Blackout (24 page)

A hint of tequila lingers on his breath. “I bought this for you.” He extends his hand holding the box. He bites his lower lip in anticipation of me opening it.

“How did you know it’s my birthday?” I unfasten the ribbon securing the other box. Inside, a gold box-chain anklet lies on a bed of cotton.

“I overheard you telling Carolina that you’d be eighteen soon, so I asked Kami.” His voice wavers, a slight tremor in his hand on my back.

“Would you?” I hold up the bracelet and anklet. “I always wanted one of your friendship bracelets. Thank you.” The seashells roll between my fingers.

He clasps the shell bracelet onto my wrist then kneels before me to hook the chain around my ankle. “I’m glad you like them.” In his tone, self-assurance replaces his unexpected return to boyhood. His tongue flicks on the inside of the upper part of my leg.

Heat bursts between my thighs. No man has ever affected me this way. But my previous dates were all boys up until now. Dare is all man, from the roughness of his beard chafing my skin to the strength of his hold on me. “I have to get back to work.”

His nose slides further up my leg, inhaling me and distributing spikes of greedy need in my body. “When I’m bad, I’m really good.”

“I have to work.” My voice shakes.

I proudly wear my bracelet and anklet. It’s stupid I know, but no present could match the pretty shells I wear on my wrist.

“I’ll be watching you,” he says into my hair.

My legs feel weak, my head light as I wander back to the floor. Dare returns to his brothers, except Sam, who has taken his spot behind the bar.

Tonight, Dare and I. I don’t know how I’ll make it until then. I’m shaking hard. I’ve never done anything like this. I know or imagine how this will go down, and I can barely stand because of the excitement whipping inside me.

After Ella and I knock out a few more tables, she pulls me aside. “What are you doing with Dare? He was never the same after his conviction.” Her face pinches. “He used to be this sweet boy all the girls wanted. With the car racing, he was starting to turn his life around. I heard he lost today.”

Am I screwing up his life again? I rotate the shells on my wrist. A few purple, one onyx, and tiger cowries are strung together. “We’re working on something together.”

“I can see that. What could possibly be worth that to either of you?” Ella asks. “Go easy on him and be careful.” She puts an arm around my shoulder.

How can I be? We’re talking about Dare. He practically seduced me in the bathroom. What do I tell Graham?

A large group of bikers waits for us to clear and scrub down a table, so I hurry over to it.

Ella hands out menus to them and pulls me aside. “Closing tonight is going to be a bitch with the Tucker boys and the bikers drinking together. We’ll never get them out of here.”

I don’t know about that. Sam wants to take Carolina home, and Dare…he plans on collecting me.

Several young women stop at the Tucker table. One cozies up to Jackson, but Dare’s gaze slides over my skin like bath oil. I even trip once, which elicits a chuckle from him. He relishes my reaction. I inhale deeply and continue feeding drinks to the customers. Other than Randy, the Tuckers are lit up.

Dare tosses back several shots and chases them with beer. Some perky blonde tries to sit on his lap, but he whispers in her ear, and she stalks off.

By the time three rolls around, I’m yawning so wide an RV could drive into my mouth. Carolina and the bouncers help round up the remaining patrons and push them out the door. The Tuckers are the hardest to shove out. Randy has drunk sodas all night, so he’s a little wired, talking non-stop to his brothers.

Jackson sings some nasty song about sailors and whores. He stumbles toward the front door guided by Randy, while Sam waits for Carolina.

Sam drapes an arm around her. “I can’t wait to take you home.”

She smiles up at him. “I’m so glad you’re out.”

Dare is leaning against his Shelby, waiting for me.

“Teal, do you need a ride home?” Carolina asks, eyeing Dare. “I’ve seen that look in the Tucker boys, and it may be best for us to drive you.”

“I have that look right now.” Sam opens the driver side door for her, kissing her roughly on the lips. “They’re adults now. Leave them be.”

“Just barely,” Carolina says.

Dare’s palms rest on the Shelby’s door, and the burgeoning lump in his shorts is all too apparent. The steel rods of his gaze harpoon my heart, reeling me into his arms. “It’s not too late to walk away.”

My heart races as his hands slide down my shoulders.

“You shouldn’t drive,” Randy calls over his shoulder as he gets behind the wheel of Dare’s truck and Jackson stumbles into the passenger seat.

“I’m not driving. Teal is.” He runs his tongue along the length of my neck, and my knees give out. The strength of his arms spin me around and pinion me to the car.

“Teal gets to drive your Shelby, and I don’t,” Randy complains.

Dare laughs. “She’s already driven it.”

“That’s not fair,” Randy says through the open truck window.

“That’s life,” Dare says. His nose dives into my hair, and my body yields to his. The ache between my legs throbs, and my nipples tighten.

I don’t know what to expect, but I want…No, need him. “You’re drunk.”

“It’ll be better for you.” He picks me up, so that I’m straddling him, pinned against the Mustang.

His fingers glide up my throat, his lips trailing behind them. My head falls backward, and I moan softly. I close my eyes to accept his punishing kisses, the scrape of his beard along my neck, the swell and commotion stirring in his shorts butting up against my VaJay.

I exhale raggedly, sweat dewing my brow, my arms swung around his neck. Though he’s trashed, he’s not stumbling. His feet are sure as he takes me behind the bar and out to the beach. The waves crash onto shore and roar in my ears. The sliver of the moon glows on the water foaming on the sand. A blanket lies between the dunes, sheltered from easy view.

No one else is on the beach, just us, the cry of the gulls, and the breeze rustling in the sea oats on the dunes. Dare scans up and down the beach before I drag him down on top of me. I fumble with the button of his shorts. I know exactly what I want—him.

“In a hurry, are we?” he says, laughing. He shucks off his shirt, exposing his glorious chest. He’s magnificently beautiful.

He tugs off my shirt and cups my breasts, so they leap free from their lacy concealment. He sucks hard on one nipple then the other. His mouth devours mine, the tequila tastes sensuous on his tongue.

Dare rocks me toward him, the strong smell of liquor on his breathe. “I can’t wait to have you. This is all I could think about today. That’s why I lost the race. I couldn’t stop thinking about how you taste and how I’d feel inside you.” His mouth lands on my neck where he licks and sucks. I can only imagine what’s coming next.

I started this, and I certainly won’t stop him from having me. Tingles spread in my body, gathering steam, and once again my toes curl. I want his lips on mine. I want them all over me.

Dare kicks off his flip-flops and kneels between my legs, spreading them apart. He must’ve read my thoughts because he shoves my legs up so they wrap around him. His tongue plunges into my mouth.

“Oh God, Teal. I’m going to fuck you until you scream my name.” His stubble is thick and grazing my skin, the pain pleasurable. The roughness scrapes my cheeks as he rubs his chin across my face then his lips find mine. He nips and tastes me.

I love that he doesn’t call me any pet name, like he’s afraid he’ll speak some other girl’s name while he’s deep inside me.

His kisses send me over the edge. With his tongue all over me and my hands touching every part of him, my mind has never been clearer. I’ve never felt more alive.

It’s not like I’ve never made out with boys, but him touching me, tasting me, caressing me is the most passion I’ve ever felt. I’m so glad I wore my lacy panties for him, though they’re soaked simply from his touch. His hands cup my cheeks while his tongue explores my mouth.

His rough fingers slide up my skirt and pull off my panties. My breath hitches. There’s no going back now, not that I would consider that.

“Tell me no now before I can’t stop,” Dare says to my neck that he scuffs with rough kisses. He unsnaps my bra by a simple pinch to the clasp. His hands grope my breasts that perk up and beg for his attention.

His tongue wraps around a nipple. He sucks on it hard with just enough pain that it ignites my lower extremities. His kisses are so hungry and fierce that I barely have a chance to come up for air. How could I possibly say no when my body is screaming yes, take me.

“You still have a chance to turn me down.” His deep voice flames my skin.

I moan into his ear. “Dare, I want you.”

“That is definitely a yes.” He lifts my skirt up to expose my bare ass. Without a word, he stands to drop his shorts and strip off his briefs. His shaft stands tall and proud and long. He lies on top of me, and without hesitation, thrusts deep inside, and the size of him pinches my
moule
. It hurts, yet feels intensely good.

The harder he drives me the more I throb inside. His hand cups my chin while his tongue probes my mouth. The other hand squeezes my breast. His mouth is all over me, my neck, my mouth, my breasts, my bare shoulders. My hands grab his firm ass. I squeeze hard then feel for his stones tightly pulled up into him, then for his hard and inflexible shaft.

“You feel so damn good, Teal. What do you want? Tell me.”

“Exactly what you’re doing now,” I rasp, my breathing ragged, my blood thumping between my thighs.

He drives hard and deep. My core pulses with his rhythm. I’ve never felt such extreme pleasure. With each plunge, the tightening and the throbbing within me builds until I explode and scream out, “Dare, don’t stop.”

He grinds against me, penetrating so deep, I cry out again. My climax builds, spilling out of my body.

“Fuck, Teal. You feel so damn good.”

As my orgasm slows still beating with its own heart, I wilt, exhausted and overcome by what he’s given to me. We’re both drenched in sweat, my own desire, and his seed spilled all over me.

“Damn, Teal.” He flicks back his damp hair. “That was the best sex I have ever had.”

“What did I do?” All I did was enjoy every amazing inch of him.

He laughs. “Your kiss this morning is what drove me all day. I couldn’t wait to taste you again. Anticipation is half the desire.”

And then he’s done it. He has said something deep and provocative. The crassness is pushed aside for the moment.

“Do you have something to keep your cast dry?” he asks, lying on his side, his fingers slipping between my breasts.

“In my purse.”

Dare fishes out the plastic bag and undoes the rubber bands. He wraps it around my cast, securing it with the bands. He picks me up to carry me to the ocean. The strength of his arms flexes, touching my nakedness, my bare ass and sex clenching. His tattooed shark wiggles from the tensing and release of his biceps.

“You’re beautiful, Teal.” He kisses my mouth and lets my legs drop enough to latch onto his waist and sit atop of his hard rod of sexual gratification.

He takes us into the ocean where the waves push us. He wipes clean my sex while sinking his tongue into my mouth.

“Use me and please yourself.” His deep, sexy voice prickles the hair on the back of my neck where his hands fist in my hair. His gaze locks onto mine, burning through to the other side of my heart.

Both his hands squeeze my ass, pushing my
moule
along the length of him. I moan and let the powerful feeling run through me. “Oh, Dare.”

“I don’t want to hear another man’s name ever again on your lips.” His tongue slides along my neck while my head tilts backward. His fingers twist in my hair, the slight pain stimulating and increasing the arousal in my soaked sex.

One hand clutches onto the taut muscle of his shoulder, the other tugs on his thick hair. “Oh, please, Dare,” I beg, the sudden rush squeezing the air from my chest.

“That’s right.” His fingers pinch my nipple before he lifts it to his tongue.

He sucks hard, and I scream, “Dare.” I slide up and down until he’s inside me and groaning my name loudly.

The stars shine down on us, and the sliver of the moon glows and glistens on the muscles rippling on his chest.

“Keep going,” I beg. His lips plunder mine. They burn from the nipping, scraping, and sucking.

I come hard. Something I didn’t know could happen so many times. Our bodies shudder, and we cry out together. Sweat drips in his hair, lingering on his cheek and salting my tongue. He holds me until I’m groggy with sleep. The cool water lapping around us.

“Let’s go home to your bed,” he mouths onto my cheek and lips.

He picks me up to carry me out of the water. His strength stirs more desire in me.

“Can you drive?” he asks.

“Yes.” I nuzzle his neck. The ocean breeze tightens my nipples and gooseflesh my arms and legs.

He picks up his shirt to towel me off before helping me dress. I stuff my underwear in my bag.

“Do that for me some time,” he says, running his nose along my belly while tugging on his shorts. “Don’t wear any underwear. It’s hot.”

He extends me a hand then brushes the sand from my back and hair. His free hand slips along my sex underneath my skirt, clenching it so tight I push his fingers into me.

“You have an unquenchable thirst, Teal,” he says to my neck, the hot whisper flowing into my wet skin.

After we pick up our clothes, Dare holds me close, and we walk to his car. He kisses my hair, and penetrating heat spreads all the way to my ankle where the chain clings to my skin. I dangle the friendship seashells on my wrist. I always wanted to be his friend, and now we are so much more.

As we amble back to his car, a creepy, slithering feeling works its way along my arms. I glance around but only the darkness and shadows swaying in the wind appear and disappear under the clouds now sweeping the sky.

When I shiver, Dare draws me closer to him. He hands me the keys, and I slowly drive us back to my house. My nerves twitch driving at night but no black spots pepper my vision. I’m with Dare. I’m safe.