Holy hell.
She started to crouch down.
“Quinn,” my voice squeaked.
“Let me,” she moaned, a sound that drove me insane.
Reluctantly, I grabbed her shoulders. “I want you more than anything, but not like this.”
She continued to plow forward.
“Quinn,” I said again. “Someone is going to see us.” I was a terrible boyfriend for not pushing her harder to stop. All I could think about was her father catching us in the act.
She stroked.
Oh my word. “Quinn.” My tone was more forceful, even though the feeling of her hand on me was out of this world, and something she hadn’t been brave enough to do before.
I could hear a rustling of sorts somewhere nearby, and my stomach fell to the ground. “Your dad,” I managed to say, even though I didn’t want her to stop. But if she didn’t, I was going to do something that would be extremely embarrassing.
I pictured our first time in other positions and in a quiet spot where no one was around. Not in the middle of a party with Carter nearby or a slew of high school kids who loved taking videos and pictures.
She flew back as if I’d lit a match to her skin. “Where?” Her head swiveled in all directions.
I rushed toward the darkness of the farm where no lights existed. I wasn’t trying to run from her, but I needed to compose myself and make sure that whatever I’d heard wasn’t her father lurking nearby. Then again, if it were him, he would definitely not lurk. He would pounce with an ax to my knees.
“Where are you going?” she called out.
“I need a minute. Go back to the party. I’ll meet you inside.”
She giggled. “I don’t see my dad.”
“What’s going on?” Carter asked just as I disappeared into the darkness. “Who are you talking to?”
“I thought Daddy was out here,” she said.
I kept walking across the farm, trying to get my heart to calm down and my libido under control.
And I thought I had to worry about Marcus.
Carter folded his arms over his chest as though he were some big, bad dude about to scare off a heard of boys. “Where’s your boyfriend, sis?”
I loved my brother, but I didn’t miss him ruining my life around boys. When Maiken and I first met, Carter had been a thorn in my side. He hated Maiken being near me.
Still, I couldn’t let him smell the alcohol. That would be a huge disaster. “Maiken went up to his car to get something.” Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Carter looked up at the parking lot. “I don’t see him anywhere.”
“Go back to Brianna.” I hoped I wasn’t slurring. The two shots had done a number on me. I was suddenly regretting succumbing to Celia’s peer pressure, and Jack’s too.
“Well, ladies, why don’t you start this party by having a drink with me?” Jack had asked after setting up his equipment. “Alcohol gets me in a good mood to play music.”
I’d been hesitant at first, but when I thought of Marcus and the potential disaster that might happen, I decided one drink wouldn’t hurt. As soon as the liquor seeped into my veins, a warm feeling blanketed me, and suddenly I was buzzing. After the second shot, I hadn’t cared about Marcus or anything. I felt energized, powerful, and brave.
“Sis.” Carter’s voice cut through my reverie. “Are you okay?”
Blinking, I focused on his hard features. “I’m fine. Stop playing Dad. I don’t need you to babysit me. Either go back to sucking face with Brianna or leave.”
He held up his hands, his amber eyes studying me like I was a lab specimen. “It seems you’ve changed drastically since I’ve been away at college.”
He had no idea. Heat crawled up my neck and pinched my cheeks. If he knew what I had been doing a minute or two ago, he would literally shoot Maiken even though I was the hussy, a term my granny liked to use to define fast women who threw themselves at men. Yeah, I got the first-place award for that one tonight.
I giggled, thinking about Maiken’s penis.
Carter arched a brow. “What’s so funny?”
I’d forgotten he was standing a few feet away.
Lifting my chin, I lost my smile. “You,” I lied. “Carter, I’m not a little girl anymore.” I am woman. Hear me roar. “I don’t need a big brother watching out for me.”
Note to self: Maybe I should drink more alcohol.
His lips curled at the edges. “You’re right.”
I cocked my head. “I am?”
“I only came down with Brianna because Mom asked me to. But you’re a senior. You should have a good time.”
I figuratively scratched my head. “Are you my brother?”
He full-on laughed, a sound I hadn’t heard from him in ages. Carter had always been a cranky teenager. “Quinn, I’m not home for the summer to babysit you. Actually, I don’t want to be here. Brianna and I can be doing other things.”
I could too if he hadn’t interrupted Maiken and me.
He stabbed his thumb behind him. “I’m going to find Brianna. Have a good time.” He strutted a way, running his hand through his short brown hair.
I didn’t move for a moment, stymied by his words, and when he went into the barn, I scanned the area as far as I could see for Maiken or my dad.
Whoa! My dad. I shivered at the thought that he could’ve caught us.
Celia came running out of the barn like a tornado on steroids, looking like she’d stolen the red cup in her hand. “Quinn, I’ve been looking all over for you. The party is rocking.” Then she slyly glanced around before thrusting the cup at me. “Here.”
I took the cup, sniffing as the aroma of alcohol floated out. “There’s enough liquor in here to burn my nose hairs.”
She giggled then snorted. “So drink. I added a bit of soda to cut it some.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. If I have any more, and I might make a bigger fool of myself.” Or scare Maiken away for good. Oh, and puke.
She jutted out her chin, her defiant stance daring me not to drink. “You promised.”
I puffed out my cheeks. I wasn’t one to break my promises. “One more.” With my luck, I would probably make a jerk out of myself. Oh wait, I already had with Maiken. “To our senior year.” I lifted up the cup and chugged like an expert drinker.
Celia watched me, grinning.
I scrunched my nose, holding my breath as I drank the burning fluid. I swore if someone lit a match right then, I would burst into flames.
When I was done, I shivered violently. I knew then that I would pay dearly for this little stunt later.
“Good girl.” Then she giggled and snorted. “Let’s dance.”
“I should go find Maiken.”
“He’s inside,” she said. “He’s talking to Liam by the food table.”
He must’ve backtracked and gone into the barn on the other side.
She hooked her arm in mine as we walked inside. “I love this song.”
“Teeth” by 5 Seconds of Summer was blaring from the speakers while bodies bounced up and down, dancing to their hearts’ content.
Dizziness encroached as I searched for Maiken among the hundred or more heads. Yeah, forty had turned into fifty, then sixty, and so on. Daddy hadn’t been down to break it up yet. But I figured he would at some point with how many kids were packed into the barn like sardines. At least there hadn’t been any outbursts of tempers or fists flying, which was a good thing.