His hands inch higher, as do his lips. Once he gets to my ear, he whispers, “Take it off.”
This time his demanding tone is more of a coax. He’s daring me to do it.
I pull back and look into his eyes.
“No.”
“You can wear my jersey. Please.”
His pleading tone does it.
Before I know it, I have Keaton’s jersey stripped off and am holding it out to Reed. I half expect him to grab it and his own and leave me in this room, but he surprises me when he throws Keaton’s jersey on the bed, stepping forward to press me closer to his body. Before I know what’s happening, his lips are crushed against my own.
It only takes one breath to realize that Reed is kissing me. The second breath is lost as my lips begin to move against his. When his tongue slips into my mouth, I can’t help the moan that escapes. My body instinctively sways towards his, wanting to be closer to his warmth. My blood is heated, my heart pounding out of my chest. His hands skim my sides, never quite making it to my breasts. I arch forward, begging him to touch me.
He lightly bites my lower lip before pulling back, resting his forehead on mine.
“What the fuck are you doing to me?” he whispers almost to himself.
The spell breaks as I step back from him, my hand flying to my lips. He must sense the change in me, because he grabs his jersey, throwing it at me. I pull it on quickly as he pulls on Keaton’s jersey.
“Let’s go grab my sister and bounce.”
“No.”
He stares at me. “I’m not leaving you here alone. Come on.”
“I’m not alone. Keaton’s with me.”
“He’s coming too.”
“We’ll see about that,” I mumble to myself, walking past him to open the door.
His chuckle surrounds me as I attempt to twist the handle. His heat at my back makes me pause, and he reaches around me and unlocks the door.
I glare over my shoulder at him, but it only causes him to laugh more.
I stalk away from him and back to Keaton. He smiles as I approach, but his eyes darken when he notices Reed standing behind me.
“Why the fuck are you wearing my jersey?” He jumps up and gets in Reed’s face.
Reed smirks. “She asked to wear mine. I couldn’t deny her the better brother.”
Keaton goes to push Reed, but I jump in between. “Don’t let him rile you up. He forced me to change. “He seems to think my whoreish ways might tarnish your image and wanted to deflect attention off you.”
Keaton’s eyes meet Reed’s over my shoulder. “Stop playing games, Reed. Give her my jersey back, and then take yours and leave. You’re not wanted here.”
At this point, the entire party is watching the interaction. Brother against brother. How it must look with me standing in the middle.
“All over a girl? Seriously, Keat? I thought you learned your lesson with the last one.”
Keaton’s fist connects with Reed’s face before I can even blink.
Tinsley grabs Keaton as I turn and jump into Reed’s arms. It throws him off balance, but his arms come up to catch me, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck as I bring my lips to his ear.
“Calm down. Don’t do anything you’re going to regret.”
His arms drop me, but I hold myself in place.
“Get off me,” he growls.
“I will. As soon as you take me to your car and take me home. Like you promised.”
I wait, feeling his breath coming in short spurts. When he finally gets a hold of his breathing, his arms come back around me, holding me tighter to him.
“I’m taking Sage home,” he states. “I expect you to get Tinsley home safe.”
I can’t see what’s going on behind me, but I feel the tension leave Reed’s body as Keaton speaks. “Of course. That’s why I’m here, sober. To take care of Tinsley. I can take Sage home too. You deserve a night off, Reed. Take it.”
Keaton’s voice sounds exhausted. Now that I know him a little better, I hear what he doesn’t want others to noticed. He’s damaged. All he wants to do is be the best brother for his siblings.
“Sage is coming with me.”
Reed turns and starts to leave with me still in his arms. I stare into Keaton’s wide eyes as he watches us leave.
“Wait,” I whisper.
Reed stops but doesn’t turn. I pull back and look at him. His eyes are still wild, but they’re calmer now. The fact that he stopped tells me he’ll let me go if I ask.
Instead of asking, I pull Victoria’s keys out of my pocket and throw them to Keaton. “Can you take Victoria home too? Make sure she’s safe? Text me when you leave.”
“I will,” Keaton promises as Tinsley comes up to stand next to him, looking confused.
Reed continues walking, holding me all the way to the car.
∞∞∞
Once we get to the car, Reed drops me before pushing me into the passenger seat. He then slams the door before getting into the driver side and taking off like there’s a fire.
He drives fast and wild the entire way, taking corners at high speeds that scare me. After one particularly close one, I let a small whimper out as I close my eyes. He slows down after that, taking the corners at a much safer rate.
Once we pull through the gates of his estate, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I climb out of the car, turning to head back down the driveway.
“Where are you going?” Reed barks from behind me.
“Home. Thanks for the ride.”
Before I realize what’s happening, he wraps his arms around me from behind, jerking me into his chest.
His lips rake across my neck, causing goose bumps to form on my skin. Once he reaches my ear, he whispers, “I thought you wanted to go home with me. Now that we’re here, you’re going to leave? Cocktease.”
I stiffen and attempt to break out of his hold. When that doesn’t work, a well-placed elbow to his ribs loosens his arms, and he freely lets me step out of his grasp.
“Don’t you ever put your hands on me again. Do you understand me?” I seethe.
He chuckles. “You have some power behind you, that’s for sure.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever, Reed. I didn’t ask to come home with you. I asked you to take me home. There’s a big difference.”
“With the way you jumped into my arms and clung to me like a damn spider monkey, I thought you wanted a ride on my dick, just like every other girl. Besides, I promised to do anything if you took off Keaton’s jersey.”
The wicked gleam in his eye makes my heart stutter. “Anything I want?”
His eyes light with interest. He thinks he figured out something about me.
He’s dead wrong.
Reed takes a step closer to me, pressing his body against mine. He grips my elbows as I bring my hands up to his sides.
“Anything you want, Sage. All I ask is that you leave my siblings out of this. Money? Dick? Popularity? Power? Name it and it’s yours.”
I lean up, bringing my lips close to his so they’re barely touching. I can feel his heart beating wildly, or is that mine? I can’t even tell where he begins and I end. We’re both so charged up but unwilling to make the first move, neither one of us wanting to break first and give up the power.