But when the man ordered another shot, he forced Blake’s hand.

  With a sigh, he made his way toward the two.

  *

  “What do you want to drink?”

  Kristen blinked at the question from Joe. Right. Maybe. God, it was hard to think. Why did it have to be so hard to focus on anything except the way her body still tingled and trembled from dancing with Blake?

  “I’m actually good, thanks.” She didn’t want to be intoxicated tonight.

  He shrugged and ordered himself a drink.

  She cast a glance at him under her lashes, trying to imagine sleeping with him.

  He was pretty cute and seemed nice enough. But the attraction? Minimum at best. All these guys, when compared to Blake, were like comparing tiny minnows to a giant shark.

  She wanted Blake; it grew harder to avoid that realization. So, she’d taken Tori’s advice and tried to stealthily flirt. Tried to make him jealous. The flirting part had been asking him to help her learn to dance dirty.

  Which had been total bullshit. She might’ve been a virgin, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t gotten her freak on with a guy on the dance floor before.

  And it had seemed to work. She could feel the chemistry between them. In the way her heart raced and the goose bumps rose on her skin, and then in the very physical way of him growing hard against her backside as they’d danced.

  But the making him jealous part? Rousing his primal instincts to claim, as Tori had put it, seemed to be falling flat.

  “Hey, guys.”

  Kristen glanced up at the familiar voice. Oh, shocker, she thought drolly. Once again, Blake had showed up by her side.

  “Hey, Blake.” She couldn’t deny the relief that slipped through her.

  “Oh, are you guys together?” Joe glanced between them. “I didn’t realize—”

  “What? No, Blake here’s just a friend.”

  Blake gave her a look but replied with a slow, “Yeah.”

  Joe’s brows drew together in skepticism, but he gave a small nod. “Oh, really?”

  There was another pause, and her pulse quickened. He had something planned. She’d bet her lipstick on it.

  Blake cleared his throat. “Actually, no. Not really.”

  Again? Really?

  When he slid an arm around her waist, she about choked.

  “It’s Joe, right? Look, Kristen is my girlfriend.”

  Her eyes went wide, and her cheeks flushed with heat.

  Well, this was new.

  “We… Well, no use beating around the bush, I guess, we actually want to have a threesome.” Blake gave a short nod. “Bring in another guy, if you know what I mean.”

  Kristen couldn’t stop the noise of shock, right about the same time Joe choked on a cough.

  “Could you be that guy, Joe?” Blake asked earnestly.

  Joe looked between her and Blake, his expression twisted in shock and horror.

  “Uh, yeah, no,” Joe said slowly. “I’m not that guy.”

  And then he was gone, lost in the crowd of partiers.

  Blake sighed. “Don’t kill me. I—”

  “It’s fine.” Kristen brushed away his apology.

  He paused. “It’s not. I swear I’m not trying to sabotage every guy who hits on you. But that guy hit the shots so heavy, and those are just the ones that I witnessed. Who knows how much he drank before I got here? And I doubt he would’ve been the type to call an Uber.”

  She touched his arm gently. “It’s fine. I wasn’t totally comfortable with him anyway. In fact, maybe we can just get out of here? It’s been a long day.”

  Surprise flickered in his eyes. “Sure, let’s go.”

  He caught her hand and wound them away from the pounding music and crowds of people.

  Once outside, she drew in a breath of cool air and let the tension escape from her muscles. She hadn’t realized how much that scene inside had stressed her out.

  Blake opened her door to the truck, and she climbed in and sat down. A moment later, he settled in the driver’s side next to her.

  He paused. “Where to?”

  She bit her lip. “Anywhere that’s quiet and where we can maybe decompress. Just for a bit, and then I’ll go back to Tori’s.”

  “Okay.” He gave a slow nod. “I know a place.”

  She leaned back in the comfortable seat and closed her eyes, and he started the truck and drove them away from the clubbing scene.

  Another idea Tori had suggested played in her head, but she didn’t know if she was bold enough. Brave enough.

  She bit her lip, playing it out in her head. What did she have to lose?

  When she opened her eyes again, Blake had driven them up Queen Anne Hill. She hadn’t lived in Washington for four years now, but she still knew the area fairly well even if it seemed to be constantly changing.

  Blake turned onto a side road and then another, until she wasn’t quite sure where he was going. And then he pulled to a stop in a park-like clearing between the expensive, gorgeous houses.

  “Oh my God, this view. Where are we?” She stared, breathless, at the sight of the perfectly framed Seattle skyline twinkling below.

  “Kerry Park. You’ve never been here?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I didn’t come up to Queen Anne much. My parents live in Puyallup. When we visited Seattle, it was more of the touristy stuff like Pike Place or seeing one of the Broadway plays.”

  “Ah, you missed out.” He stared out the window. “We could get out and walk around if you want.”

  “No, this is good. My feet are actually a little sore.” She grimaced and toed off her heels. “And not another word about my shoe choice.”

  He laughed softly.

  The quiet and darkness of the car enveloped them as they stared at the city. It calmed her. There was an ease in the quiet between them.

  “Do you miss living up here?” Blake asked.

  She thought about it and nodded. “Sometimes, yes. I miss my northwest mountains and the water. I mean, Nevada has some awesome lakes and their own mountains. But they’re different. Not bad, but different. I’ve gotten used to the heat, and I love hiking in the Valley of Fire and spending the day at Lake Mead. But I miss my snowcapped mountains and Puget Sound.”

  “I remember you said something about hiking Rattlesnake Ridge.”

  “One of my favorite things to do.”

  “Maybe we should do it this week. On one of my days off. Maybe we could find you a hot hiker on the trail.”

  She sensed he teased, but it sounded great. The hiking part, that was. “Yeah, I’d actually love to.”

  “Yeah?”

  “If you’re up for it. Do you even like to hike?”

  “Love it.” He grinned. “You’ll find me on a trail more often than not on my days off.” He paused. “Would you ever move back here? To the world of gray skies and the rain?”

  “I’d seriously consider it. My family’s here.” She paused. “But it’s like I told my brother, I’ll follow the jobs and where I’m happy.”

  “I’m sure there’s a demand for social workers everywhere. Especially in today’s climate.”

  “There is.” She offered a faint smile.

  “Sounds like a hard job, though. Emotionally rough, I bet.”

  “Absolutely. I mean, you don’t go into a job like this for the money, but it’s a career that really called to me.” She paused, debating how much to tell him. “Tori grew up in the foster care system. I saw what having a good social worker—and having a bad one—can do to someone.”

  “Ah.” He drew out the word, like it explained a few things about Tori’s personality. “That had to be hard on her.”

  “More than you know.” She glanced down at her hands, lost in thought. “Anyway, back to what happened at the club.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that again.”

  “Don’t apologize.” She laughed. “I wasn’t really that attracted to him. So, I suppose I ought to thank you for interrupting this time.”

  “I just worried about you. I didn’t want you getting in that guy’s car at the rate he was downing alcohol.”

  She turned to face him, pulling a leg under her bottom. “You sure obsess about how much people drink.” She kept her tone light and teasing. “I’ve got to say, it’s kind of hypocritical when you’re throwing them back, too.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Hypocritical?”

  “Throwing them back.”

  Was he messing with her? “You totally drink.”

  “Do I?”

  “I’ve seen you.”

  “Have you? If I was drinking something, it wasn’t alcohol.”

  The red cups.

  “But at the party last night—”

  “I was drinking soda.”

  Shock rendered her speechless for a moment. “You’re saying you don’t drink at all?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Anymore. Why did you stop?”

  It should’ve been an easy, non-threatening question, but he went quiet in a heavy silence that had her intuition pricking with unease. His expression grew indecipherable, except for the slight clenching of his jaw.

  “It’s a long story,” he finally answered. “Maybe I’ll tell you someday.”

  “Try me. I’m a good listener—”

  “I’m not going to talk about it.”

  The abrupt and harsh response made her flinch. Her breath caught, and she gave a jerky nod. Color rose in her cheeks from embarrassment.

  Awkward. And if she admitted it, ouch, a little hurtful.

  He doesn’t really know you all that well, she reminded herself. Stop prying.

  “Of course. I didn’t mean to push.”

  Was he an alcoholic? Had he gotten a DUI? Gotten drunk and cheated on his girlfriend? Every freaking scenario ran through her head.

  “Damn.” He sighed. “I didn’t mean to yell.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I raised my voice. Made things weird.”

  “Just stop. You’re fine, I promise.” She relaxed again and gave him a small smile. Her pulse quickened as he gave her the perfect opening. “But I might, though. Make things weird.”

  “How so?”

  On a breath, she said, “I want to ask you a favor.”

  “Go for it.”

  “Will you make out with me?”

  His head turned toward her ridiculously fast, his brows drawn tight with shock.

  “But let me initiate it and lead,” she rushed on. “I don’t know how to do this. I feel every ounce the inexperienced virgin with these guys.”

  “Kristen—”

  “I know. I’m asking a lot.” Heat stole into her cheeks. “Clothes will stay on. We will absolutely not have sex. Because we both know that’s not an option.”

  Though maybe it could be at some point. She still had hope.

  That was, if he got to that point of no return and he stopped thinking with his head. Tori had practically given her step-by-step instructions and sworn it wouldn’t fail.

  She just had to get him past that initial reluctance.

  “Just pretend I’m anyone else, and we could just have a little fun.”

  *

  Fuck.

  Blake’s teeth ground together as his blood started pounding fiercely.

  One moment he’d been emotionally drowning in dark memories, and the next his dick was jumping to life.

  The way Kristen watched him threatened to undo him. Those wide, dark eyes held a mix of need and innocence.

  This is James’s sister.

  He needed to say no. Needed to start the engine and drive the hell off this hilly, dark, secluded spot.

  But, God, her offer hung in the air between them like Pandora’s box.

  “You can tell me no,” she said softly. “Or tell me to stop if you think it’s going too far. But otherwise, it’s kind of harmless, right? If we don’t have sex?”

  Harmless in what world? Her inexperience showed.

  “Blake?” Uncertainty rang in her husky use of his name.

  God, it was so tempting to kiss her. To taste the sweetness between her lips again, which he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

  “Fine.” The word rasped from him, almost in desperate surrender. “Let’s get in the back seat, though.”

  They both fumbled with their seatbelts and made quick time moving to the back of the vehicle where they had more room.

  He sat in the middle and leaned back, vowing not to do a damn thing to help her with this little experiment. Or whatever she intended. That meant he wasn’t quite as guilty, right?

  “Okay, that’s good.” She nodded. “Try and be a little indifferent and hard to get. I need to figure out how to be seductive.”

  A laugh of disbelief rose, but he swallowed it.

  She moved over to straddle him, a knee on each side of his thighs, and her hands lightly grasped his shoulders.

  He flexed his jaw, meeting her gaze. The hesitation and nervousness there almost had pity rearing its head and demand he take the lead.

  But no, this was her game to control.

  “I’m going to kiss you,” she announced.

  A smile tugged, and despite his determination to be a dormant partner in this little scene, he couldn’t help but offer advice.

  “You don’t need to announce it, sweetie. You should just do it.”

  “Oh, right.” She nodded. “I’m going to try again.” She winced. “Wait, I shouldn’t have said I’m going to try again. I’m just going to do it. But not say it.”

  “Kristen—”

  “Oh God, I’m beyond awful at this,” she muttered.

  He started to laugh, and then her mouth covered his, drying up all his amusement.

  Her lips moved softly, almost hesitantly against his before her tongue slid out to stroke the seam of his mouth.

  Incredible.

  So damn incredible to be kissing her again—no matter how soft and tentative it was.

  The urge to grab the back of her head and plunge his tongue deep into her mouth struck hard, but he held back. Kristen wanted to control this little scene? Let her.

  He kept his hands balled into fists at his side and let her keep all the power.

  She darted her tongue into his mouth, finding his and flicking it lightly. He caressed back with his tongue, not taking control but not the inactive partner in that matter.

  And then she sucked, drawing on him.

  Sweet Jesus.

  A moment later, she lowered her hips. Her dress rose higher, and the apex of her thighs came into contact with his dick beneath his jeans. They both groaned, and she ground down, pressing the soft heat of her center against him.

  Hot need roared through his veins.

  She tore her mouth from his to gasp in a breath, eyes wide. “Oh wow, that feels really good.”

  And…he was fucked.

  Chapter Nine

  With desire blinding him, Blake grabbed her hips and thrust up against the flimsy barrier of her panties.

  She made a sound of surprise and need as her nails dug into his shoulder.

  He lowered his head to her breasts, closing his mouth over her nipple through her dress and bra. Even with the fabric, he could feel it pucker against his lips.

  She moved against him in a needy, frantic motion that mimicked sex but was still safe with the clothes between them.

  But, oh God, the temptation was there. To unzip his jeans and free his dick. To tug her panties to the side and slide into her.

  He was so close. So damn close.

  A horn blared, and he froze. Kristen buried her head against his shoulder as the car drove past them, a bunch of loud laughter and shouts emitting from the vehicle.

  Teenagers out way too late.

  “Well, that was perfect timing.” Blake closed his eyes and seethed out a breath. “But I can confidently say you’ve got this seduction thing nailed.”

  She didn’t reply, but the warmth of her breath as she sighed tickled his shoulder.

  Finally, she lifted her head and nodded. “Thank you. I guess it helps when the guy I’m seducing is hotter than a Greek god and makes me weak in the knees.”

  Hotter than a Greek god? Weak in the knees? His ego swelled, and he hated himself a little for it.

  How could he even respond? All the possible ways to reply fled as she climbed off him. His body screamed at the loss of her heat against him.

  Damn it, he wanted her so badly it nearly killed him.

  “I just hope I’m as good at this with the next guy I’m attracted to,” she muttered.

  Just the idea of her with someone else had his gut clenching again. Had the fire in his veins burning because of jealousy, not need. Which was bullshit because she wasn’t his and could never be his.

  “Kristen, if you were anyone but James’s sister—”

  “No, please. I understand. We’ve been over his.”

  She pulled her dress back down over her hips, but not before he saw the flash of black panties. His dick lurched against the restraint of his jeans.

  “I know I’m already pushing the limits on this friendship of ours,” she added.

  She bit out the word friendship sardonically, and it left him a bit speechless.

  What did she want from him? She knew the rules. They both did.

  They exited the back seat and returned to the front of the truck. Blake started the vehicle and pulled away from the curb a moment later.

  As he headed to Tori’s apartment, he vowed to double down on his efforts to find her someone—anyone not a complete asshole—to sleep with.

  But damn it if it didn’t feel like mission impossible. Were all men just total drunk idiots?

  “When do you want to go out again?” he asked carefully. “Like I said, I work tomorrow, but I should be good to go by Tuesday night.”

  She nodded. “Sure, that works.”

  “We can hunt for a guy Tuesday night and hike Wednesday.”

  “Okay.” Her words were flat as she stared out the window.

  His stomach sank. No matter what he seemed to say or do, it was wrong. He couldn’t win in this situation.

  “Do you remember the way to Tori’s apartment?”

  “Yeah.” He turned away from downtown and toward Capitol Hill. Keeping his tone light, he changed the subject. “I’m amazed she can afford a place down here. I had to look twenty minutes out of the city to afford a place.”

 

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