The Hazards of Mistletoe (16 page)

I looked at the guy again. Despite his unfortunate taste in clothing, he was actually kind of cute. Not my usual type, but then again, a member of my type had taken my virginity, half of my college years, and torn my heart into shreds. Besides, talking to a guy couldn’t hurt. “Are you from here?”

“Nope. You?”

“No, a few hours away. My friend dragged me down to stay with a few of her college friends.”

“Cool.” He finished his beer and set it down. “So, what’s the verdict? Should I try it?”

“The vat? Sure, it’s decent.”

He reached around me and filled a cup. “If it’s gross, I’m blaming you.”

“Pressure.”

He cracked a smile before bringing the red cup to his lips. “Decent. You’re okay.”

“What would have happened if it tasted awful?” I leaned back against the wall.

“Nothing, I guess. I would have just given you a hard time.”

“Aren’t you doing that anyway?” And like that, my flirting instincts kicked back in. They weren’t gone even after years of letting them rust while dating Aaron. I polished off the first cup and filled another.

“What? This?” He shook his head. “This isn’t giving you a hard time.”

“Then what is it?” I turned my head slightly, offsetting my blonde, somewhat curly hair.

“It’s making conversation with a beautiful girl I have no clue how to talk to.”

I couldn’t hold back the smile that begged to come out. “Oh yeah? I’m a beautiful girl?”

“I think you already know that.” He took a seat on the cement floor. I still couldn’t believe Gabriella was friends with someone who had a house right on the beach like this—or rather who had parents that did.

I shrugged, deciding to take a seat next to him. “I don’t know about beautiful, maybe pretty.”

“No, it’s definitely beautiful.” He smiled and looked out at the ocean. In the growing darkness, you couldn’t see much, but the size and scope of the water was still clear.

“Well, you’re hot.”

He turned back toward me. “Hot?”

“Is there something wrong with that word choice?” I took another sip.

“No. Not at all.” He held up his empty cup. “Want one more?”

If I’d been with Aaron, he probably would have cut me off, but Aaron wasn’t there to tell me what to do anymore. “I’d love one.”

Three cups and a few hours later, I’d learned a lot about Blazer. I knew he liked action movies, espresso, and wanted a pet. I still didn’t know his name, but that detail didn’t seem to matter.

He took a strand of my hair and studied it. “Is this your natural color?”

“Yes.”

He dropped the strand. “I’ve never dated a girl with blonde hair.”

“Well, you’re not dating me.”

He gently brushed his fingers down my bare arm. “No, but I want to kiss you.”

“Then kiss me.” I was used to pushy guys. The kind that knew what they wanted and took it.

“Okay.” He smiled before leaning in.

The kiss was hesitant at first, the kind of kiss that gets your whole body excited because you know there’s more to come. I waited—hoping he’d take it further. His hand slid just under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my skin. The touch was light, but it was still enough to get a response out of me. I moaned.

That must have been what he was waiting for. He deepened the kiss, pushing into my mouth with such force I was taken by surprise. I kissed him back, enjoying the sweet taste of his mouth, and the way his hand slowly inched its way up my stomach. Blazer moved from zero to sixty. I didn’t mind it. I moved onto his lap, welcoming the arm he put around me to pull me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

His hand moved higher, cupping my breast over my bra. I was drunk and hot, and so turned on I was going to lose it.

That’s when the door to the roof opened. The loud laughter of a group of girls pulled me half out of my lustful stupor.

“Want to go for a walk?” His question was asking something else entirely. I knew that when I answered with an enthusiastic yes.

Blazer held my hand as we made our way through the crowds. I looked briefly for Gabriella, but I didn’t see her. The normal Cara would have called her to tell her I was leaving with a random guy—but was Blazer random? We had chatted for hours already.

Before I could worry about it long, we were walking along the dark and nearly vacant beach. It was January on the South Carolina coast, and the crowds were months away.

“You never told me your name.” He said it as a statement as he led me further away from the party.

“Cara.”

“Hi, Cara. I’m Chase.”

I smiled. “Isn’t it a little late for introductions?” I stopped and turned toward the ocean.

“It’s never too late.” He drew something on my arm with his finger. The sensation felt good. I closed my eyes.

“You look so gorgeous. The moonlight, that look on your face.”

I opened my eyes and his face was inches from mine. “If you’ve never dated a blonde, does that mean you’ve never had sex with one?”

“Why? Are you looking to change that?” His eyes were lidded.

“I’d like to.” I slipped a finger into the waistband of his jeans.

“Should we go back to my hotel room, or do you have one?” He looked down. “I’m going to be honest here. I haven’t done this before.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re a virgin.” That would be just my luck.

He laughed. “No. Not saying that at all. I just don’t generally hook up with girls I’ve just met.”

“At least you know my name.”

“I do know your name, don’t I, Cara?”

Something happened to me when he said my name. I needed him. I reached up again, wrapping my arms around him. I crushed my lips into his.

We came up for air only after ending up horizontal on the sand. He laughed. “Or we can just pick things up right here.”

We were at the very end of the beach, half in the shadows created by the bright moonlight and the boardwalk. The thought of separating myself from this sexy guy didn’t sound appealing. What did sound appealing was getting rid of that blazer—and his shirt.

I tried to slide the jacket off his shoulders, but it was impossible with him lying beneath me.

“There’s something satisfying about watching a gorgeous girl struggle to undress me.”

“You know what would satisfy me?”

“What?” His eyes widened.

“If you’d assist me in undressing you. This gorgeous girl only has so much patience.”

“It says a lot that I’m getting half naked for you in fifty degree weather.”

“I’m guessing you’d like to see me naked too?” I loved this surge of confidence. Maybe it was the vat, but it felt good, and I was taking it.

“Is that really a question?” He had already shed his jacket and was pulling off his white t-shirt.

“No. I can infer the answer from the location your eyes keep settling on.”

He reached over and pulled my long sleeve t-shirt over my head. “Can you blame me? I haven’t been with a blonde, and I haven’t been with a girl with a set of breasts like yours.”

“How would you know? You haven’t even seen them yet.” Teasing Chase came naturally. I’d never teased a guy. They were usually teasing me.

“That’s a really good point.” He reached around me and unclasped my bra before tossing it onto the sand.

For a brief second, I thought about the intelligence of what I was doing. Fooling around with a guy right out in the open was pretty crazy—but that’s what made it so much hotter. Any doubts disappeared as he covered my breasts with his hand and mouth.

I moaned, leaning my head back in pleasure. The cold only made me more sensitive, and I couldn’t get enough of his touch. He bit down lightly on my nipple before laying his head back to look at me. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” His free hand captured the breast his mouth had just released.

“You’re not so bad looking yourself.” I leaned down, tracing lines across his chest. He was muscular and toned in just the right way.

“I thought I was hot.” He squeezed my breasts, as if to get my attention.

“You are. If you weren’t, would I be lying here topless with you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you’re not that concerned with looks.”

“You think your sparkling personality is enough?” I worked on his belt and unbuttoned his jeans.

He grinned. “You think I’m letting you take that out in the cold?”

“Would you really say no to me right now?”

“I’d probably get in that water if it meant keeping you happy.” He undid my button and zipper, brushing his hand gently across my cotton panties.

“Only probably?” I ran a hand through my hair, watching to see if that motion did its usual trick.

He moved from under me long enough to discard his pants. I took care of his boxer briefs myself. Before I could take care of my own remaining clothing, he had me pinned down on the sand as he slid them off me.

He kissed me hard on the mouth before moving his lips down to leave kisses all over my body. At the same time, his hand moved between my legs. A light breeze stung, but it was nothing compared to the sensation of his mouth and hand. I reached up and grabbed him.

“Don’t read into the fact that I have a condom in my wallet.” He fished one out and unwrapped it, all while keeping most of his body hovering above me to block the wind.

“We’re about to have sex on the beach. I kind of assumed you had one.”

His laugh died out as he kissed me again, this time with more hunger. “Here’s to ending my blonde virginity.” He thrust into me, and I gasped.

His lips moved to my neck as he continued to thrust. The sand was hard and uncomfortable beneath me, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was the guy on top of me—and inside me.

“Chase.” I tested out saying his name again now that I knew how it felt to have our bodies connected.

He grunted and continued to move faster and harder. I wrapped my legs around him, wanting him closer. I held onto his back with one hand while I buried the other in his dark brown hair. My body responded so well to his, everything felt hot and right, and then I felt out of control. I held on tighter. I’d never felt so aroused and euphoric in my life.

“Cara.” He groaned my name before his entire body shuddered. He stayed on top of me for a second before rolling off.

“Wow.” I quickly got dressed, unable to get the grin off my face. After a year and a half with Aaron, I’d never had sex that good. Chase was still lying on the sand watching me.

I bent down and kissed him on the lips. “Thanks, Chase. Great meeting you.” I wasn’t going to ruin a good thing by making him awkwardly attempt to let me down easy. I took matters into my own hands.

“Wait.” He struggled into his clothes. “Aren’t you going to give me your number?”

“Why?”

He buttoned his pants. “Because we just had sex. Hot sex might I add.”

“Which is why we’ll leave it that way. I’ll always be your first blonde.” I blew him a kiss before running back toward the party. I checked my phone. No missed call from Gabriella. Maybe she hadn’t even noticed I was missing.

I walked back inside the house, hopping into line for the restroom. I was positive I looked like a complete mess.

“There you are!” Gabriella grabbed my arm and jumped into line next to me. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

I tried to compose myself. “Where’s your friend?”

“Oh. He left. With someone else.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, but it’s fine. I wouldn’t want to ditch you anyway.”

I looked away and smiled.

“What?” She pulled up her long dark hair into a bun.

“Nothing.”

“Well, you seem better. Did the party work the way I thought it would? Did it show you there’s life outside all that Greek crap you’re into at school?”

“It’s not crap. I love my sorority.” Delta Mu and my sisters were the only things I had left at school.

“Fine. At least admit your fixation with frat guys is dumb. Especially that jerk you were with. There are so many better guys out there.”

I tuned her out as we waited and thought about my hook up with Chase. Had I really just had sex on the beach?

I was getting ready to spend the single most important holiday of the year alone. Completely and utterly alone.

That meant he wouldn’t be there Christmas Eve. No making Christmas cookies, or listening to my dad sing off-key while my mom bustled around wrapping last-minute gifts. No decorating the tree. No midnight Christmas kiss.

No waking up in Grey’s arms. We were actually going to spend our very first Christmas in different states.

I zipped the side of my suitcase and slouched beside it on the bed. I knew it wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t go. How could it? I had spent every holiday with my parents for twenty-one years. I couldn’t buck the trend for number twenty-two, even if it meant Grey stayed behind.

That meant he wouldn’t be there Christmas Eve. No making Christmas cookies, or listening to my dad sing off-key while my mom bustled around wrapping last-minute gifts. No decorating the tree. No midnight Christmas kiss. No waking up in Grey’s arms. We were actually going to spend our first Christmas in different states.

I latched the side of my carry-on. I wasn’t taking a chance on losing the presents I had purchased for everyone back home with an airport snafu. I learned my lesson over spring break. They were packed tightly in my bag, wrapped in layers of Bubble Wrap. My boots were also tucked inside. They were the most special gift Grey had given me, and I wasn’t about to check those with my regular luggage.

“You ready, darlin’? It’s time. If we don’t get on the road, you’re going to miss your flight.” Grey stood in the doorway.