party etiquette.

“You’re not mad, are you?” Bryn asked.

Prentice answered her by slamming the rest of his beer and turning away before Emmett stole the spotlight. I watched him go with surprise. Prentice seriously liked Bryn.

When Emmett walked up he pulled Bryn’s arms down with his hands so he could take her in. Drink her in.

“What?” Bryn said, a little breathless, as if she was equally overwhelmed with seeing him.

“You look amazing,” he told her. She smiled at the words she must hear at least every minute.

Emmett reached his arm out, almost involuntarily, and he brushed her hair back and rested his long fingers on her bare shoulder. They looked equally mesmerized by each other. I watched them for a moment, the way Bryn could talk with her eyes. She used her hips and her chest like words. Emmett responded with his hands. With a teasing smile. I wondered what it would be like to communicate like that.

I looked away and suddenly Tucker was standing next to me, leaning close. I moved over to give him space, but he took a step closer.

“I’m glad you came,” he said. His wrapped his arm around my shoulder. The gesture took me by surprise, but I didn’t mind.

“I’ve been to your games,” he said. He bent down low to talk to me. “You’re really fun to watch.”

“Digging and diving turns you on?” I asked. I knew I was flirting back.

“Your body turns me on,” he said, his eyelids lowering. “You have a smoking hot body.”

I felt my chest heat up. His pinkish-red lips looked soft and warm and smooth. Very kissable.

“I bet you have a wild side,” he said and his eyes fell to my mouth. They passed down to my chest and then up to my eyes. He took his time looking at me. I could almost feel his hazel eyes tracing my skin. I liked their attention. For how complex human beings are, we all have the same basic needs.

Tucker grabbed my hand in his and before I could make any sense of what was happening, I followed him.

“I’m so rude,” he said over his shoulder. “I need to give you the tour.”

I was smart enough to know the line he was throwing out, but I let it go. I had noticed Tucker before. I noticed him four years ago when he was a freshman. I just never imagined he noticed me.

Music poured out around us as we weaved our way through the packed living room. I was careful to avoid making eye contact with Emmett. I was suddenly relieved Tucker gave me an excuse to escape. I concentrated on the warm pull of his hand.

Tucker opened a hallway door and pulled me inside a dark room. He didn’t even bother turning on the light. He shut the door and pulled me onto a bed. Before I had a chance to speak, or get my bearings, his lips were on mine, hungry and smothering like they wanted to devour me. He wrapped his arm around my neck and guided me closer and kissed me harder. I could hardly fit my arms around his chest, it was so broad. I opened my mouth and he breathed into me, his tongue slamming against mine. His voice groaned. I kissed him back, reeling in the contact, loving the feel of his hands, loving the sensation of being touched and desired.

His hand teased my hair and slowly traced down my temple and I panicked before he touched my face. I couldn’t bear the thought of him touching my scar. What if the feeling repulsed him? I hated that my mind was getting in the way, but I couldn’t ignore the rising doubt.

I gripped his hands and pushed them down, away from my face. He squeezed my breasts through my shirt and then he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me on his lap. He lifted my shirt and I let him pull it off. My breaths were shaky and his were deep. It had been over a year since I kissed anyone and I forgot the high it gives you, how once you start, it’s almost impossible to stop.

His mouth moaned against my neck. I leaned back and stretched my neck to give his mouth more working space. I savored the feeling of his tongue and the light suction of his lips.

What the hell, I deserved this. I wanted Tucker to drain every thought of Emmett from my mind.