“I say movie night,” Liv chimes in.
Evan, Aaron, and David are all smiles. Of course they’re all for this idea; they get to snuggle up with their woman and hold her. Me, well I get to figure out how to not touch her. I need to make it down to the basement first and grab a single seat.
“Let’s do it,” Whit agrees.
The guys all nod their agreement and stand to follow the girls downstairs. I do the same, but my hurry is for a totally different reason. I’m halted, however, when Jamie stands at the same time and stumbles a little. I reach out to grab her, my hands resting on her hips. In the commotion it’s just us, the others already out of the kitchen and on their way to the basement. So what do I do? I pull her back to my front. Placing my lips next to her ear, I whisper, “You okay?”
She nods.
She doesn’t try to pull away, so I push a little more. “You still with him?” I ask her. It’s the same damn question that’s been on the tip of my tongue since the moment I found out she was back in town.
“No.” Her voice is soft.
Hell yes! Keeping a firm grip with one hand, the other goes on an adventure as I slip it under her shirt. I feel her tremble once I reach skin and I stop, placing my hand on her flat stomach.
“We better go catch up,” I say. It’s not what I want to do. Not even close. I want to pull her out to my truck, but my truck’s not here. So instead, I slowly remove my hand from under her shirt, resting it back on her hip. “Lead the way,” I tell her.
She stands to her full height from where she was resting against my chest. I keep my hands on her hips as we make our way to the basement steps. Not five minutes ago, I was dreading this, but now I’m hoping the girls want a true movie night and turn the lights down low. She’s single now… or is she?
“Wait,” I say before she can start down the steps. “Is there anyone else? Are you with anyone?” I clarify.
Turning to look over her shoulder, her green eyes are filled with heat as they peer into mine. “No.”
Not able to help myself, I lean down and kiss her temple, releasing her hips and following her down the steps.
Our friends and my sister are all coupled up, leaving only a small love seat available. I fight a grin knowing I’ll get to be next to her.
“Hey, man, can you kill the lights? It’s the switch behind you on the wall,” Aaron says from where he and Whitney are lying on the couch. Liv and David are curled up on an oversized theater chair, Evan and Kinley the same.
I hit the switch, casting the room in darkness. Reaching out, I grab Jamie’s ha
nd and lead her to the love seat.
“What are we watching?” I ask the group.
“Some new thriller,” Liv mumbles. She doesn’t seem too upset, even though I know she hates scary movies. Hell, none of the girls like them, yet they’re all snuggled up. That’s when I realize my boys are geniuses.
Again, I fight a smile as I settle onto the love seat with Jamie right beside me. Aaron hits Play as I reach over and link my fingers through hers. I give her a little tug and she easily slides closer, resting her head on my shoulder. It’s dark enough and our seat is farther in the back of the room than the others. They can’t see us.
This night just got a whole lot better.
Is it possible to spontaneously combust? Whit has told me several times that with one look, Aaron can show her how bad he wants her. I’ve never had that, nor did I really know what she meant. Sure, I’ve had guys give me the “let’s take this somewhere more private” look, but nothing like she’s described. Never in my life have I been on the receiving end of pure wanton heat.
But the way Mike looked at me when I told him I was single… holy shit, I was ready to throw myself at him.
We’re only about ten minutes into the movie when he moves to adjust his position. I sit up, thinking that leaning on him is causing him to be uncomfortable. Lips next to my ear, he whispers, “I need you closer.” It takes me a minute to realize what he said, what he’s doing, until his leg goes behind my back as he sits sideways on the small love seat. Resting the other leg on the floor, he grabs my hips and slides me against him, my back to his front. He wraps his arms around my waist and his hand once again slides under my shirt. Nervously, I look around at our friends, what I can see of them in the dark. Immediately his hot breath is against my ear yet again as he whispers, “They can’t see us, not that I would care if they did. Relax, I just want to hold you.”
My heart flutters in my chest. I’ve never met anyone like him before. He’s open, honest, and he brings my body to life just at the thought of him. To have his hands on me, to feel the rough pad of his thumb draw circles on my bare stomach, I’m putty in his arms. I willingly relax against him as he instructed me to do.
“Better,” he whispers. I shiver as his hot breath caresses my ear.
I try to pay attention to the movie, but to be honest I can’t even tell you what we’re watching. I’m looking at the screen, but I can’t focus on anything except the feel of his arms wrapped around me and his hands against my skin. Mike runs his finger under the waistband of my jeans and I shiver at the contact. He must think I’m cold, because the next thing I know he’s pulling the throw off the back of the love seat and is tossing it over us.
I snuggle deeper into his hold, letting the warmth wash over me. Mike continues his soft caress, and I actually feel myself relax into him. I try to fight the pull, but sleep is creeping in. Slowly I drift off to sleep.
A loud scream jolts me awake. I try to sit up, but strong arms are wrapped around me. “It’s okay,” Mike whispers. “Liv screamed at the movie. I got you,” he assures me. I try to sit up and his arms tighten around me. “I got you.”
I nod and take a few calming breaths to slow my racing heart. When the panic leaves me, I look at the screen to see a girl covered in blood while a guy in bloody overalls chases her. No wonder she screamed. “What the hell?” I grumble.