I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath and let it out.
Fuck it.
I’m taking a few more hours, shoving everything to the back of my mind, and dealing with the damage of it all later.
Krista fans her face, nodding toward the tables, so we all step off the dance floor for a quick break so they can catch their breath.
She steers us where the guys are huddled near the open bar.
Krista drops onto Trent’s lap, the others grabbing an open seat around him while I hop up, sitting on the edge of the table.
“Damn, Dem. You’ve got Krista breathing all hard,” Trent jokes.
“You try keeping up with her ass out there and look at Carley,” Krista says. “She’s sweating more than I am.”
“I’m a sweater, asshole, and you know I can outrun you,” Carley throws back.
“True, but still.” Krista laughs, downing half a water bottle before sipping on Trent’s drink.
“Dude, Nico is the fastest on the team, too.” Macy gasps, glancing his way. “You guys could prolly go all night if you tried.”
My mouth drops open, but then Nico is suddenly in front of me, pushing my knees open so he can slide between them. I stare, unmoving and a little buzzed, as his fingers come up to lift my chin.
“Stamina is key,” he says, all deep and gravelly like. “Ain’t it, baby?”
My muscles tighten unexpectedly, and I have to remind myself to nod.
It’s delayed and beyond obvious.
The chuckles from around the table have my hand coming up to push his away, and a breathy laugh escapes me.
“Let’s go back out there, but with the boys. My dad told them to pull the plug at one.” Krista hops up.
The rest of the group stands, and they all rush off, but Nico continues to block me in, his attention on their retreating bodies before it moves back to me.
“Not a sex kitten, she said,” he says with a heavy rasp. “Gotta tell you, if hip-hop is your jam, club shit is your spirit. Not sure how I missed that.”
I blink innocently. “So much to learn.”
“Trust me, D, I know plenty.”
“What, you spy on me from that window of yours, Neek?”
His smirk is instant and my jaw drops, a laugh bubbling from me.
“Oh my god, you do, you perv.” I hit his chest playfully.
“Not my fault you get half naked and have sex with the air in my line of sight.”
I laugh loudly, dropping my head back. “Sex with the air. Nice.”
His gaze falls to my neck, slowly and seductively lowering from there.
Suddenly, with his head still pointed downward, his eyes pop up to meet mine through thick, dark, lashes.
It’s too much.
I clear my throat. “Do you dance?”
He gives a slow nod.
“Show me.”
“Nah.”
I frown. “Why not?”
A smug expression slides over his face. “’Cause my girl would dance for me, not ask me to dance with her.”
I roll my eyes as I jump down, but his body is a barrier and unbudging, so all it does is smash my hips against his.
He cuts a quick glance to my lips.
“You couldn’t handle it if I did,” I tell him.
He brings his mouth close. “I could handle all of you, Pixie. Believe that.”
I squish my lips to the side, pushing him away slightly to get some air between us, and this time he allows it.
“Good thing fake boyfriends don’t have to prove things to their fake girlfriends,” I whisper. “Now, are you ready to get schooled?”
“You think so, huh?”
“I know so, Neek. Like the field is your home, an open space is mine.”
Nico licks his lips. “Okay, pro. Let’s go.”
He walks backward toward the dance floor, reaching for my hand.
I slide mine into his, and he tugs me to him, his hold quickly shifting to my waist. “Time for my girl to show me what she’s made of.”
“Make sure to keep up.” I turn in his hold, my back now to his chest.
“Quit talking, D.” He gives a small squeeze. “Move.”
I chuckle, doing just that.
My hands stay in front of me and I swing my hips back and forth, slightly swaying in and out with each movement. When Nico keeps up, his grip firm, I add a little more of a bend, arching my back.
The song changes and the extremely played out but highly effective for this moment, “Low” by Flo Rida comes on. I know instantly it’s Krista’s doing, it’s her go-to hype song.
A grin splits across my lips, and I wink at Nico over my shoulder.
I lock my feet in place on the ground and shake my ass lightly against him, and his hands slip farther around to my front before slowly sliding up my ribs, down my stomach, then his fingers slide into the loops of my shorts, but I break free. I step out half a foot and drop down only to pop back up and do it again, swaying my hips on the way up the second time.
When his chest suddenly slams into my back, I laugh, dropping my head back, but my laughter trails off as I’m caught in his eyes.
Low and dark and on me.
His hand begins trailing along my arm, until he reaches my fingertips where he links our fingers together and slowly wraps our intertwined hands behind his head.
I take his cue, and lock my palms across his neck, grinding against him as his hand makes its way back to my hips, eyes still holding mine hostage.
When he pumps his hips, causing me to jolt slightly forward, I laugh.
I spin in his arms, bringing us face to face, but we keep moving.
He licks his lips, his top teeth tucking his bottom one in for a second.
I smirk, running my hands up his shoulders and holding them at the base of his hair.
I glance around finding several eyes on us.
“People are watching.”
“They see.”
I look to him. “See what?”
“Chemistry.”
I lean in and he stops moving.
I whisper, “Mr. Brando would be proud.”
Nico starts busting up laughing, his hands sliding higher, and pulling my chest against him.
“You should kiss me now, D. They’re waiting for it.”
I push up to my tippy toes, bringing my mouth to his, and his fingers spread out against my back.
“Not a chance.”
Nico grins, his arms falling from around me as he nods toward the mini bar ran by Krista’s housekeeper.
We step off the dance floor, and grab a quick drink, then wait for the others to join us. Once they have something for themselves, the six of us walk out the side exit and into the cool night air.
Krista’s dad had long stakes placed along the hotel, bright lights wrapped around them to allow us a lit up place to hang out at night, so we kick off our shoes and drop to the sand in the middle of them.
“To the final drink of the weekend.” Krista smiles, lifting her cup in cheers.
Thompson comes out next with a handful of waters he passes around before joining us.
“Thanks, man.” Nico takes two, handing me one.
“Did you see Josie showed up at the boardwalk today?” Krista asks Nico, her eyes cutting to mine quickly.
“Uninvited, I’m bettin’?” he asks her.