Lost in the Moment (A Savioe Family Novel) (24 page)

Charles and Luke entered shuffling their feet as if this were their last meal. Luke grunted as he plopped down in the chair next to me. Charles took his seat beside Dev.
Remi snorted at the two of them. “It’s just spasgeti. She can’t mess that up. Can she? I mean she does cook breakfast every now and then.”

Charles squeezed his eyes shut. “She bur
ned soup last time. Burned soup. And cooking breakfast is different than making dinner.”

Dev scru
nched his face up in disgust. “I’m sure she’s learned since then. Right?”

Luke mumbled under his breath. “Gawd, I hope so.”

                                                        *****

The food was
not completely horrid. I mean yeah, the noodles were still a bit tough and the sauce wasn’t hot enough but the garlic bread was great. I’ve had worse meals. I helped Luke clear the table and went to my room to freshen up before I had to take her to the party. As soon as I closed the door, I heard muffled voices coming from the corner of the room by the bureau.

I walked over there to inspect where it was coming from. Kneeling on the floor, I noticed a small vent. I gently opened it and the voices became clearer.

“It’s just a party, Nate. We know the kid who is having it and Beau is going to it. I don’t see why you’re so against letting her go.” Eva’s sighs were quickly followed by the sound of leather from the chair squeaking.

“Last time there was a party, he showed up drunk as a skunk! Beau and Marie had to carry him in. I’m not sure if I can allow her to go when there is a possibility that that might happen again.” He grumbled.

“He wasn’t our responsibility then. He didn’t live under our roof and know our rules. And… well I honestly think that was a onetime thing. Give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“Let’s say I do and they drink. They might end up trying to drive and get into an accident.
Or they drink and end up having unprotected sex. We might end up in the same predicament that Daniel and Jamie are in with Roxy and Luke. One potential grandbaby is enough to deal with at the moment. I don’t really want to have to deal with all the….” The sound of papers rustling drowned out the rest of what he said.

Eva snorted her voice gradually getting louder as she became more agitated.
“Might. There is that word again. If we all lived our lives based on mights, we’d have never made it out of the dark ages. Let them be kids, Nate, and enjoy the time they have left before they become adults and have to face the real world.”

He let out a disgruntled groan. “
I can’t take that chance. Have you seen how he looks at her when he thinks no one is watching? There is a hunger there, chèr. One that I recognize all too well.”

“Fine. Then you go upstairs and tell your daughter that you don’t want her to go have fun because you think she’s going to get drunk and sleep around. It’s not like you don’
t let your boys do that. Or are you forgetting the coach calling us last year to go pick up Beau because he was too drunk to get his truck out of a field? How about the phone call from Payne’s mom? Or the Teagues? If you distrust her so much send Charles with them. He can’t help but tell us what the rest of them are up to.” She ranted.

“I don’t think that, Eva.
Of course, I remember all of that. I didn’t think that boy would survive to see his eighteenth birthday without one of us strangling him.” He sounded defeated as he sighed. “I trust her. I just… hell, I don’t want to see her get hurt that’s all. She’s my little girl.”

“I know, love. Still send Charles with them. He’ll give us a complete rundown of what happens.” Her voice was muffled.

“If it will make you feel better.” The sound of their kiss made me quickly close the vent.

I got out of the floor and sat on the bed.
I felt somewhat better knowing that Charles’s presence would hinder any amorous advances. Well, hopefully. It did bother me that he would assume that I would potentially threaten someone’s life by driving drunk. Given the circumstances, I understood his reluctance.

I stood up and quickly changed into a clean pair of dark blue jeans and black polo shirt.
I picked at the sleeve trying to stretch it out a little so it wasn’t so tight around my biceps
. I think I should let them know that I don’t do that.

I ran a hand through my hair and left the room. I stopped by the
study door and knocked on it. A faint rustling sound was heard on the other side of the door. Eva opened it running a hand down her shirt to straighten it. I pretended not to notice her disheveled state. “May I talk to the two of you?”

Her brows furrowed before she took a step away from the door. “Sure, honey, come in.”

I stepped inside the study and spotted Nate sitting in his office chair. I placed my hand on the back of the oversized chair and leaned on it slightly. “Even though there is a party tonight and I’m sure there will be alcohol there. I wanted to let you know that since I’m driving I will not be drinking. There is no way I would ever get behind the wheel of a vehicle intoxicated. Any time that I have drunk anything I made sure I had a ride home or I stayed there until morning.”

Nate sat there immobile leaning back in his chair with his hand resting against his mouth. “
I appreciate your honesty. Can you guarantee that she will not drink though?”

“No but I will try my hardest to make sure she doesn’t.” I said honestly.
“I really don’t know the people there well enough to trust them around her sober let alone inebriated. If Beau hadn’t agreed to go, well we’d stay here.”

“You don’t trust them around her?” He leaned against his desk as Eva stepped around it to rest her hand on his shoulder.

I frowned as I thought about it. Did I really want to tell them how I really felt about the boys that were so close to their son? I slowly shook my head. “I wouldn’t trust most of them around a dog, but that could just be my prejudice against some of the team. That developed when I discovered one is hounding Roxy even though he knows Luke is with her and another is sniffing around Marie.”

“Which ones?” Eva asked softly.

“Bus is after Roxy and Hunter is pursuing Marie.” I unknowingly clenched my fist when I mentioned the ponce’s name.

Nate noticed the reaction and leaned back against the chair. “
Beau told me about Michael’s infatuation with Roxy, but failed to mention Hunter. Are you sure about that one?”

My jaw clenched briefly as I nodded. “Yes, I overheard him tell Scott that he wanted her and couldn’t wait for her to come to her senses and drop me.”

Eva turned her back toward me and whispered something to him. His hand moved back up to his mouth covering what looked like a grin before he cleared his throat. “Yes it does, chèr. Marcus, thank you for easing our minds. Y’all can leave whenever you want just take Charles with you. Oh, do you need any gas money?”

I opened the door
and turned back around to them. “No thank you. I filled Grace up yesterday.”

Eva followed me out and headed up the stairs. “I’ll just let Charles know to get ready and check in on Marie to see how long she’ll be.”

I stood in the foyer inspecting myself in the mirror on the wall when I heard Charles’s shout of glee. I shook my head at his enthusiasm. He bounded down the steps jumping the last few and tapped my shoulder with his fist. “This is sweet! I can’t believe that they are letting me go to one of Scott’s parties.”

I glanced up the stairs then down the hall and whispered to him. “You know they want you to spy on us right?”

He snorted rolling his eyes. “Duh. Of course I do, but what I tell them and what really happens are usually two totally different things.”

             
                                          *****

It took Marie another thirty minutes and four outfit changes to get ready. Each time she had come down her mother would shake her head at her and go tell her to put some clothes on. When she finally graced us with her presence, she wore a pair of baggy jeans and a loose fitted
T-shirt. I exhaled a sigh of relief. Thank god, she was wearing something that hid her tight little body.

Charles snickered under his breath and patted my shoulder. “We b
etter go.”

We walked out the side door to the garage. Marie got halfway to Grace before she looked over her shoulder and smirked.
She whispered something to Charles and ran over to the side of the house. She dug in the bushes for a moment before she pulled out an old ratted knapsack and ran back toward the car. I had already climbed in the driver seat and started it by the time she reached us.

Charles moved the seat up so she could climb in the back before he got in and closed the door. He twisted in his seat, slinging his arm over it and laughed at her. “You better hope they don’t find out you are doing this.”

She shrugged at him pulling her hair back in a bun. “Then you better not tell them. Now turn around and put your seatbelt on.”

He shook his head at her and turned around.
I adjusted the rearview mirror before I pulled out of the driveway. It was already pushing nine o’clock. Hopefully by the time we get there Beau would be on his way. I glanced up at the rearview mirror and saw Marie take off her shirt.

I swerved off the shoulder
, the tires bounced on the gravel testing the new shocks I put on a few months back, before I maneuvered us back on the hardtop. “What are you doing?” My voice cracked as I swallowed hard. I tried to keep my gaze on the road. I really did but the sight of her smooth flesh in the mirror kept capturing my gaze. She had on a red bra that was more lace than material and just barely covered her strawberry peaked breasts. My mouth went dry and cock twitched in my jeans. Freckles dusted her torso and back, just begging to be kissed.

“I’m
changing. I am seriously not going to go to a party looking like a bum.” She pulled a red dress out of her bag and pulled it over her head before taking off her jeans. I almost slammed into the back of a hybrid when she took her bra off underneath the dress and shoved it back in her bag.

My heart pounded in my ears and I was harder than stone by the time we pulled into Scott’s driveway behind the trailer park Jess lived in.
My palms sweated as I turned off Grace, exited her and walked to the front. Charles got out and shook his head at Marie when she climbed out.

My eyes widened as I saw her glorious legs shown off by that tiny dress. She had on a pair of grey heels that made them look at least five inches longer. My gaze slowly traveled up
her body and I completely lost it. “Hell’s bells no. You are not wearing that in there. Sweet Jesus, it’s backless. Are you trying to kill me?”

She smirked pulling her hair out of the bun and stalked over to me. “Wha’s da matter, Shug?” She placed her hand over my pounding heart and brushed her lips against mine. I closed my eyes and clenched my hands to fists so I wouldn’t pull her to me. “You don’t like my dress?” She stepped away and spun around. The skirt
of the dress fluttered up around her hips showing off her thong.

I bit my lip
, looked up at the night sky and stifled my groan. “It’s nice but uh… it’s too short and it’s missing a back.”

She smirked touching her fingertip to my lip
s. “Shush. Just take me… inside. There is a party going on you know.” She pulled away from me laughing and sauntered up to the front door.

             
                                          *****

             
             
Chapter Nine

Marie

The party was in full swing when I walked in the front door. Music was blaring, a strobe light was flashing in the corner of the living room and the hall w
as lined with people talking and holding red cups. Charles pushed passed me flashing me a goofy grin before disappearing into the living room and the sea of bodies bouncing to the pounding bass. I walked down the hall to the kitchen to grab a drink and spotted Jess standing next to the counter.

“Hey! Marie you made it. Damn you are looking fierce.” Her speech was slurred as she stumbled her way over to me.
I quickly caught her arm before she bounced against a couple kissing in the corner. She gave me a goofy grin and yelled behind her. “Suck it Scott I told you she’d show up. You owe me twenty bucks.”

Scott walked into the kitchen
with a beer in his hand. He looked over at me and his mouth dropped open. “Sweetheart, damn. Just damn. We need to get you a drink.” He grabbed my arm pulling me further into the kitchen. “Did Drez come with you?”

“Yes, he’s around here somewhere.” I looked over my shoulder to see if I could spot him, but all I saw was a mass of bodies blocking my view.

“I’m sure he’ll find you. Here take this.” He grabbed a cup and poured in a mix of clear alcohol with some cola.

I grabbed the cup from him and downed the entire drink. Jess laughed at me. “Damn girl. Take it easy.”

I bent my head down and whispered in her ear. “I need something to give me some courage tonight. I plan on having fun by any means necessary.”

Her lips curved into her Cheshire cat smile. “I’ve got just the thing for you.” She grabbed Scott’s arm and spoke quickly to him. His shocked gaze met mine before he nodded his head and left the room. She wrapped her arm around my elbow and steered me toward the living room. “This is going to be fun.”

“What is?”

“Body shots.” Her smile increased as we stepped into the room. Scott had cleared off a table behind the couch and tilted his head to someone in the corner. Hunter and Payne walked over
and listened to what he was saying. They both laughed and took off their shirts.

“What exactly is a body shot?” I asked Jess.

“Something that you are not going to do, pet.” Drez said behind my shoulder.

I spun around and met his angry glare. “What is it?”

Jess grabbed my arm and pulled me away from him. “Here I’ll show you.”

Drez followed behind us
frowning as we met up with Scott and the shirtless duo. Jess smiled at Payne as he lay down on the table and put a lemon in his mouth. Scott poured some alcohol in Payne’s bellybutton while Jess shook some salt on his nipple. She smirked at me as she licked the salt off his nipple, drank the liquor off his stomach and sucked the lemon out of his mouth.

Hunter looked up at me giving me an inviting smile. “Next?”

I snorted at him. “Not with you.” I turned around placing my hand on Drez’s chest and leaned close to him. “I really want to try that. Just not with any of them.”

“No, pet.”
A pained look crossed his face for a brief moment before it hardened.

I bit my lip as I traced an invisible pattern on his chest with my nail. “
Please, Marcus.”

He swallowed as he closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. “Fine.”
He grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head. A collective gasp from a few girls around us quickly followed.

Jess slapped Scott on
his shoulder and nodded at us. He smiled shaking his head. “On the table then, brother.”

He handed Drez a lemon and poured the liquor on his stomach. My hands trembled a bit as I shook some salt on his nipple.
Our eyes met and I was momentarily stunned by swirling banked fire in his slate eyes. I ducked my head down and licked off the salt. His breath hitched in his throat the moment my tongue touched his skin. I moved down to his navel and slurped up the alcohol ignoring the burning that rushed down my throat. When I moved to the lemon, his eyes were closed shut as my teeth bit into the tart fruit. I slowly pulled away from him with the yellow slice still in my mouth.

Jess handed me another cup and whispered in my ear. “That was hot.
We all know he is feeling the heat too. Quite impressive by the way. Best thing for you to do is take the drink and walk away.”

I smirked over the rim of the cup when he sat up on the table and pulled his shirt back on.
His molten gaze seared me to the spot. He slid off the table in a slow fluid motion and swaggered over to me. My smile faded when he captured my wrist and took the cup out of my hand.

He bent his head down to my ear. “That was naughty of you, pet and you know it.
”

Scott interrupted us by slapping Drez on the shoulder. “If you need it, brother, there is an empty bedroom upstairs. First one on the left.”
He laughed as he walked away with a disgruntled Hunter in tow.

“This party was a bad idea. Too much bloody temptation.” He placed a quick kiss on my forehead and walked out of the room
with my drink in his hand.

Jess handed me another cup
staring after him in confusion. “Huh?”

I looked over at her in question. “What?”

She shook her head. “It’s nothing just thinking about something. Let’s go dance.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the room with the pumping music.

             
                                          *****

Ten thirty rolled around before I caught another glimpse of Drez. By then I had had quite a few drinks that Jess had made and was now on my fourth Jell-O shot. Charles found Scott’s Xbox and was perfectly happy zoning in gameland. Beau still had yet to show up.

I was definitely getting pissed over being ignored by Drez. Not to mention over the few girls he had flocking around him. I slammed back two more shots and went back to the room with the music. On my way down the hall, I spotted Drez leaning against the wall with a soda in his hand. I narrowed my eyes at the bleach blonde trying to put her hands on him.
Bitch, he’s mine.

I swayed up to them, pushed
in front of her and kissed him pressing my body into his. I ran my hand through his hair and gently pulled it. He growled in his throat before he started kissing me back. I smirked when I heard her huff and stomp away.

When I pulled back, I licked my lips. “Wanna dance?”
The music grew louder; the bass thumping vibrating the wall behind him, blasting out one of the dance remixes of a Pitbull song. My hips swayed to the rhythm as I grabbed his arms trying to pull him away from the wall. He slowly shook his head. I pouted at him placing his hands on my hips and draped my arms around his neck.

“Marie, luv.” His voice was hoarse
, thick with the very evident desire I felt as I grinded against him. “You need to stop before I….”

I silenced him with another kiss, this time taking complete control. My tongue delved into his mouth coaxing his to duel with it. My fingers twirled the hair at the base of his neck. My hips still moved to the beat. His fingers bit into my hips as he pulled me closer.
“Marie, this is a bad idea.”

I bit
his bottom lip extracting a moan from him. “Why?”

“
You’re not sober, luv.” He murmured against my lips.

“I know what I’m doing, Marcus.” I kissed a trail over to his ear and teased the lobe with my tongue and teeth.

He hissed out a long breath before he pushed away from the wall and clasped my hand in his leading me up the stairs. My heart rate picked up the closer we got to the top. He opened the door to the room Scott told us about earlier and tugged me inside.

As soon as the door closed, he sat me down on the bed and ran a shaky hand through his hair taking a few steps away from me. “Marie, I can’t believe I’
m saying this, but now is not the best place or time for this.”

I leaned back on the bed resting on my elbows. The movement tightened the material over my chest and exposed more of my thighs to his view.
“This? Just what did you think I wanted to do, Shug?”

He leaned against the door with his hands clasped b
ehind his back and squeezed his eyes shut. He just stood there silently waging some kind of inner battle with himself. I bit my lip and sat up brushing my hair out of my face. Even through my alcohol-clouded brain, I knew that he was right. I didn’t want to lose my virginity in some random bedroom at a party. I wanted it to be special or at least private. Gawd only knows who might walk in here.

I stood up wobbling on my skyscraper heels for a moment before I walked over to him.
“Marcus.” He opened his eyes sucking in a deep breath when he realized how close I was to him. I placed my hand on his cheek. “I understand.”

He
gently grabbed my wrist. “Do you, pet?”

I nodded keeping my eyes downcast.
His hand softly tilted my chin up so I could meet his gaze. I bit my lip then traced my tongue over the tender skin. His eyes darkened as they followed the path I skimmed with my tongue. He groaned before his mouth captured mine. I placed my free hand against his chest, feeling his pounding heart beneath my palm and lost myself in him. His hand traveled up my arm eliciting a trail of goosebumps on its way to my bare shoulder. I shivered against him as the heat from his flesh on mine made my stomach clench in desire. His other hand grabbed hold of my hip and pulled me against him.

I moaned as his finge
rs found their way up my skirt. He grasped my rear in his hand and slowly started rocking his hips against me. I lifted my leg up around his hips and felt him shudder in response. His hand joined the other sensually grasping my rear. I wrapped my other leg around him as he groaned against my mouth and quickly took the few steps toward the bed placing me down on it.

His lips glided their way down my neck placing soft kisses and gently nipping
at my sensitive skin. My blood heated and pooled low in my belly. I could feel myself get damp in anticipation. His hands ran down my body in slow even caresses as his mouth teased. His hand encircled my neck and unhooked the clasp holding my dress up. When they moved back down, they pulled the material down to my waist exposing my breasts to him.

The tip of his nose brushed against my already puckered nipple as he nuzzled my chest. His mouth finally encased the sensitive nub and started suckling.
A stream of electricity sizzled through my body as it bowed against him while I mewled with pleasure. His hands moved up my skirt bunching the material at my hips and slipped beneath my panties.

He moaned at the moisture he found.
As one finger slid inside me, his teeth scraped against my nipple bringing forth a mix of pain and pleasure. My hips lifted against his slow moving finger as he drove me wild with need. He slipped another finger in as his thumb found the kernel of my desire and moved in a slow circle.

“Gawd, Marcus.” I gasped grabb
ing hold of his hair. My body was in a riot of pleasure. His ministrations drove every thought out of my head as the pressure built. Stars burst behind my eyelids as I found completion.

He removed his hand slowly tugging down my underwear while his mouth moved to my other breast.
I heard his zipper and a rustling of clothing before he settled himself in between my thighs. The tip of his erection brushed against my thigh as he looked down at me.

His breathing was heavy and labored matching mine. He gently kissed my eyes, the tip of my nose before capturing my mouth.
I felt him slowly push forward his hand on my hip creeping ever so slowly inside me. My eyes widened as I gasped at the intrusion and the fullness of him.

He stilled
just barely an inch inside me when the music died downstairs and shouting broke out breaking the spell we had on each other. His forehead rested on mine as he squeezed his eyes shut before pulling back. I sat up on the bed resting on my elbows confused beyond anything.

He straightened his clothing keeping his gaze away from me muttering
under his breath. “I’m an idiot. A bloody fucking idiot.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair keeping his back toward me. “I’m sorry, Marie. I just…. I can’t do that to you.”

My throat closed as tears threatened to fall. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from making a sound.
I quietly put my underwear back on and fixed my dress before standing up. His posture was rigid and I could see his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were tightly shut with an extreme grimace of pain etched on that angelic face.

I walked over to the door glancing back at him only to see that he had moved to the other side of the room next to the window. I ducked my head and left the room.

Why did he stop and what did he mean he couldn’t do that to me? Was there something wrong with me? A single tear escaped from my lashes, I brushed it away and sniffled wobbling in my heels as I closed the door behind me. Jess was wrong. If he was playing me, he’d have taken what I freely offered. So something had to be stopping him. Or he just doesn’t like me that way. I quickly pushed that thought away with a snort. No guy would turn down sex at that point.