Evelyn Vine Be Mine (26 page)

During that restless night, I managed to come to one clear conclusion: I wanted to have sex with Grant Stone.

Maybe not tomorrow night…or even in the next month…but, when I was ready, I wanted it.

I knew that if I didn’t get to experience it just once, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.

What little encounters we’d had so far had been so beyond what I’d felt with Ben – and so much more…willing – that I now looked at this whole ‘sex’ thing with more hope…and enthusiasm.

Stone still scared the shit out of me, but I was beginning to trust him and the small surge of fear he usually incited, only added fuel to my arousal.

So I dressed carefully Saturday night, letting Briar attack me with my new makeup and fluff my newly-styled hair.

I wanted to make Stone hard tonight.

Not for delicate, frightened little Evie – the babied and ignored little sister…

But for Evelyn, as he called me – the sexy and confident Woman.

I stumbled in my heels as we approached the bar and blushed when Briar giggled.

…Okay, so I wasn’t quite there yet.

But Vines aren’t quitters!

I straightened my spine and wriggled my feet more firmly into my shoes as I raised my chin and sauntered into the bar after Bri.

***

We were late.

The band was already on stage and well into their set. I swallowed my disappointment that they hadn’t seen my dramatic entrance. I’d felt strong and confident walking through the door in my high-heeled ankle boots and lacy dress. Briar had fallen in love with the dress the minute she’d seen it. It was made entirely of stretchy, white lace and was so short on my long legs that it covered only a few inches below my ass. The top half was more conservative, the neckline high at the back, but dipping low and narrow at the front, exposing the inner curves of my breasts. My shoulders were covered, but my arms were bare and I felt naked. The material was thin and the lace exposed more than just flashes of my tanned skin.

Briar had goaded me into wearing some of the lingerie we’d bought beneath the flimsy dress. The black, lacy bra and boy shorts were only just visible through the gaps in material…but they’d show up more clearly once I stepped into black lighting. I blushed as I realised the bouncers were sneaking looks at my ass and moved further into the club.

I glanced up at the stage again, focusing my attention on the band. I was supposed to take pictures of them tonight. I’d promised Donny. I pulled my big, black camera out of its case and left the bag with the barman. I moved closer, raising the camera and focusing in on the band members. I took a group photo and Stone’s head snapped toward me. His eyebrow rose, but in a friendly way as he gave me a brief nod and twirled his drumsticks in some tricky way as the song came to an end.

Show off.

I cocked my hip to one side and scrunched my nose up at him, one hand on my hip, the other holding my camera. Donny talked to the crowd, but Stone looked at me, his eyes dancing with humour for a moment, before they dropped and made a sweep of my body, as if he suddenly realised I looked different. His eyes darkened, and then shot back to mine. The intensity of his hunger made me shiver. I’d obviously denied him for too long if he was getting this hot over little ol’ me.

He started to rise from his stool, but Donny was introducing their next song, so he sat down with a scowl. Briar gave me the thumbs up from across the club and I blushed as I quickly moved the camera back into position. I took several pictures of the band, and even switched the settings to film for a few so I could develop them later. I captured a great shot of Stone as he went into a fast drum solo and hoped that I’d compensated correctly for his rapid movements (I’d be crushed if the photo turned out blurred).

The heat of the club started to get to me, so I grabbed a pen from my camera bag and twirled it around the ends of my long hair, before pinning the messy scroll to my head. Wisps of hair fell about my face in different lengths and I felt a few trails of hair escape down my back. I didn’t care how it looked. The weight of it had been hot against the lace covering my back. I crossed my fingers and hoped I didn’t start to sweat – that wouldn’t be good for the smoky-black eyes Briar had spent nearly twenty minutes perfecting.

Some people from the university noticed me taking photos and, recognising me as Stone’s ‘girlfriend’, asked me to take some pictures for them. I was actually starting to relax and enjoy myself, when the band stopped and Donny found me.

“Phwoarr!” he said with a sexy grin, “Looking hot tonight Evie-baby. Like some hot-ass, big-city photographer.”

He ran his eyes over me again, walking around me in a circle and making me feel extremely uncomfortable.

“Hell, babe,” he said with a disbelieving laugh, “You should be in front of the camera.”

“Uh, thanks,” I whispered, suddenly feeling self-conscious about my hair, despite his praise, “Where are the others?”

Donny’s face darkened and when he responded, his voice was rough, “Alec and Stone are looking for you, Briar’s dancing with some guy, Jamie’s gone outside with some chick and Fredi is being a stupid, dyke slut!”

I blinked, startled by Donny’s anger.

“Er…” I mumbled, searching for something to say.

“C’mon,” he growled, “Let’s go get you to Stone. He’s been grumpy and impatient all night.”

I let him tug me towards the bar, but we didn’t reach it. Two strong hands grasped my waist from behind and pulled me back against a big, hard body. Donny let go of my hand, threw us a distracted wave and strode toward a corner where a tableful of attractive girls sat. Stone waited long enough to let me watch Don smile and win himself a seat at their table. Within moments, the girls were all over him.

Stone grabbed my hand and led me over to a table where Alec and Briar were now sitting, both of them looking uncomfortable as they snuck glances at the couple across from them. I looked too and was shocked to see Fredi sitting in a ginger-haired woman’s lap…kissing her passionately.

I paused, not really wanting to sit next to them. I mean, woo-hoo, go lesbian pride and all…but I didn’t know if I’d be able to stop staring if I sat down. Hell, I couldn’t stop staring now. I blushed. Surely it was rude to stare, despite them carrying on in the open.

God, get a room!

I fidgeted anxiously and felt Stone’s chest rumble with silent laughter against my back.

“Fred,” he said gruffly, but I could detect a small smile in his voice, “Get lost.”

Fredi pulled away from ‘Ginger’ and grinned at us, “Don’t you mean get a room?”

“I have one at the hotel across the street,” ‘Ginger’ purred.

Briar giggled into her hand and Alec nudged her hard, fighting his own smile. Fredi looked ready to turn her down, but then Donny sat down at the table with two giggly girls and her face tightened.

“Sure Ginger,” Fredi smiled in the next instant, “I’d love to go to your hotel.”

“It’s Stacy,” ‘Ginger’ said with a laugh.

“Whatever,” Fredi muttered, tugging the girl away.

“Ow!” the blonde beside Donny complained, “Donny, you’re holding me too tight.”

I glanced at the fierce look on his face and edged closer to Stone. We still hadn’t sat down and I wasn’t anymore enthusiastic about it than I’d been a few moments before.

Donny’s hand loosened and he smiled charmingly at his hurt ‘friend’.

“Sorry, baby,” he murmured, kissing her cheek and talking just loud enough for us all to hear, “Let’s go somewhere and I’ll kiss it better.”

“Hey! What about me?” the brunette on the other side of him pouted. Donny laughed and Alec rolled his eyes.

“The more the merrier darling,” Donny said, standing up with the blonde and holding his hand out in question.

The brunette smiled and accepted it, but I didn’t notice anything else after that because Stone had lost patience and was smoothing his hands over the lace of my dress. He held me as if he owned me, spreading his fingers wide over my flesh as if trying to touch every inch of me all at once. His nose came down to nuzzle my neck and I felt him inhale against my hair. His grip tightened as his hands came to rest on my hips and he pressed a soft kiss behind my ear. I struggled to breathe, steadfastly avoiding making eye-contact with Briar as I pushed back into his body slightly, meaning to subtly push him away, but melting against his hard form instead.

He grasped my hand and pulled me toward the door. Or so I thought.

My jaw dropped as he led me onto the dance floor and forged a path through the crush of undulating bodies.

No. Way!

Not only couldn’t I believe that Stone was going to dance…but there was no way in hell I wanted to dance like the rest of the girls were. When I’d danced with Logan it had been chaste and brotherly…and I’d still felt self-conscious. I doubted I’d be willing to dance like this in private, let alone in public…with everyone watching us.

I breathed a sigh of relief when Stone led me into a dark corner on the very edge of the dance floor. My muscles relaxed further when he brought my hands up to weave around his neck (just able to reach comfortably thanks to the high heels). His eyes didn’t miss my reaction. They glinted wickedly for a moment, then my breath caught as he pressed me back against the wall and crowded me with his body, blocking me from everyone’s view.

I felt the heavy base music reverberate off the wall and pound through my chest, competing with the rapid thudding of my heart. I licked my lips nervously as I tilted my head back to look up at Stone. His mouth met mine immediately, demanding my surrender, showing me his frustration. I let him have his way. There wasn’t enough strength in me to deny him, even if I’d wanted to.

I’d missed his taste. I’d missed the way his body felt against mine. I’d missed the firm way his hands would run over my body. His hands slid to my ass and squeezed me roughly as he pressed against my stomach, showing me just how hard he was for me.

He had to bend his head at a funny angle to kiss me this way, so I raised up on my toes and used my hold on his neck to get as high as possible against him. He grabbed my left thigh and lifted it to rest on his hip, raising me to the very tip of my right foot. I felt the muscle clench too tightly in my calf, but I didn’t care.

I did, however, care that my dress had hitched right up and his hand was making its way toward my panties. And we were still in public. I stiffened, but didn’t tell him to stop. I’d frustrated the guy enough. I didn’t think he’d be happy with me if I denied him now. He was already in an intense mood. If I wasn’t so turned on I’d have been frightened. Hell, I was a little scared, but the fierce look on his face made me even wetter. I’d never had anyone look at me like that. I’d never been so close to such a fierce, dangerous and powerful man.

I snuck a nervous glance at the crowd behind his back as he attacked my neck and fingered the outline of my underwear. A few people were sneaking glances at us, but it was the Brazilian wax that made me tense further in worry. Again, I didn’t move to stop him and my breath came in anxious little puffs.

Stone froze and then growled, dropping my leg and gripping my shoulders tightly as he gave me a brief, but firm shake.

“Evelyn!” he snapped. My eyes flew wide at the anger in his voice and my hands clenched involuntarily on his shoulders.

“If you want me to stop, fucking say so,” he said sharply, “Don’t ever let anyone touch you if you don’t want it!”

“I-” I tried to find my tongue, shaking from the overexposure to his deep, grizzly voice.

“I-I-I want it,” I managed to whisper, curling my hands in his shirt and tentatively snuggling back in.

“Just…” he leaned down a little to better hear my soft words, “Not here.”

He relaxed a fraction and took my hand, leading me away from our corner and toward the exit. He walked quickly, leaving me to scurry after him in my stiletto-heeled boots. He tugged me towards his car and pushed me back against it, not hard enough to hurt, but firmly enough to make my heart pound with nervous excitement. He watched me with those hard, silver eyes, assessing me as he propped his hands on either side of me and slowly leant toward me in challenge. I met him half way.

I slid one arm around his neck and arched my body into him, my back and ass leaving the car entirely. My hand splayed across the back of his skull as I met his kiss and I wished that he had some hair to hang onto. He groaned into my mouth and pushed me back against the car again. My leg wrapped around him on instinct this time and he didn’t waste time sliding his fingers into my panties.