“Sexist and dramatic. How attractive,” the pretty girl with the stupid-looking hat said.
“Cain!” I smiled, never taking my eyes off of her. “Someone call an ambulance because I think I’m seeing the light.”
“Does that cheesy line really work?”
“You tell me?”
She gazed down at the ground, blushing while Sawyer and her hothead friend continued to argue, going back and forth.
“How about you get me a drink since your friend tried to run me over?”
“Uh…” She peered back and forth between her and Sawyer, who were still arguing like cats and dogs. “I think I could do that.”
Cain slapped me on the chest, whispering in my ear, “Only you would pick up a chick during a near-death experience.”
I threw him a look and grabbed the pretty girl’s hand, catching her by surprise.
“You’re holding my hand because…”
“How else am I supposed to cross the street? I mean, with drivers like your friend and all.”
“I heard that!” her friend shouted.
“Don’t listen to him. You need to listen to me,” Sawyer ordered.
“Who the hell do you think you are? I don’t need to listen to you!”
“On that note…” I didn’t wait for her friend’s reply to Sawyer’s demands, walking toward the backyard. “Let’s go.”
Despite not living in this town or attending their school, we’d been to parties at this house before. Our school’s football team played theirs every year, and this guy was notorious for his parties. Once we got to the keg, I let go of her hand and poured our drinks into red Solo cups.
Handing it to her, she sarcastically asked in a tone I recognized all too clearly, “So these are your moves?”
She wanted me.
I grinned, taking a sip of my beer. “My moves?”
“Yeah, your moves. I know you have at least one.”
I grinned again, scoffing out a chuckle this time. “I think I’m offended.”
“Does that mean I left a lasting impression?”
“Do you want to leave a lasting impression?”
“It depends.”
“On?”
“Whether or not you impress me with your”—she arched an eyebrow—“big move.”
Is she talking about my dick?
I smiled. My favorite kind of girls were the ones who could have a witty conversation with me. I got bored easily. “What’s your name?”
“Sage.”
“Oh…” I cunningly nodded. “So you’re going to be a stripper?”
She gasped. “I am not. What makes you think I’m going to be a stripper?”
“Besides your legs for days? Your name sounds like a stage name.”
I was pulling her tail; chicks liked that about me. It went back to grade school and that old saying of, “He’s only mean to you because he likes you.”
I learned the art of teasing at a young age and how much girls truly enjoyed it. It didn’t change as they got older—they liked the chase.
“Why so offended?” I played coy. “What’s wrong with strippers?”
“Nothing is wrong with strippers. I like strippers.”
Now that got my attention…
Right to my cock. She was referring to my dick before. Proving one thing for the night.
I was going to have her sit on my face.
Chapter 3
—Sage—
“So what’s your name?”
He extended his hand. “I’m Ashton.”
I smiled, shaking it. “I don’t think I’ve ever met an Ashton.”
“What can I say? I’m one of a kind.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You’re trouble. That’s what you are.”
I was usually rather shy around new guys, but tonight I wasn’t shy Sage.
I was confident Sage.
Sexy Sage.
Basically, I was Aspyn.
Feeling determined, I leaned against the railing, emphasizing my chest while he watched my every move. His stare quickly turned predatory and I could tell he appreciated the view, but it was over before it even began. My hand slipped, and I almost fell backward into the pool.
Quickly, he grabbed me from around my waist, tugging me into his strong, muscular chest.
Did he work out?
I slightly gasped, and the smell of my cherry lip gloss filled the small space between us.
My eyes followed the movement of his tongue as he licked his lips, making me feel warm and fuzzy all over. I’d never met anyone who had an instant effect on me quite like this guy.
What was that?
My mouth parted, suddenly feeling shy again. “I… I… I…” I didn’t finish my sentence. Out of the corner of my eyes, I recognized the person from across the pool. Ashton followed the movement of my stare, and his eyes landed right on the person I didn’t expect to see so soon.
Memphis.
He was glaring daggers at us, and I couldn’t help but feel this sense of confidence over it.
“Is that your boyfriend?”
“Not anymore.”
Memphis and I locked eyes.
“Are you using me to make him jealous?”
Now, that question snatched my attention back to Ashton; I was still in his arms. “I wasn’t the one who said I owed him a drink.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Are you trying to make him jealous?”
“Maybe.”
He smiled, he actually smiled. The expression on his face went right to the core of my belly, making it flutter.
“Lean into me.”
“What?”
“If you want to give him a show, then lean into me.”
“Ohhh…” I did as I was told. “Like this?”
“Yeah, but try not to look like I’m kidnapping you.”
I giggled, relaxing into his strong arms. In less than a second, he gripped onto my butt and sat me up on the railing, placing his body in between my legs.
“How about that for my big move?”
“That better be your cell phone that’s digging into me, Ashton.”
He leaned in close to my mouth, and I resisted the urge to gasp.
“You can call it whatever you want,” he rasped in a husky tone, making me swallow the lump in my throat.
There was no holding back what I was thinking. I blurted, “Are you doing this to help me make him jealous or because you like me?”
“Why do girls always have to put a label on everything? Why can’t you just live in the moment?”
“And what moment would this be?”
His mouth hadn’t moved away from mine. “The first time I kiss you.”
I didn’t have a chance to reply as his lips softly pecked mine, and it was the sweetest kiss I’d ever had. He slowly opened his mouth, and I followed his lead. Ashton’s tongue barely touched mine as I heard a voice from behind us say, “Happy birthday, Sage.”