Stay

The evening darkness was broken only by the stars overhead and the glow of the bonfire. The quiet was broken by Quinn’s guitar, the crackling flames, and murmurs of their friends.

Lauren’s parents rarely used their lakefront property in the fall, so it made a perfect un-chaperoned spot for parties.

Alexi sat beside Mia on a fallen log, at the edge of the woods. “In American movies, this is about the point where we’d lose a few kids to some kind of revenge killer.”

He was such a movie fan, like her. “In the beginning, it’s only the ones who sneak into the woods for some alone time. Have you ever been to a bonfire?”

“Don’t you know Prometheus? The Greeks invented fire. It was our gift to mankind.”

Mia groaned.

Alexi just smiled. He wore the Texans’ T-shirt she’d bought him. The shirt was her favorite, and it was so rare for him dress casually. It was too dark to make out the color, but the short sleeves made his biceps look amazing—hard and smooth.

Mia stretched out her hand and rubbed it against the inside of his arm where his sleeve ended. Her fingertips were moist from the plastic cup’s condensation, and they left a damp trail against his skin. The damp evaporated against his warmth. Alexi’s arm felt smoother under her fingers, but not soft like her arms, rougher somehow. Flipping her hand over, she rubbed the back of her fingers against the same spot. Neat sensation. She took a drink, completely oblivious to his eyes on her.

Alexi lifted a hand to her outstretched arm and ran his fingers along the inner skin of her arm. The lightning sensation caused her to jerk, and her fingers fell away. Looking toward the fire, she grasped her plastic cup, hard enough that the side caved in an inch. She loosened her grip and heat rose in her face. She hoped he attributed her blush to the bonfire.

Jake and a few others joined them. Dropping onto the log on the other side of Mia, he scooted close. “Hey. I was going drop by later, but I didn’t want to miss out on anything.”

“Hey.” Eyeing the proximity, Alexi frowned at Jake, then the dancers.

“Love the two-step.” Mia set her cup on the ground and pulled at Alexi’s hand. “Come on, I’ll show you.” The smell of burning wood emitted from the blaze. It wasn’t cold enough for a fire, but it made a nice glow. She put his right hand on her waist, then her left hand on his shoulder. Taking his left hand, she placed her right palm on it. “You lead. Step toward me quickly with your left foot, then your right. Then slowly with your left, then slowly with your right.” The romantic strains of music carried through the dark. She loved feeling close to him, and whatever was in that cup was making it hard for her to behave. Swaying, she moved a little closer.

A nearby couple took off on a small trail, and Alexi raised his eyebrows.

“They’re going to the pier to view the lake.” Sort of. She wished Alexi wanted to see the lake with her.

“It’s dark.”

“They’re not really going to look.” Mia grinned and slid her left hand from his shoulder to the back of his neck.

Alexi frowned and his accent deepened. “What do you know about the pier?”

Mia wished he’d stop talking. He was killing her beautiful dancing in the dark moment. She slid her hand from his hair back to his shoulder. “What everyone knows.”

Alexi stopped dancing and dropped his arms.

So temperamental.

Boom. Sizzle. Whistle. Pop. Fireworks exploded overhead.

Jake threw another handful in the fire, and off to his right, Quinn lit the fuse on a long bottle rocket.

Morons. Illicit Party. Fireworks. Alert the neighbors. “We have to go.” Mia grabbed his hand. “Trust me on this. How far away did Vincent park? He just went to dinner, right? He should be back in the area again by now.” Her tennis shoes crunched on the underbrush as she jogged toward the road. “Text him so he’ll pull closer.”

Alexi easily kept up with her and texted with one hand.

Sirens sounded in the distance.

“Run.”

Chapter 13

They ran, and bundled into the car laughing.

Alexi flipped the switch to the intercom. “Take us home please, Vincent.” The engine kicked on and pop rock filled the car. Alexi turned it up. Mia turned it louder and slid back in the seat. Alexi’s smiling laughter died and he frowned.

So temperamental. Why did she feel indulgent about it instead of annoyed? Whatever. She felt what she felt. “What?”