"Come on, man. Not here in front of the girls." He tossed his empty plate at me as the girls started to laugh and Derek moved around the other side of the table, effectively helping me trap Clay at the back of the table.
"Leave him alone, or I'll get you both." Emily held up the large squeeze container of mustard.
"And, I'll help her." Cora grabbed a bottle of ketchup, giving me the chance to turn on her instead of Clay.
"Oh yeah? I thought you like mustard with your wieners." I moved toward her as Emily opened the mustard.
"Watch it, mister. We'll get you." Emily wagged it at me. I reached out and grabbed it from her, squirting some in my mouth as they laughed.
"Everyone calm down. Let's eat and get the movie started. Friday the 13th is my favorite." Daniel chucked a hot dog bun at me, and I turned in time to catch it.
"Alright, fine, but I'm taking all of you out the first time I get you in the lake." I wagged my eyebrows and glanced around at them, landing on Cora. "Especially you."
"Me?" She lifted her eyebrows as she sat the ketchup down. "Fine, but I'm going to tell everyone that you cried during The Notebook."
"Psssttt. I'm not crying tonight. I might make out a little if you're up for it, but crying? Never." I couldn't help but laugh at the cute look on her face. Somehow, it would seem that I was the last person in the room she would consider snuggling up to. Too bad, because as much as I was done with being judged by her, I didn't see myself leaving any time soon. There was far too much possibility between us.
"Don't hold your breath." She shrugged nonchalantly and grabbed a plate as I moved in behind her with a cocky smile on my face.
"God, I love a challenge." I glanced over at Clay as he shook his head.
"Oh fuck, here we go," he mumbled, causing all of us to laugh.
Chapter 14
Cora
I laughed harder than I had in a long time during dinner, and the laughter of my friends left me open, raw. I was tired of being a bitch in hopes of Brody shoving off. It had only been a few short conversations with him, but watching him interact with Clay and Daniel showed me a very different guy as Emily had hinted he was.
I wasn't inviting him in my bed anytime soon, but I could, at least, relent a little.
"Come on. I don't bite unless you ask me to." He patted the couch next to him as I walked into the living room. The way he watched me left me wanting to beg him to put his teeth on me, but I ignored the desire and dropped down next to him.
"No biting, no touching, and no misunderstanding my squeals for neediness. I'm an independent girl with no desire for a knight in shining armor." I glanced over at him, lifting my eyebrow in warning.
"He's no knight in shining armor." Derek settled down into the chair closest to me and dipped his spoon into a big bowl of banana pudding. "Not that I am, either."
"You're not?" Cindy walked in and squeezed into the chair with him as Clay hit the button for the movie to start.
"For you, yes." Derek wrapped an arm around her and handed her the bowl. "Hold this so I can eat it?"
"Brother," Brody mumbled beside me and reached for a handful of popcorn. "Don't tell anyone when I scream like a girl. Got it?"
"You? Screaming?" I glanced over at him, wanting to make a thousand inappropriate comments and yet knowing that it would just start him up again. Seeing that he'd been acting a bit more chill for the last few hours, I almost hated the idea of getting him started up again.
"Only when the moment calls for it." His eyes lingered on me, making me feel attractive, pretty.
"Stop. Behave or you're out." I turned to the TV and stiffened as the lights went low and he moved closer, pressing his face against the side of my hair.
"You don't want me to behave, Cora. I promise." He brushed his lips by my ear as my heart started to race. "But for the sake of our friends and your denial of a good time, I'll try."
I turned to face him, almost brushing my nose by his. "Denial of a good time?"
His eyes moved down toward my lips as his breathing got a little off. "Yeah. A really good time."
"Orgasmic?" I whispered and leaned in a little farther as the movie started to play. Everyone around us could go to hell. This guy wanted to tease me as if I was the sweet sensitive type that would fall to his good looks and his suave moves?
He licked his lips and nodded. "Fuck, yeah."