A Taboo Collection

If I had to sit here and be his “friend,” I needed a hell of a lot more to drink than this.

I downed the rest of my beer, set the empty bottle on a table, and walked the few feet to the cooler where the other cases of alcohol were. Then I turned around I saw Rowdy had his gaze transfixed on me. Walking back to him when he looked at me like that made me feel nervous, but in a good way. I downed half of this beer as well, already feeling a buzz as I was on my third beer but needing more of a disconnected feeling to get through this.

Or maybe I should just go home?

I could get drunk and call a cab, pass out, and forget about this night and what I really wanted to do with Rowdy.

What I really wanted to do was be in a room with him, living out the one thing I’d wanted to share with him for longer than I could remember … my body. I finished off that beer, held up the empty bottle to him, and gestured toward the kitchen. He could follow me if he wanted, but I was getting something stronger.

Rowdy

Maybe I should have stopped her from drinking so much, but this was her life, and I was here to watch out for her. If she wanted to get trashed, I’d make sure she was safe at the party, and later on got home okay.

I followed her into the kitchen and stood behind her as she took two consecutive shots. I couldn’t help but feel amused at the disgusted look that covered her face when she swallowed that second shot.

“Damn,” she gasped out, and I started laughing. She was cute as much as she was fucking hot.

“Maybe you should take a step back from the alcohol until those kick in?” I might have said I’d let her do what she wanted, but I also felt very protective of her.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’m sure these will sneak up on me.”

I grinned and gestured for us to get out of the packed kitchen. There wasn’t anyone I wanted to hang out with at the party aside from the girl that was standing right beside me.

We chilled off to the side for about twenty minutes as some of the guys from the gym came up to talk to us. And then I noticed how she was acting. Cassandra braced a hand on the wall, her eyes appearing glossy, and her inhibitions down. She was talking to a girl I knew she probably didn’t know.

Cassandra was drunk. That was clear by the exaggerated motions she did with her hand, the smiles she gave this stranger, and the fact on any other day she wasn’t this outgoing.

I leaned in close and brushed a strand of hair off her shoulder. Fuck, that felt good. “You okay?” I asked. She turned and faced me, the scent of alcohol coming from her parted lips turning me on when it probably shouldn’t. I was buzzed but not getting drunk since I had to work out tomorrow afternoon.

She smiled up at me. “I feel great.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, cause you’re drunk.”

She shook her head. “I’m not that drunk. I’m just feeling really good, like I’ve broken out of some prison.”

I chuckled again. Was this the first time she’d drank this much? It wouldn’t surprise me. And then I saw the look she gave me, and my cock jerked.

“It’s hot in here,” she said, and I nodded. It was fucking hot, but then again there was a shitload of people crammed in here.

“Can we go somewhere to talk?”

I straightened to my full height and looked down at her. I was about to suggest outside, but before I could say anything she grabbed my hand and started pulling me through the living room and toward the stairs.

“Wait, Cassandra,” I said and pulled her to a stop. She looked over her shoulder at me.

“I just want to talk where we aren’t crammed in like a sardine.”

I didn’t want to presume anything, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t take advantage of her, but I shouldn’t have nodded and let her lead me up the stairs. I should have said we should just go outside.

And then we were walking into a spare bedroom and she closed the door.

“Cassandra, this isn’t right.” But my body was ready. I’d wanted this moment for a long time, to just be alone with her. But I sure as fuck didn’t want it to be while I was buzzed and she’d drank more than she was used to.

“You think I’m drunk and don’t know what I’m doing,” she said but started speaking again before I could answer. “I’m not too drunk to know I’m here with you. I’m just feeling good enough I don’t have to hide anymore.”