Page 24 of Free Fall
I turn toward the kitchen and walk toward the keg. Apparently, I haven’t drunk enough to mute the pain. I stand there, filling cup after cup, until I’ve drunk at least another full three ones. Chad looks at me a little warily, but he doesn’t say anything. I know what I must look like. I don’t want to be a sloshy drunk person, but it’s not my fault. He’s the one who brought Brady up.
“Dance?” I ask.
He takes my hand again willingly, leading me out onto the dance floor again. This time, we dance even closer. His hands press into me harder, and when I turn into him, my ass sliding against his crotch, it’s evident he’s aroused. Hell, I am too.
His hot breath against my neck makes me shiver. He drags his tongue over it lightly, and I tremble in his arms. His fingers grip my hips. “Maybe we should go to a room?”
I have a choice to make now. Stay out here and stick to my plan of pissing the guys off, even though that doesn’t seem to be working, or I can lose myself in Chad Winthrop like I’ve done with Lex in the past.
I nod, and his hand slides down my arm before curling his fingers into mine. We’ve only taken three steps when Cade Farmer steps in the way. His dark hair looks even darker in the low light. “Where are you two going?”
“A room,” I say, smiling. “Just point me in the direction of one you haven’t been to yet.”
Cade smiles tightly and guilt creeps over me. That was a low blow. Instead of saying anything to me, he looks back at Chad. “Winthrop. How’s it going?”
They do a bro shake that my hazy mind can’t fathom right now. I tug on Chad’s hand, but Cade steps ever so slightly in front of me again. He sends a warning glare at me as he talks to Chad about the game.
What the fuck? Cade Farmer can’t seriously be cock blocking me right now.
I try to move around him again, but he puts his hand on my shoulder and leans over. “Don’t make me embarrass you in front of Chad, Briar. He’s a good guy.”
“Then don’t,” I snap.
He sighs. “You don’t want to do this.”
“I think I do.”
A throat clears behind us. “Is there something going on here I should know about?”
Cade looks up. “No, man. Just Briar is a good friend of mine.”
I laugh at that. I can’t keep it inside of me. It’s the alcohol talking, but plus, I’m not wrong. He’s not my friend. He was Brady’s friend, and they’ve done nothing but fuck with me since I started school.
“Oh yeah?” Chad asks, sending me a winning smile. “She seems cool.”
Cade’s still giving me a dirty look in answer. I squeeze Chad’s fingers. “I am cool. Thanks for noticing.” After giving Cade a smile, I try to reason with him. “I’m good. Thanks for checking on me though.”
I move around Cade, dragging Chad behind me as I move up the stairs. One of the spare rooms is slightly ajar, so I peek inside, then Chad and I walk in. He shuts the door behind us. “I think Cade Farmer has a thing for you.”
I laugh at that. “I don’t think so.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
I turn, put my arms around him like we did when we were dancing, and start a slow rhythm that clashes with the music downstairs. He kisses my neck again, moaning when he gets to my ear, then tugs on my lobe with his teeth. I grip him, my head still fuzzy from the alcohol, but I know I want this. This moment of reprieve from the real me.
Chad inches ever so closer to my lips. The tip of his tongue slides up my neck, then he kisses me across my jaw. My hips are pressed into his, seeking that relief.
A loud knock comes on the door. “Briar?”
Chad lifts his mouth away from me. “Taken,” he calls out. I don’t know if he meant the room or me, but the next thing I know, the door handle is jiggling. Chad steps away, and we both turn toward the door.
“Open up the damn door!”
I know that voice. Chad starts to go toward the door, but I hold back on his arm. “He’ll go away.”
In the next instant, the door splinters open. I gasp as Lex walks through the door like it’s nothing but cheap wood, Reid and Cade hot on his heels. Reid barges past all of them and goes right for Chad. He lifts his fist in the air. “Do you have any idea who that is?” he seethes.
Before Chad can even answer, Reid’s fist connects with his cheek.
