Stacy Kestwick - Wet

“I think I just scored,” I mocked, batting my eyes at him.

Chelsea looked from me to West and then back again. “I thought you were with Theo.”

“I am,” I said. “West is… an ex. I get a kick out of taunting him.”

“Oh.” Chelsea looked West over. “So, Theo’s taken, but he’s available?”

“Yeah, Sadie, am I available?” West stood up straight, pausing our game.

I scowled at Theo, shooting daggers at him with my eyes. “He’s not with me.”

Chelsea scooted closer to West.

“But he’s gay,” I added. “I ruined him for women. Now he’s only into dicks. I don’t take it personally, though.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling as West shot me a look of pure disbelief.

I pointed across the room. “See that big guy playing pool over there? The one covered in tats? That’s his boyfriend. What’s it been now, West, two years?”

West looked down and shook his head before grinning at me. “Yup. And I thank my stars every day that the good Lord brought him into my life. I am so, so blessed.”

I could barely hold back my giggle at the disappointment on Chelsea’s face.

“Oh, and Sadie? You better believe the stakes just went higher.” West’s face was pure innocence.

Chelsea looked at him. “What are y’all playing for?”

Theo cleared his throat. “Who has to pay for the next round. Me or him. I guess the next two rounds, now.”

West didn’t take his eyes off me. “Because someone will have to pay for this, you know.”

I tried to hide my laugh, and turned into Theo’s side to compose myself, wrapping my arm around his waist. “Honey, I could use another rum and coke. Would you mind…?”

Grateful to escape, Theo started for the bar. West called after him, “Sweet cheeks, I’ll take another beer!”

After he made sure Chelsea wasn’t watching, Theo flipped West off as he walked away.

West turned back to me. “Seven to seven. You ready for this?”

“I’ve been taking it easy on you,” I scoffed.

“That’s nice and all, but I’m gay. Don’t you know I like it hard and rough?”

Dampness pooled in my core. I shifted my weight to rub my thighs together, trying to find some relief. West noticed the movement and smiled broadly.

Ten minutes later, it was match point in his favor, and West was running the table, the puck flying so fast I couldn’t connect with it at all. I settled for blocking my goal, trying to keep my puck centered over the opening to protect as much of it as I could. The puck ricocheted so quick it was hard to keep up with it, until suddenly it disappeared. Confused, I looked at the table and then at my goal. He had scored.

West had won.

I took a deep breath, my head still tipped down at my goal.

A twinge of excitement battled with annoyance. I’d lost at my game. Again.

I peeked up at West from under my lashes. “Double or nothing?” I offered.

West shook his head, keeping eye contact. “I don’t think you can afford those stakes.”

Chelsea cocked her head. “Yeah, ’cause, like, lifeguards don’t make that much, do they?”

“I make enough to afford a whole outfit.” My voice was like syrup.

Chelsea looked confused, and Theo choked on his beer.

Trevor and Dylan were walking by to the pool tables and West snagged Dylan’s arm as he passed. “Chelsea, have you met our single friends Dylan and Trevor?”

Chelsea put her palms against the air hockey table, straightened her arms, and leaned forward, pressing her breasts up between her stiffened elbows. Right on cue, both boys looked down and changed directions. “Nice to meet you,” she cooed.

Dylan sauntered around to her side. “I believe the pleasure will be all mine.” Trevor chuckled behind him. Hooking his arm around her waist, Dylan tugged her in his direction. “Why don’t you come with me and be my lucky charm while I beat this asswipe at pool? I bet you’re magically delicious.”

“What?” I heard her ask as they moved off. I rolled my eyes. The line was wasted on her. I wondered if that one had come off a dollar bill too or if he’d thought it up on his own.

“That one’s above the bar,” West said, reading my mind and moving closer. “Come on, sweetheart, dance with your ex, for old time’s sake.” He took my hand and pulled me toward the dance floor. “I’ll bring her back soon, Theo.”

As I followed him, I gazed down at our hands. He’d laced our individual fingers together and seeing those digits all tangled up suddenly brought back some very intimate memories. I swallowed hard and tried to channel Rue’s casual love-’em-and-leave-’em attitude.

Once we were swallowed up by the crowd in the middle of the dance floor, West spun back toward me, yanking me into his arms. The unexpected move had me tripping over my flip flop and threw me right up against his chest. He tightened his arms, keeping me there. The song was a fast one, but only our lower bodies were moving to the beat. My arms slid hesitantly up his and settled into a loose loop around his neck. Our hips moved together, rubbing, and through the friction, I felt him grow and lengthen. He glanced down between us and then back up at me.

“So, this weekend—”

“Will be a date, not a hook up,” I interrupted, before he got the wrong idea about me. Hell, the wrong idea? I’d slept with him before our first date. I couldn’t get much easier than that.

“I was thinking a picnic. Close to the water. We’re going to get you over this fear of yours.” He continued like I hadn’t interrupted him, and heat invaded my face. Okay, so maybe I was the only one already thinking about sleeping together again. “Wear a swimsuit under your clothes.”

“Why?”

He shrugged, and his eyes dropped down to our hips again. “In case we decide to get wet.” One side of his mouth quirked.

Heat flared in my core, and I dipped my hips a little lower, coming back up against him. He made a rough sound of pleasure in the back of his throat and tugged my head closer. Leaning down to my ear, he said, “I like you like this. Not all done up like last time. Your shirt falling off you shoulder.” He tugged my sagging sleeve. “Makes me want to finish the job.” He pressed his lips under my ear, letting his tongue touch the side of my neck.

The song changed, and I made myself pull away before I made an utter fool of myself by dissolving into Jell-O right there on the dance floor. “Saturday? Noon?”

He nodded and let me make my escape, his eyes watching me as I backed away. He had a crooked grin on his face, like he knew exactly what I was doing and why.

* * *

Later that night, I lay in my bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Unable to stop thinking about West. His hands holding my hips on the dance floor. His eyes laughing at me across the air hockey table. His ab muscles contracting against my stomach. And his tongue barely touching my neck but promising to do so much more.