Tempting Tatum (18 page)

“You’re stunning,” I tell her.

I watch as a light blush takes over her face. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she replies with a wink.

Holy shit!
Tatum’s flirting with me. Maybe convincing her to be mine won’t be as hard as I had originally thought.

I lean over and place a quick kiss to her forehead. I can’t help myself. I pull away just as Jackson is opening the door for Ember. I place both hands back on the wheel and wait for them to get in. I need something to do with my hands, something to keep me from pulling her into my lap and kissing the hell out of her.

The drive to Backwoods is only ten minutes. During the drive, I keep one hand on the wheel while the other rests on her knee. I feel goose bumps break out on her skin and I smile. She’s just as affected as I am.

Tatum takes care of the radio with the direction of Ember. My sister claimed we could only listen to “dancing” music to set the mood for the evening. I’m not really much of a dancer. I’m more of what you would call a head bobber. I like to kick back with a beer and enjoy the music. I tend to bob my head to the beat, but dancing…I don’t really. I can, I just don’t do it. The female population seem to think dancing and romance go hand in hand, so yeah, it’s not really my thing.

As I go to lift Tatum out of the truck, her phone alerts her of a new message. I nod my head toward her hand for her to check her phone. I plan to attach her to me as soon as she is out of this truck. Everyone here is going to know she’s mine; well, that I want her to be mine. I hope they assume she already is and stay the fuck away from her.

Tatum swipes the screen on her phone and smiles. “Leah and Brent are inside,” she tells me.

I nod my head in understanding. I reach for her and my phone alerts me of a message. I growl and Tatum smiles. I leave one hand on her hip, because really, I need to touch her. I can’t explain it and I don’t really understand it, but I’m going with it. I reach into my pocket with my other hand and pull out my phone. Swiping the screen, I see its Asher. “Asher and Grace are inside, too,” I say.

I place my phone back in my pocket and my hand immediately finds her other hip. I grip her waist and lift her from the truck. I let her body slide against mine. My cock thinks it’s time to party and my heart feels like it’s about to bust out of my chest. Her feet touch the ground, but I don’t let go of her. Instead, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her tight against me.

This…us, is a perfect fit. Nothing and no one has ever felt this good. The feeling intensifies when Tatum moves her hands from my shoulders to place them around my waist.

“I hate to interrupt, you look like you’re having a moment; but are you coming inside?” Ember asks sweetly.

I feel Tatum stiffen in my arms, and just like that, the moment is lost. Without answering Ember, I slowly ease out of the grip I have on Tatum. I place my hands on her shoulders and gently run my hands down her arms. When my hands reach hers, our fingers lace together. I lean down and rest my forehead against hers.

“What are you doing to me?” I whisper.

Tatum doesn’t answer; she doesn’t need to. I know she’s just as mixed up about this as I am. I pull back, gently kissing her forehead. Releasing my left hand, I keep hers clutched tight in my right and lead her into the Backwoods.

Ember and Jackson went in without us after my darling sister ruined our moment. I spot them heading toward the back. I look ahead of them and see Leah, Brent, Asher, and Grace are sitting at a large table in the back.

As we reach the table, all eyes are on us. Asher is smirking, while Grace, Ember, and Jackson are smiling. Leah and Brent both are staring at our hands. I don’t care. I’m not letting go.

“Hey! I didn’t think you all were ever going to get here,” Leah says, standing up to hug Tatum. She tries to let go of my hand; I grip her tighter. She gives Leah a one armed hug. As soon as she releases her, I gently tug her back to me.

I can feel the eyes of my siblings; they’re watching me. I’m not a big public display kind of guy. It’s different with Tatum. I don’t even think about where we are or who is watching. It’s just her; all I see is her. But I know others are watching her, watching us. I know there are at least a dozen or more guys here that are checking her out. How could they not? Her long dark locks and those green eyes, she takes my breath away. There’s not a guy in this room that can deny that. I know they see what I see. I smile because she’s mine, or at least she will be.

Tatum relaxes her stance and leans against me. I smile. Those assholes can look, but not touch. Tatum is mine; she just doesn’t know it yet.

Blaise has stepped up his seduction tactics. He’s constantly touching me, giving me sweet gentle kisses. His attention has me on fire. I’m ready to take him to the nearest storage closet or bathroom and take full advantage of what he’s offering.

He’s marking his claim for the night, and really, he doesn’t need to. I plan to allow him to seduce me. My earlier thoughts coming to mind. I know I shouldn’t since he is Ember’s brother, but I want him. I want to know what it feels like to feel his weight on top of me. To be able to trace his ink with my tongue. I can no longer resist his charms, or seduction techniques, whatever you want to call it. I just don’t want to resist him any longer. I want one night with him. One night of passion and no thoughts of what I lost. I just want him. With that thought, I relax against him. Blaise releases my hand and slips his arm around my waist to hold me against him. I need a drink!

“All right, ladies, what’ll be?” Asher asks.

We all call out our drink orders. We all request a beer. Nothing special, just a nice ice-cold beer to cool me down. Maybe if I relax a little, my libido will, too.

“Come on, man, you can help,” Asher says to Blaise.

I look up and his eyes are on me. I try to pull away, but Blaise tightens his hold. He leans his lips down to my ear. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. You’re mine tonight,” he whispers, and then kisses my neck before pulling away and following Asher to the bar. Jackson and Brent follow them.

I watch him walk away, because really, why would I willingly miss that? His ass looks so good in those jeans. I can’t wait to take them off of him. The thought of what I want to happen, what I hope happens, brings a smile to my face.

Once Blaise and his fine ass are out of sight, I turn back to the table and my three companions are all watching me, each of them wearing a shit-eating grin. “What?” I ask innocently. I know what they’re smiling at. I’m busted. I shrug my shoulders when they don’t answer.

Grace breaks the silence. “So, Asher and I have been talking about marriage a lot lately. Well, Asher has,” she tells us.

Thank you, Grace, for the change of subject!

“He loves you,” Ember says. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he proposes soon. I’ve never seen him with anyone like he is with you. Besides, you guys have been dating for a while now.”

Grace nods her head. “Sometimes it’s still hard for me to believe that the once former playboy wants to settle down. I know he loves me.” She shrugs. “I guess it’s surreal, all these emotions. I want him to be my forever. The thought of him really wanting the same is...”

“Reality,” Ember says. “You know he worships you. When the Richards men fall, they fall hard.” Ember winks at me.

“I know, I guess it’s just nerves. I want it to happen. I’m nervous it won’t.”

Grace looks at Leah and me. “Before I moved here to live with my dad, I didn’t have a lot of good in my life. Hell, nothing really, except for my dad. Asher is, well…he’s my dream, and to spend the rest of my life with him would make that dream come true. I’m worried things are going too smooth and I’ll lose him.”

Ember places her arm around Grace. “Ash loves you. I know your past was rough, but you have us. We’re your family,” she tells her.

“And us,” I say, motioning my hand between Leah and I. Leah voices her agreement.

Grace doesn’t have the chance to respond before the guys are back at the table with our beers. There is a waitress right behind them carrying a tray holding eight shot glasses. The guys give us our beers while the waitress passes out the shots.

“All right,” Jackson says. “On three.” We all lift our shots in the air. “One, two, three,” Jackson counts off. On three, we slam back our shots. I chase mine with a long drink of my beer.

Ember does the same. Sitting her mug down on the table, she says, “All right, ladies, let’s hit the dance floor.”

Immediately, Grace and Leah are out of their seats. I go to stand and Blaise’s hand lands on my thigh. He leans in, his breath hot on my cheek. I squeeze my legs together at the sensation it’s causing as he whispers, “Remember your mine tonight,” and places a kiss on the corner of my mouth.

I feel a tug on my arm; it’s Ember. “Let’s go, girl,” she says over the music.

Blaise lets me go; although, he looks reluctant. I follow the girls out to the dance floor and let the music take control. One song leads to another, and the four of us are having a blast. The only time we leave the floor is to take another shot or visit the restroom.

I don’t know how many shots we’ve had, but we are all feeling really good. Pitbull’s song he does with Ke$ha “Timber” blares over the speakers and all four of us scream. It’s scary how much we are alike.

I lift my hands in the air and sway my hips. I see Jackson, Asher, and Brent join our group and start dancing with their girls. I feel a pang of jealousy because I don’t have that. Then my mind wonders to where Blaise might be. Earlier we tried to get the four of them to join us. Blaise was adamant that he doesn’t dance. I feel strong hands grip my hips and pull me against a rock hard body. I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Blaise; it’s as if my body is in tune with him. Not to mention, the look of surprise on our friends’ faces, especially his siblings, to see him out on the dance floor.

I lean back against his chest and arch my back. This causes my ass to grind into his crotch. Looks like he’s happy to see me. I lift my right arm and place my hand on the back of his neck. Blaise follows suit, tilts his head, and buries his face in my neck. He grinds his hips and I can’t help the moan that escapes. I’m grateful for the loud music drowning me out. Although with my current state of inebriation, I’m not sure I would really care.

Our friends may not have heard me, but Blaise did. He nips at my neck in retaliation. I turn to face him, and his arms are immediately tugging me as close as he can get me. There is no space between us. I can feel every hard ridge of his muscular body. Blaise sways his hips and I mirror his movements, our bodies in sync. My eyes find his, and the look in his eyes causes a tidal wave of warm sensations to pulse through my veins. My pulse quickens at the thought of him on me, inside of me. I lick my lips at the visual.

I hear a growl. I can actually feel it in Blaise’s chest right before his lips crash with mine. I don’t even hesitate to open for him. I want him. Tonight, I want to feel young, careless, and free. I want that with Blaise, just for tonight. I need that for tonight.

I lean up on tiptoes as my hands find their way to his hair as I pull him closer. There is no such thing as personal space between us; it’s our space. It’s Tatum and Blaise consumed with desire. In this moment, I can’t tell where he ends and I begin.