Take My Dress Off (17 page)

Chaz and I
stood at the fence, his umbrella shielding us from the light misting of rain as we watched Dusty roll in the muddiest spot in the pasture. She rolled back and forth, her neck twisting from side to side as she coated herself in mud. Chaz smiled but I grimaced, dreading the aftermath of stubborn dried mud clots.

“You’re sure this is okay?” I asked. Chaz’s Uncle Oscar had hauled Dusty over this morning. I still felt awkward about it.

“It really isn’t a big deal, Paige. Besides, Mom likes having a horse out in the pasture again.” Dusty snorted in delight. After several slippery attempts she pulled herself up to a standing position. Drops of mud sprayed from her mane and tail as she shook violently.

“Are you sure that horse was white?” Chaz laughed.

We walked back to the guest house and I peeled off my damp sweatshirt. I sat on the bed and started my homework while Chaz went to take a shower. As soon as I heard him humming I quickly dialed Danielle. I had to report what had happened with Dillon and crazy-ass Sloane.

“She hit your car?” yelled Danielle on the other end of the line.

“Yes!”

“What a basket case! Are you going to tell Dillon what she did?”

“After what happened today I don’t think he’ll be talking to me for a while. Rehearsals for the show are going to be totally awkward.”

“I gotta say, Paige, your life is pretty exciting right now.”

I didn’t think exciting was the right word. More like dramatic. The phone beeped loudly in my ear.  “Shit, call waiting. What should I do?”

“Answer it.”

It beeped again. “Crap.”

“Just answer it.”

I told Danielle to hang on but when I switched over the caller had hung up. I heard the water shut off and told Danielle I’d call her back later.

“Were you talking to someone?” asked Chaz, a long white towel hanging loosely from his hips.

“No, why?” I don’t know why I lied. Like he would have cared that I was talking to Danielle. But what I was talking about…that was another story.

“I thought I heard voices.” He stood in front of the mirror and my eyes followed the movement of his arm as he ran a brush through his hair.

“It was me.  I was singing.”

“Singing?” he questioned with a raised brow. He picked up the phone and I watched in horror as he punched a few buttons. He waited a few seconds then said, “No, Danielle, it’s Chaz.” She must have hung up on him because he stared at the phone for a few seconds before replacing it on the receiver.

“Alright, Paige, what’s going on?” he said, his green eyes narrowing.

“I lied to you.”

“That’s apparent. Why?”

“Something happened today at school...with Sloane.” I left out the part about Dillon in the library.

“What happened?” He sat down next to me on the bed. His gaze raked over my damp white tank top as I gave a play by play of Sloane’s meltdown. I crossed my arms to cover my chest, self-conscious from his intense stare.

“So she’s an out of control crazy bitch,” he offered. “Why all the secrecy?”

“I thought you’d be pissed. She hates me because of Dillon. She’s told everyone I’m bulimic.”

Chaz rolled his eyes.

“She thinks I’m cheating with Dillon behind her back.” He studied my face, gauging whether or not I was being sincere.

“Sloane’s pathetic and insecure. She knows you’re so much more than she could ever be.” I was surprised at how calm he was about all this. He really didn’t care and that made me relax.

I took his hand into my lap and raised my eyes to line up with his. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

He pressed his forehead against mine. “You can tell me anything, Paige.”

He was right. We should be able to talk about anything. “Chaz?”

“Paige?”

I stared down at the towel draped around his hips. Maybe Danielle was right. I slipped down from the bed and kneeled before him. He looked down to me, his eyes heated. I slowly peeled back the towel and rested on my knees between his legs. I leaned forward, gathering my hair to the side of my shoulder, his arousal the focus of my attention.

“Paige,” he whispered and wet his lips. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.”

I took him into my hand and my fingers curled around him. I hovered over, teasing him with the soft flutter of my lips, debating if I could go through with it. I looked up into his eyes. A fierce haze of green cast downward to me. With jagged breath he watched me slowly cover him with my mouth. He hissed and leaned back on his palms as my tongue slid over his hard ridges.

“Yes, Paige,” his voice coaxed. “Like that.”

I increased the amount of friction. The pleasure that he took from me gave me pleasure in return and I felt my own desire increasing. He looked down, lids weighted as his fingers reached to tease in my hair. I tightened my grip and covered him as he rolled his hips up to meet my eager mouth over and over again.

“Paige,” he groaned and I sucked harder, wrapping my tongue around him as I eagerly worked toward my goal…complete submission.

“Oh fuck!” He lifted his hips and quickly pulled out of my mouth. He gripped his hand over mine, his desire spilling through our joined fingers. I had never seen anything so sexy and I was about to burst, my core dampening, aching for his touch. His scent was all around me, his pheromones dominating, owning me, irresistible.

His tongue glided across my lips, parting mine slightly as he pushed between my teeth and I held him in my hands, the soft flesh slowly withdrawing. I picked up the towel gathered at his feet and draped it over him. He collapsed back onto the bed and I went to the bathroom to clean up. As I stared into the mirror I smiled back with a look of triumph. I felt so empowered, that I could be in control of his pleasure like that. When I returned to the bedroom he was still on his back, his hands covering his beautiful face. The mattress dipped as I joined him.

He turned his head toward me, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. “You’re amazing.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“Stop it.”

I turned away from him and stared up at the ceiling.

“Paige?”

“Chaz?”

His fingers curled into mine. “What’s wrong?”

“I want you to make love to me.”

“You’re going to have to give me a little time to recover,” he chuckled.

“No, I know that. I mean…What I’m trying to say is…”
Why couldn’t I say it?

Chaz’s eyes narrowed. “What? Just say it, Paige.”

“I’m having a hard time with this,” I confessed and turned away from him.

He sat up on his elbows, his eyes questioning.

“Do you love me, Chaz?”

“You know how much I love you. Why are you asking that?”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to tell him to forget about it and move on. But I couldn’t. I had to tell him. I took a deep breath as if I was about to plunge under water.

“Chaz, when we have sex, you always go, you know, behind me.” His green eyes locked on mine and for a brief moment I was scared of him but I continued. “I want to feel you on top of me, I want to see you. I feel so…disconnected.”

“Why haven’t you told me this before?” The intensity of his stare washed over me. I was transparent, my soul bared.

“I was afraid.”

A change moved through him and his eyes softened. He reached for me, pulling me on top of him. “Paige, why would you be afraid?” He ran his hands through my hair. “You can tell me anything.”

“I don’t want to make demands of you. You do so much for me.”

“Stop,” he whispered, slowly rolling on top of me. “All you have to do is ask,” he kissed down my neck. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.” He pushed up my tank top and rested his head between my breasts. “Baby, I don’t want you to feel disconnected,” he whispered. He dragged himself down my body and tugged at my leggings. I wriggled as he slid them over my legs. He rolled off the side of the bed and grabbed at the comforter, pulling the comforter and me to meet him at the end of the bed. He settled between my legs and I eagerly wrapped my ankles around his neck as his tongue softly swirled and tasted my need for his touch. I arched my back as he teased, bringing me to the edge then easing back as I pushed my hips up to meet his talented tongue.

“Please, Chaz.” My center was burning. “Hurry,” I begged, aching for release.

“No,” he said in a low growl. “Not yet.”

“Please,” I panted.

“Uh-uh,” he smiled and crawled up my body. “You’re not coming until I’m inside you.” I could feel how much he wanted me as he lowered between my legs. He wrapped one arm around my waist, the other reaching for the nightstand drawer. He quickly put on a rubber and nudged my thighs further apart with his knees. I cried out as his hips sank into mine.

“You’re so ready for me,” he whispered. His urgent thrusts pushed me up the mattress and I tightened my legs around his waist, not knowing how much more I could take. I was on fire for him, my body hummed, my senses on overload, every nerve on high alert. We twisted and tangled as he stretched further and further inside me.

“Now, Paige, now,” he commanded. I reached for the headboard as his mouth covered mine, breathing into me as I writhed beneath him. My body gave in to him, a feral sound releasing from deep within my throat that even I didn’t recognize. He cried out as he emptied himself into me. I greedily rode another wave of pleasure, writhing beneath him. We were tangled in sweat as he rolled from me, pulling me back on top of him.

He pressed me tightly to him, his chest pounding beneath mine. A soft smile parted my lips as I lay wrapped in everything Chaz. The rain pounded above us and my heart swelled. No matter what I asked for he gave me, even this. I sighed and he kissed the top of my head.

“That was a big sigh.” He draped the sheets over us. “Are you cold? I could start a fire.”

“No,” I exhaled, barely able to form a competent reply. I wasn’t giving him any excuse to pull away from me. Chaz’s hands roamed over my body, exploring, caressing, and teasing as darkness washed over the room. The clock’s red numbers threatened in the peripheral as the rain played a constant staccato beat on the roof. I wished that time would stand still, that Chaz and I could stay like this forever. Chaz seemed to have the same thought because his arms tightened around me.

“Paige, stay with me,” he whispered. “I want you here. In my bed. All night.” He didn’t give me time to respond. He kissed me softly at first then became more forceful, demanding, but I reluctantly pulled away and sat up. I had to take care of some details if I was going to stay here tonight.

Chaz dialed Danielle’s number and handed the phone to me. I worked out a plan with her then called home. Maddie was working the night shift but I left a message on the answering machine anyway, just in case. She might worry with the rain. I relaxed into slumber, happily wrapped in Chaz’s arms.

When I awoke it was dark and for a moment I was disoriented. I reached across the bed for Chaz but was greeted by a cold pillow. There was a faint glow coming from the living room so I gathered the comforter around my body and tiptoed out there, expecting to see Chaz asleep on the sofa. The room was empty save for the glow from the fireplace. Low hushed voices were coming from outside. I padded over to the French door and saw Chaz sitting on the porch in a lounge chair. Donny was in the chair next to him, half a bottle of whiskey between them on the small iron table.

I cracked open the door and called, “What are you guys doing out here?”

Donny sat up and stiffened. He turned and looked over his shoulder in my direction, a cigarette dangling between his teeth. A stream of smoke released from his mouth and coiled around his head, a look of confusion crossing his face.

“Did we wake you, baby?” asked Chaz. He held a glass of amber liquid to his lips.

“No. I got cold. I guess it woke me up.”

“What time is it?” asked Donny.

“Two-thirty.”

“Damn, I better get going,” said Donny as he rose from the chair. “Catch you later.” Donny tossed back the rest of his drink, pulled his hood over his head, and disappeared into the rain before I could say anything else.

“Is he okay to drive?”

Chaz stared after Donny. “Sure. We were taking it slow.”

Then a wicked grin crawled across his face and within seconds I was naked and tangled beneath him on the rug in front of the fire.

The alarm rudely awakened us at seven. He reached over me and shut it off, his demanding hardness awake and at attention as it grazed my thigh.

“Can you skip class today?” he yawned.

“Just first period English. I have a math test in A2.” I wrapped the comforter back over my naked body. I was deliciously tired and the day hadn’t even started.

He pinned me beneath him. “I didn’t say you could sleep.”

The weeks that
followed all blurred together. The stress was building at school as everyone applied to colleges. Everywhere I turned, from the cafeteria to the halls, were posters reminding seniors about dates for college submissions and deadlines. Maggie forced me to apply to UCLA though I had no intentions of going if accepted. Dillon and Danielle both submitted early applications but I was waiting until the last possible minute and secretly hoped I didn’t get in. October flew by and before we knew it Halloween was upon us.

Since Halloween was on a Friday and their parents were still out of town, Dillon and Donny decided to throw a party in their backyard. The Hunter house had no ordinary backyard. Since the house was built into a hill it had several tiered levels of rock retaining walls each outlined in tiny lights. The levels had seating areas and impeccably landscaped beds of flowers and small fruit trees. The view from the top tier was breathtaking. (The first time I had visited Dillon’s house he had taken me up there to show off the view. I also realized Dillon’s other intentions for taking me up there. It was the ultimate make-out spot). On the main level was a massive pool that had several waterfalls and an outdoor living space complete with TV, kitchen, and bar. There were also tennis and basketball courts and a small go cart track!

Chaz didn’t want to go to the party but I promised Danielle we would stop by for a little while. Since Dillon and Donny were old movie buffs the theme of the party was
The Golden Age of Hollywood
. Chaz refused to wear a costume and settled on a suit. I borrowed one of Maddie’s evening gowns so we could be Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Due to Chaz’s obstinate refusal of my wardrobe suggestions we were rather late to the party and it was in full swing by the time we arrived. As I gathered my sparkly white gown around my legs and stepped from the car I could hear the roar of laughter and music echoing from the backyard.

“This party isn’t going to last long. I’m sure one of the old nosey neighbors will call the cops,” grumbled Chaz as I dragged him up the steep driveway.

“You look very handsome,” I said, stopping to straighten his tie. The dark suit tailored beautifully to his body and contrasted nicely with his fairness. “Even though you won’t wear the top hat,” I scolded. “What do you think of this dress?”

He smiled wickedly. “I think it would look better on my bedroom floor.”

“C’mon, party-pooper,” I laughed and opened the gate. We both stopped, jaws dropped. The entire senior class of Vista High and half of Palomar were in the Hunter’s backyard! Everywhere we turned were costumed bodies in various states of dancing or intoxication. Each of the tiers up the landscaped hill were crawling with people and there were just as many more on the ground. Michael Jackson’s
Thriller
was blasting from the sound system and a group of people were performing a choreographed dance on the patio.

“This is crazy!” shouted Chaz over the music. He grabbed my hand and we made our way through the crowd. I had never seen so many Elvis Presleys and Marilyn Monroes in one place.

Dillon and Sloane were leaning against the bar. Their faces were streaked with blood and they were dressed in fifties attire. Small stuffed black birds hung from their clothes.

“What in the hell are you two supposed to be?” asked Chaz.

“We’re the couple from the
The Birds
, duh,” said Sloane. “Don’t you know Hitchcock?”

Dillon eyed Chaz warily but didn’t say anything. He filled a plastic cup from the keg and handed it to me.

I passed the cup to Chaz. “Where’s Don and Dan?”

“Good question,” muttered Dillon. He slipped his hand into Sloane’s and dragged her away. I scanned the crowd and found Danielle talking to a really tall woman by the pool.

“There she is,” I pointed and we headed over to her. She looked chic in a tight, long, black, strapless dress. Her hair was twisted up and topped with a tiara and she was dripping in rhinestones. She clutched an orange stuffed cat in one hand and puffed on a cigarette in a holder in the other.

“Danielle, you look fantastic!” I cried and hugged her.

“Thank you, darling.” She batted her long lashes and exhaled a ring of smoke just like Bette Davis had in those old black and white movies that Dillon adored.

“Sophia Lauren?” asked Chaz.

“No. Audrey Hepburn from
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
,” said the tall woman with the low voice.

“Holy shit, Donny! I didn’t even recognize you,” laughed Chaz slapping him on the back. Donny turned to the side and I burst out laughing. Half of him sported a brunette wig, the other half blond.

“I’m Dorothy
and
Lorelei from
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Do you want me to sing
Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend
?” he asked with a lip-glossed pout.

“Say no or he’ll totally do it,” warned Danielle.

Donny’s dresses and shoes on each side of him were different too. Marilyn’s infamous pink dress on one side and Jane Russell’s deep royal blue gown on the other.

“You guys need anything?” Donny asked.

“This beer sucks,” grimaced Chaz.

“I know, we got the cheap stuff. C’mon, I’ve got good tequila inside.”

“Go ahead,” I said, dropping Chaz’s hand.

He reached around the nape of my neck and drew me to him, crushing his lips against mine. His tongue darted in quickly before he pulled away. “Don’t go anywhere,” he said, his eyes lingering before he turned to follow Donny.

“Jesus, what was that for?” gasped Danielle.

“Things are really going well for us,” I said and tried to regain my composure but his kiss had stolen my breath away.

“Did you have,
the talk
?”

“Yes,” I said with a shy smile. “I took your advice.”

“Advice? About what?”

“You know,” I pointed down with my finger.

“Oh,” she chuckled. “The bj.”

“Danielle, keep it down.”

“No one can hear anything with all this noise.”

We squeezed through the crowd and made our way over to the seating area with the fireplace.

“I have news,” she grinned as we sat on the loveseat.

“Do tell.”

She beamed. “I went out with Xavier last night.”

“How? Where?” I kicked off my silver pumps and curled my legs underneath.

“I gave him my number at the last rehearsal. We went to the movies.”

“And?”

“And what?”

Danielle, usually so forthcoming about everything, was staying secretive.

“Details, Danielle.”

She bowed her head demurely. “He’s a really good kisser.”

“Daniella Maria Russo!”

The glow from the fireplace wasn’t very bright but I could tell her cheeks had reddened. This was a first. “Oh my God you’re blushing!”

Just then something to my left caught my eye. Dillon and Sloane appeared to be arguing. She reached out for him and he stumbled back. She tossed her drink in his face then threw the cup at his feet.
Sloane sure was a violent little creature.
Spinning on her heel, she left him in the grass as he shook his hands, the liquid dripping down his fingertips. When she caught my gaze she changed direction and headed over to me, the birds on her costume bobbing up and down with the quick rhythm of her gate. With her fake blood-streaked face she looked certifiably bat-shit crazy. I braced myself, ready for a fight.

She stopped in front of us. “You want him so bad… he’s all yours!” she shrieked. She staggered away as Dillon reached us.

“What’s her problem?” snickered Danielle.

“I broke up with her,” said Dillon. “She’s not taking it well.”

“I can see that,” I said as he pushed in between Danielle and me on the love seat.

“Good job, asswipe.” Danielle patted him on the knee and rose.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Xavier is going to be here any minute. I’m going to meet him out front,” she said and sashayed down the flagstone path.

Dillon slumped into the seat, his head resting on the back of the metal frame as he gazed at the star-filled sky.

“You okay?” I asked, expecting him to scoot away from me now that Danielle’s vacancy had created more space.

“A2 is going to suck,” he sighed. “You think Sloane will transfer out?”

“I doubt it. It’s going to be really awkward though. For all of us.”

“Fuckin’ A.”

I raised my eyes in line with his. “So I guess this means you’re talking to me again?”

His eyes washed over my body and he shrugged. “I never stopped talking to you.”

“Why did you break up with her?” I asked pretending to care. We sat in silence while Miller Lite dripped from his hair.

“A couple reasons,” he began, trying to form coherent words. “First, she’s too clingy,” he said running his hands through his beer-soaked locks.

“You just figured that out?”

“She’s crazy as fuck in bed though. I’ll miss that,” he smirked and rubbed his chin.

“I didn’t need to know that, thank you.” I reached down for my pumps and slipped them on.

“Don’t you want to know the second reason?” He leaned forward, his hands clasped on his knees. He looked ridiculous covered in blood, birds, and beer.

“No.” I said and meant it.

“Like I’m sure you already know.”

I looked around nervously. Chaz wouldn’t be happy if he found us in this intimate setting.

“You’re always so nervous.” He leaned back onto the seat we shared and draped his arm casually but territorially over the back. I sat stiffly and scanned the crowd for Chaz. He was close, I could feel it. My body responded to him even when I couldn’t see him.

“She’s not you.”

“What?” I asked, snapping out of Chaz search mode.

“Second reason. There was no point in staying with Sloane. She knew she wasn’t the one I wanted.”

I sat back and tried to digest this new information. Familiar warm hands curved over the back of my shoulders and down my arms. I looked up and Chaz kissed my nose.

“Ready to go?” he asked leaning over the back of the love seat.

I rose and Chaz walked around to the front of the seat. He ushered me forward, his hand resting on the small of my back. We walked down the flagstone path, Duran Duran’s
Wild Boys
blaring behind us. I looked back to catch a glance at Dillon, he was leaning forward on the bench, his hands clenching his knees, his eyes in a focused glare. I turned back around and steadied myself on Chaz’s arm as I navigated my footing.

“Why is it that whenever I leave you alone for a second that douchebag swoops right in?” glared Chaz.

“I guess you shouldn’t leave me alone,” I sang and grabbed his tie, bringing him in for a kiss.

Suddenly, something grazed my cheek. Chaz went down and I flew to the side, toppling off my pumps and falling into the rocks.

Dillon had tackled Chaz from behind!

They rolled around on the ground. Punches were thrown. I screamed and Xavier and Danielle came running up the path. Danielle dragged me away from the fight and Xavier jumped in, struggling as he pried Dillon away from Chaz.

“Relax, man,” shouted Xavier, his arms locking over the front of Dillon’s chest. Chaz jumped up and backed toward me.

“What’s going on?” shouted Donny running up, a crowd of people behind him. “What the fuck?”

It was the most ridiculous scene ever. Donny in his half and half starlet costume and Xavier dressed like Charlie Chaplin, a crowd of Marilyns and Elvises surrounding them.

“I think Dillon’s had too much,” said Xavier as Dillon struggled against his hold.

“You okay?” asked Chaz, smoothing my hair back from my face.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine, you’re bleeding!” Chaz wiped my cheek with his thumbs.

“I’ll get some ice,” said Danielle hurriedly.

“Get him out of here,” Donny yelled to the guys behind him. Elvis and James Dean dragged Dillon away.

***

“Really, I’m fine,” I said as I held a bag of ice against my cheek. “Just a scrape.”

“Scrape my ass,” scowled Chaz as he down shifted. The Mustang groaned in response. “You’re going to have a bruise for sure.”

“Maddie’s going to freak!”

“What in the hell got into Dillon?”

“Too much alcohol.” I replied. I felt like I was the one who should be asking Chaz that same question. The past few weeks with Dillon had been really tense at school and at rehearsals. Dillon ignored me at school, (which must have thrilled Sloane), Chaz and Dillon barely acknowledged each other’s existence, and Chaz didn’t hang out with Donny any more.

“That’s a bullshit excuse,” he said and merged onto the exit ramp to Fallbrook.

“He broke up with Sloane tonight.” I set the plastic bag of melted ice on the floorboards and turned up the heater. “Whenever he breaks up with someone he comes looking for me, for sympathy.”