Where I Belong (Alabama Summer #1)

Tessa: Don’t worry about Ben. I don’t even see him that much so you won’t have to either. And besides, he’s already been warned. If he bothers you, I get to kick him in the nuts.

Me: Only after I get the first shot at him. :)

Tessa: There’s my girl. This summer is going to be amazeballs!!! See ya tomorrow!

Me: See ya!

* * *

I don’t even know the name of the bar I’m currently sitting in. But I doubt it matters. It was the first one I spotted when I got off the Ruxton exit and it looked promising enough. A bar seems like the perfect venue for what I am about to do, or at least attempt to do. I don’t want to face another summer as a virgin. Especially when my best friend isn’t shy about her sexual conquests. If I am going to keep up with her this summer, I have to ditch my virginity, and fast. Tessa has no idea that I still hold my v-card, and I really don’t want to show up tomorrow waving it around like some sort of abstinence banner. So, with the help of my most non-virginal outfit, I’m going to be giving away that card to one of the lucky men in this bar tonight.

“Here ya go, sweetheart,” the bartender says, placing a bright purple drink in front of me. “From the guy with the black shirt at the end of the bar.”

I wrap my fingers around the glass and glance down the length of the bar, meeting the eyes of the man that bought me the drink. He’s hot. Really hot. Insanely hot. The kind of hot that makes you think, there’s no way in hell this guy is looking at me. With short dark hair and eyes that are bright enough to see in the dim lighting. I send him a smile before looking away to take a sip of my drink. It tastes delicious, like raspberry and coconut. I take another sip and glance back down the bar, but the man is no longer there. A surge of disappointment floods my system.

“Crap. Where’d he go?” I utter under my breath as my eyes search the crowded bar. Who buys a girl a drink and then leaves before cashing in on the thank you? Didn’t he see the giant florescent arrow pointing to me, flashing this chick wants to get laid by you? Damn it. That hottie was definite v-card material.

“Where’d who go, baby?”

Whipping my head around, I meet the eyes of my sexy little drink buyer as he claims the stool next to me. Gasping softly, I allow myself a moment to take in the hotness that is now brushing up against my arm. His bright gray eyes are hooded by dark eyebrows, and my attention is drawn down to his lips as they curl up into a smile. Those. Lips. Holy hell. Full and way the hell inviting, if I had the nerve I’d jump all over them. I look back up into his eyes with a grin. “Oh, um, you actually. I wanted to thank you for my drink. It’s really good. What is it?”

“Purple passion. No, purple hurricane?” His eyebrows furrow as he thinks it over. I smile around my straw, taking another sip. “I don’t know. Some purple girly drink. You looked really thirsty from where I was standing so I thought I’d help you out.”

I arch my eyebrow. “Oh? And how long have you been watching me to make that observation?”

He chuckles, one of the sweetest laughs I’ve ever heard, before replying, “Long enough to see that you’re also here by yourself, which surprises me.”

I watch as he motions for the bartender, admiring the way the muscles in his arm flex as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. “Why does that surprise you? And are you here by yourself or is your girlfriend in the ladies room?” My tone is teasing, and I see his lip curl up in the corner as he absorbs my words. This guy better not have a girlfriend. He’ll be wearing my delicious drink if he does.

He turns his body toward me, reaching his hand out to trail down my arm. “You’re really fucking hot, that’s why it surprises me. And I wouldn’t be taking you back to my place if I had a girlfriend.” Old Mia would be shocked by his forwardness, but new Mia is looking up to the heavens, thanking God for putting this gorgeous man who doesn’t waste any time on this planet and in this bar tonight. His finger stops on the top of my hand and he begins rubbing my skin softly there. “That is, if you want to go back to my place. Or we could do yours. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m game for any place that’ll put me between your legs.” His grin spreads and two massive dimples appear in each cheek. Oh, Good God. That’s adorable.

“You certainly cut right to the chase.”

He shrugs. “I just know what I want, and I’ve been staring at her for the past twenty minutes.”

I like this guy. And not only because he’s too good looking for words and blunt as hell. There’s something about his playfulness that’s drawing me to him. He’s easy to talk to and not making me feel awkward at all. If anything, I feel hotter than I’ve ever felt, confident even. Tessa would be proud of this Mia. I cross one leg over the other, gaining his attention when the hem of my dress slides higher up my thigh. “Getting between my legs requires changing locations? You don’t seem like the type of guy that shies away from public sex.”

He definitely doesn’t. He looks like the type of guy that would take me anytime, anyplace, and not give a shit what the consequences were. There’s an edginess to him that is definitely hitting all my hot spots.

He smiles before he leans in and brushes his lips against my ear. “I’m not, but this bar will eventually close, and I don’t plan on stopping what I’m going to do to you until your body can’t take anymore.”

I shudder at the thought and move my hand to his thigh, flexing my fingers and feeling his muscles contract against me. Turning my head, I put my lips right up to his ear and mimic his position. “Will you be gentle with me? I’ve never done this before,” I whisper. “But God, I want this. I want you to make me come.” I lean back and meet his bright eyes, noticing the specks of blue that stand out against the gray. “Do you think you can handle me?”

I swear I hear a growl rumbling in his throat as his hand trails back up my arm and grips the back of my neck underneath my hair. It feels possessive, as if he’s claiming me right here in front of everyone. And I know it sounds crazy, but I want to be owned by this man. I want to give myself to him completely and a huge part of me doesn’t want gentle. I don’t care that it might hurt. I want him to take me and I don’t want him to hold back. He grabs my chin with his other hand and turns my head, bringing our lips together for the slightest bit of contact. I crave more instantly, whimpering when his mouth leaves mine. I see his lip twitch in response to my desperation. He has me and he knows it. “I’m going to fucking consume you,” he says against my mouth, bringing his other hand around and raking across my bottom lip with his thumb. I open up and he slips it inside, his eyes watching with a new heat as I scrape my teeth along his skin and bite down with the smallest amount of pressure. The muscles in his neck twitch and he slides it out, dragging his now wet thumb down my neck. “Your place or mine, baby? I’m close to losing my mind if I don’t get inside you soon.”

I lick my lips, tasting the trace of whiskey that he left on them from our brief kiss. “Yours. I don’t have a place.”

“Just passing through?” he asks with raised eyebrows. We’re still sitting so close together, practically on top of each other, and I feel safe. Protected. Like I could trust him completely.