Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“The drinks are better back at our place,” Jude said in my ear, and I nodded.
There were about fifty people here in a moderate size suburban house. But it had a basement and a good-sized backyard, and as the alcohol flowed, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
I actually saw a guy from my finance class. He waved and started over, but he changed course when he saw the three large men hovering around me. Not much of a mystery as to why.
A few people danced, and Jude pulled me against him, using his body to guide mine in time to the music. There wasn’t a lot of room, but there didn’t need to be. I liked grinding against him.
As we moved together, he bent his head and nipped at my earlobe, the same way I’d done to him in the practice room that one time. “I just can’t get over the fact you’re wearing pink.”
I chuckled. “I know. I’m a bit shocked, myself. But shouldn’t you be more surprised that I wore a skirt?”
“No,” he breathed in my ear. “I knew you’d do that.”
“You did?” I looked up at him, surprised. My strappy sandals gave me an extra three or four inches of height, but he still towered over me.
“Yeah. You like getting dirty with us.”
I raised an eyebrow, attempting a cocky look. “What makes you say that?”
He palmed my ass with his large hand and squeezed. “You can’t play coy when you choose to wear a skirt knowing full well what it meant.” He smirked. “And a skirt that’s nearly as short as those sexy little shorts you always wear.”
I blushed, but wasn’t exactly in a hurry for him to move his hand. The truth was, I was a big fan of short shorts, but I usually had an oversized shirt or sweater that literally covered my ass. This was different since the pink jacket was cropped at my waist. As I moved my hips back and forth, I felt a bare strip of skin across my stomach not covered by anything.
Minus the long sleeves, my outfit was pretty damn skimpy, but I didn’t feel vulnerable or exposed or anything like that. Not with three strong men flanking my every move.
Almost as if on cue, Mason appeared next to me, his body unconsciously swaying from side to side as he joined us. “Want to go out back?” His question was directed at me.
“Sure.”
Mason jerked his head at Parker, and then we headed to the sliding glass doors leading to the backyard.
Navigating the dark staircase leading down from the deck wasn’t easy in my heels, but Mason was in front of me and Jude directly behind. I knew they wouldn’t let me fall.
I giggled as we passed through a cloud of smoke. This was Colorado, after all. Weed didn’t interest me much, but it was legal and popular here.
Groups stood around in the dark, talking, drinking, and touching. We passed two men standing a few feet apart and I couldn’t figure out what they were doing until a large ball whizzed right toward my head. Parker grabbed my arm, jerking me out of harm’s way.
“Tetherball?” Mason muttered, staring at the ball he’d just caught. “Who the fuck plays tetherball?” Ignoring the guy who held his hands out for the ball, Mason smacked it so hard, it wound all the way up the pole.
“I used to, back in elementary school,” I said.
Parker let go of my arm. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Thanks.” I stood on my tiptoes, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He kept hold of my hand as we walked farther into the dark.
The fenced yard narrowed as we walked, but it was surprisingly long. As the noise from the partygoers faded, I realized I heard running water.
Mason, leading the way, stopped in front of a large tree with low branches. “There’s a creek back here.”
“I love the sound of running water,” I said.
“Hopefully not as much as you love mountains or we’ll never be able to drag you away from this place,” Jude said.
I laughed, reaching up to touch the paper-thin bark of the ancient tree. “This is a great tree.”
Parker shook his head in amusement. “You have the strangest turn-ons.”
Mason shrugged. “I like this tree, too.” He patted a broad, low branch, almost parallel to the ground. “Because this right here looks like it’d make a perfect bench.” His hands descended to my sides and he picked me up, setting me on the branch in front of him. My legs dangled toward the ground, but it was perfectly comfortable sitting there. Plus, Mason and I were almost eye to eye, although I thought maybe I was a fraction higher. It felt weird to be able to see the top of his head in the pale moonlight.