Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1) (24 page)

“How come you didn’t show up to school today?” I mashed my body next to hers. I’d thought she’d return to school after her ob-gyn appointment.

“Yeah, Becca. Why did you play hooky?” Kelton asked, leaning over so his head was between Becca and me.

“Personal space, Kelton. Ever heard of it?” I gave him a sideways glare.

“Girls love when I invade their personal space,” he drawled.

Becca giggled.

Kade smacked his brother on the back of the head. “Back off, Kel.”

“Now, Big Bro. You know your kin wouldn’t dare move in on your girl.” He winked at me.

Here we go.
I would be rolling my eyes all night.

“Shut up, man,” Kross said, flicking Kelton in the head, too.

“So, Tammy? I heard you were in the principal’s office.” Becca asked again as Kelton sat back. Then she leaned into me. “Rumor is you’re seeing a shrink,” she whispered. “Is that because of your mom?”

To lie or not to lie
? “Can we talk about that later? Lots of people around, Becca.” I’d promised myself I would have a good time and not get upset with anyone tonight.

She squeezed my thigh.

“Are you cold?” Kade asked as he nudged closer to me, wrapping an arm around my waist.

“Freezing.” It didn’t matter that the cold from the metal bench penetrated through my jeans. As long as my body was pressed against his, I was more than warm.

“You look fucking hot in those boots,” he whispered in my ear. “You’re giving me all kinds of fantasies.” He nibbled on my earlobe.

A shiver ran through me, and not from the cold bench or the brisk wind blowing. I turned, his cheek sliding against mine until our lips connected. He kissed me slow and soft.

“Get a room, Bro,” Kody said teasingly

Wow!
Kody was in a playful mood tonight.

“They say that to you a lot, I’m finding.” I eased away.

“You’re lucky we’re here. Or you would be in my room,” he threatened.

A threat I would welcome
.

Finally, Kensington’s band marched out onto the field. With the exception of two drummers, the band retreated to their seats in a special section of the stands. The two band members marched to the sideline behind the Kensington cheerleaders.

Lancaster Christian’s team ran out first, plowing through their paper barrier. Red and white uniforms flooded the field as their fans screamed in support. Then the stadium quieted. A soft beat splintered the silence as the cheerleaders and the two drummers marched out to the end zone on the far left of the field. The sound grew louder and heavier the closer they got to the spot where Kensington’s football team would emerge. Once they arrived, two cheerleaders opened the Kensington banner while the rest of the girls and the two band members formed two lines parallel to each other behind the banner. All of this reminded me of the football games at Crestview. I loved the energy of school spirit and the rivalry between teams. Watching baseball games wasn’t as much fun as watching guys tackle each other. However, playing baseball was the bomb.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a loud Bulldog shout for your Kensington High football team,” a deep baritone voice blared through the speakers.

The drummers keyed the crowd with a drumroll before the fans barked like dogs, voices echoing in the stadium. I’d bet every house around the school could hear us.

In the distance, Tyler ripped through the banner first, and the barks and shouts turned into squeals and screams from the Kensington girls. The energy around us soared to incredible heights. I hadn’t been to a high school football game since my sophomore year. I missed the excitement.

“Tyler is so good,” Becca cooed.

After several deafening minutes, people settled into their seats. The cheerleaders made their way to the sideline, center stage on the track in front of the stands. The drummers joined their bandmates.

The captains of each team met on the field for the coin toss. The band played an unfamiliar song, and my gaze drifted to nowhere as I listened, but my mind narrowed in on a something that had been lingering.

Slipping my hand over Kade’s thigh, I angled my head slightly.

He caught my gaze. “Your hand is awful close to—”

“Why don’t you play baseball anymore?”

He covered my hand with his. “After my brothers went to the Academy, it wasn’t fun anymore. I’d rather work on cars or spend time at the gun club. And by the way, I have a bone to pick with you about your gun.”

“I thought we were past that.” The first day we met seemed so long ago. I had the sense he didn’t think I knew how to handle a weapon. Maybe he’d seen the gun shaking in my hands.

He flashed the famous grin I so loved, and then when the noise level rose, Kade and I turned our attention to the field. The game had begun, and our number twenty-two was running down the field toward the goal line. LC’s players were right on his tail. He made it to the twenty-yard line when he was tackled by three of LC’s players. While the teams huddled, my hand meandered between Kade’s legs.

“Lace.” He leaned in. “Careful.” His tone held a husky warning.

“My fingers are cold,” I said, sticking out my bottom lip.

The crowd screamed. Tyler threw a pass to number fifty-seven, who just happened to be one yard from the end zone. An LC player tried to intercept it, but number fifty-seven caught it in midair as he jumped over for a touchdown. We sat for another hour, clapping, screaming, and whistling as Kensington scored two more touchdowns and LC scored one. By halftime, my butt had iced up, my hands were numb, and clear liquid ran out of my nose.

“Do you want to go someplace where I can warm you up?” Kade murmured.

“Sure.” He didn’t have to ask me twice. My freaking body was like one of those ice sculptures. His warmth only lasted so long.

Kade hopped to the row behind and talked with his brothers.

“What’s going on?” Becca asked as she blew into her bare hands.

“Kade and I are leaving.”

“Call me tomorrow,” she said.

It would be our girls’ night at the Cave tomorrow. Tonight I was all Kade’s. I had no idea where we were going. From the way he phrased the question, I doubted he was dropping me off at home.

Chapter 17

W
hen we reached his house, Kade drove around his six-car garage toward the dark landscape in the direction of the lake.

“Are you dumping me in the woods or throwing me in the lake?” I asked.

“What’s your pleasure?”

“Traipsing through the woods at night has been on my list of things to do in life.”

“Your wish will come true then.”

Okay
. My pulse picked up a beat. Before my imagination conjured up all kinds of freaky scenes, moonlight shone down over the smooth, glassy water of the lake.

“Is this the Maxwells’ make-out point?”

He let out a laugh, deep, warm, and rich. “My brothers will get a kick out of that one. And we don’t need to make out in our trucks.”

The headlights beamed, lighting the dense brush in the distance. An animal scurried into the trees.

He stopped the truck twenty feet from the funhouse.
Of course he didn’t need the truck when he had a den on the lake. Stupid me
.

He killed the engine, reached around my back seat and plucked up a flashlight.

“What’s that for?” My pulse galloped. The funhouse was right there.

His lips formed into a half smile. “You said you wanted to go for a walk in the woods.”

I was relieved I hadn’t told him I wanted to go for a swim in the lake. “Ha-ha. Seriously. Why do you need a flashlight?”

“Let’s go,” he said, jumping out without answering me.

I hesitated.
Was he crazy? The temperatures had dropped since leaving the football field, and we were going for a stroll in the forest. The dark forest
. I didn’t see anything romantic about it. I loved animals. That wasn’t my problem. I just didn’t like the kind who wanted to eat me for dinner.

My door opened. “Trust me.” He held out his hand.

I angled my head. The muted light of the car interior played off his face, highlighting the gold flecks in his copper eyes. Eyes that sucked me into his world, telling me I was his, and he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I relinquished my forest phobia and allowed him to fold his hand over mine. His warm touch sedated me
. Or maybe it was my hormones acting up from the way he looked at me like he wanted to strip me right here
.

As I climbed out, he switched on the flashlight. It helped that the moon provided a glow over the lake. We walked the twenty feet to the steps of the funhouse.

“See, I’m not a big bad wolf,” he said. “Just a nice one who wants to taste you.”

I didn’t have a chance with a retort when he opened the door and a blast of hot air hit me.
Warmth. Finally
. I sailed in, squealing in delight. Kade laughed as he flicked a switch. A lamp came to life on the end table near the couch. A soft glow lit up the room.

“Do you always keep the heat on in this place?” I blew into my hands. I’d forgotten my gloves in the truck before we went into the stadium. Since then, my hands hadn’t thawed completely.

“Nope.” He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on a peg adjacent to the door.

“Did you do this for me?”

“Yep.”

“What happened to your vocabulary?” I removed my coat and followed his lead, hanging mine up.

“Tonight, Lace, talking will be minimal.” The deep timbre of his voice unleashed a frisson of heat. “But first.” He turned me around to face the table.

Images of him and me, our bodies braided together, halted as my jaw came unhinged. A cupcake with a candle in it, and a small box wrapped in dark blue paper with a large white bow sat on the wood table.

“Are you proposing?” I asked kiddingly.
Okay, maybe I wasn’t. Other items came in small boxes, not only rings. Right
?

“Oh, hell, no,” he said, his hot breath fanning my ear.

My skin pebbled with goosebumps.

“It’s just a birthday gift, Lacey. No need to be concerned.” His hands molded to my waist.

I wanted to laugh. We’d only known each other for a couple of weeks, and he’d already professed his love for me. So to see a small box sitting on the table, it was my first thought.

“If you don’t want to open it, that’s okay, Lace.” He swept my hair to one side as he kissed my neck. “I know I’ve been aggressive in telling you how I feel. And—”

Turning, I placed my finger on his lips. “Hush. I’m sorry. I just never had so much attention before.” It wasn’t a lie. Brad had never treated me like I was the only one in his life.

His hands glided from my waist to my lower back. “Then whoever you dated was an idiot,” he drawled. “But I’m glad—now you’re all mine,” he said.

My body tensed until he started drawing lazy circles, just as he had that night at the Cave. The sensation was both calming and endearing.

“I know you have a lot going on in that pretty head of yours, about you and me. It’s okay. I’m a patient guy. Now, would you like to open your gift?”

I’d rather stay here forever while he continued to lull me into a trance. My curiosity won out, though. Every Christmas, I was the one who had to peek at one of my gifts. Mom would get so mad.

He led me over to the couch, bringing the present along. I sat first, then he placed it on my lap before joining me.

I examined the beautiful wrapping, sliding a sidelong glance his way. His expression was impassive as though the wheels in his head were turning, too. I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss, hoping to reassure him that I was excited, and I truly was.

A corner of his mouth turned upward.

I ripped into the gift, finding a red velvet box beneath the paper. My heart beat like a timpani. The jitters commingled with excitement. I envisioned him getting down on one knee, then shook off the wild notion.
I was officially losing it
. I met his watchful eyes.

“Go ahead,” he urged.

Slowly, I opened the box. Inside was a silver chain with a charm on the end. “Is this a bear?” My voice hitched.

“Yep. Do you like it?” he asked, hesitation in his tone.

“I love it.” I really did, even though I didn’t wear jewelry, not even earrings. When I played baseball, trinkets on my body got in the way. I removed the necklace, and was about to put it on when Kade took it from me.

“Let me,” he said.

I gathered my hair with both hands, twisting it up. I turned so my back was to him. He undid the clasp before securing it around my neck.

“Happy birthday.” He kissed along the nape of my neck.

I let go of my hair, examining the little silver creature that rested above my cleavage. “But my birthday isn’t until tomorrow.”

“I know. I wanted to spend time alone with you tonight.” He pulled me onto his lap. “I thought Mary and your dad would want you tomorrow night.”

I wasn’t so sure about my dad. Saturdays were busy for him at the club. Plus he hadn’t mentioned anything about my birthday. It wasn’t unusual, though. Mom was the one who always remembered our birthdays. Adjusting my position, I straddled Kade, bracing my hands on his shoulders.

He yanked me to him.

“Thank you, Kade. I really do love it,” I said, soft and smooth.

“You are my polar bear, Lace,” he breathed, his eyes darkening. His words, the conviction in his voice, unraveled my heartstrings. He grinned with his infamous Maxwell smirk as he cupped my face.

I had barely caught my breath when his mouth was on me. I opened to him as his tongue dipped inside, twining with mine. He tasted like forever. I wiggled against his hardness, and he moaned. Abandoning my mouth, he trailed his lips along my jaw, my ear, and my neck. He licked over my racing pulse while the heat from his hands was scorching my back. His torment was too much, yet not enough. My clothes grew constrictive. I wanted to feel his bare skin against mine.

As if he sensed my need, he lifted my sweater over my head, throwing it to the floor. His eyes were seas of shimmering copper. The backs of his fingers ghosted up and over my abs to land on the clasp of my bra. For perhaps one second he hesitated before unsnapping it. When he did, I sucked in a breath, my nipples hardening. He removed one strap then the other before it fell behind me.

“Beautiful,” he breathed, as he traced the outline of my breasts, teasing, but never touching the sensitive peaks that ached for his magical fingers or even his mouth.

I pressed my hips into him, feeling his arousal. Desire swirled down my belly in a slow, sinuous slide.

He groaned, deep and sensual. “Baby, tell me what you want.”

My body tingled. My brain went blank. “You.” All I wanted to do right now was feel him and everything he had to offer.

His eyes widened with a savage intensity that frightened me, yet calmed me. He pressed a kiss to my breast, gliding his warm mouth over my nipple before sucking on it. I arched into him, rubbing against him. He moaned, giving my other breast the same attention.

I fisted my hands in his sweater, tugging it up. He eased back, raising his arms. I lifted his sweater and T-shirt over his head before tossing it aside. My gaze wandered over him, drinking in every muscled inch of him from the line of light brown hair that disappeared into his jeans, to the six-pack abs that sculpted his midsection, to the tattoos on his chest. Pushing his fingers through my hair, he brushed his lips over mine.

“Are you sure, Lace?” His voice was barely audible.

“Very,” I whispered.

In an instant, my back was pressed into the soft fabric of the couch, goosebumps popping up all over me. He unbuttoned my jeans, his gaze melding with mine.

Zeal’s song, “She was Beautiful” filled the room. Ignoring his ringtone, he continued his quest to get me completely naked. The song stopped. He unzipped my jeans, and the phone rang again.

“Fuck,” he muttered as he stood, removing the phone from his jeans pocket. He touched the screen. “This better be fucking good,” he said to the caller.

I sat up, covering my breasts with my arms, feeling cold from the loss of his warmth, but also self-conscious. It was weird to sit bare-chested, completely exposed when the mood was ruined.

“Is he okay?” His voice dropped, his nostrils flaring. “When?” Then the skin around his eyes tightened. “I’ll kill him this time. Yeah. We’re on our way.” He shoved the phone into his pocket, hard. “Fuck.”

“What’s going on?” I grabbed my bra and sweater and dressed quickly. The word
kill
sprang my nerves to life.

“That was Kelton. Kody and Tyler are on their way to the emergency room.” He strode over to the couch and snatched his sweater off the cushion, mumbling to himself.

I gasped. “Are they alright?”

“Kody’s banged up, and Tyler has a dislocated shoulder,” he bit out.

“What happened?”

“A fight broke out immediately after the football game between my brothers, Tyler, and Greg and some of his buddies.” He jammed his arms then his head into his T-shirt then sweater, yanking the garments down over him.

“What about Greg?” Not that I cared. I just hoped like hell that Greg was just as battered.

“I don’t give a fuck. The guy’s lights are about to go out.”

“Hey,” I whispered, carefully stepping closer to him. Somehow I needed him to calm down. “Take a deep breath.” It wouldn’t be good for anyone if he was a madman. Rage led to violence. I didn’t want to think of the end result. I had to stop him from doing something brainless, so no one would get hurt, including him.

He grabbed my hair, pulled back my head and destroyed my lips in a turbulent kiss. I reached around his waist, slid my hands under his shirt and traced lazy circles on his lower back, hoping to tame the beast inside him. His touch always helped to ease my tension. A groan erupted from him, low and dark. I should’ve been frightened, but his dominance only sparked a burning desire that inched up my legs and down my belly—a desire on a collision course to erupt in the exact spot that was pulsing out of control. It was weird how my body reacted to him, even in his state of rage. I let him take as much of me as he needed in the kiss and prayed we could both walk out of there.

The ride to the hospital was intensely quiet. I rubbed Kade’s hand as he drove, trying to quell his nerves, or maybe I had to soothe mine.

The light ahead flashed red, and the car in front of us crawled to a stop. I checked the speedometer. Forty miles per hour.
Oh crap. Did we have enough distance between us and the Nissan to brake safely
? “Um…Kade?”

Nothing. His trance-like state sent me into freak mode.

“Kade!” I slapped him on the arm. “Stop!”

“I am,” he barked. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his face a mixture of pain and anger.

“When? After we crash?” I was going to kill him if he killed me.

He slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching to a halt mere inches from the red taillights. My breath lodged in my throat, and my heart either stopped or fell out of my chest.

“You need to calm down,” I all but screamed. “I would like to see my eighteenth birthday.” The hospital wasn’t far now. Maybe I should get out and walk the rest of the way.

His phone rang as the light turned green. Giving the car gas, Kade jabbed a button on the steering wheel. “Yeah.” His voice was as calm as the ocean on a windless day.

“What’s your ETA?” His brother’s voice filled the truck.

I still struggled to figure out which triplet was speaking over the phone. The caller had to be either Kross or Kelton.

“I’ll be there in five,” Kade responded. “How is he, Kel?”

“Kody has a broken rib and nose. He’ll be fine, Bro.”

“Where is that fucker, Sullivan?” A violent undertone wove through the steadiness in Kade’s voice.

“Not sure. Just get here. Then we can talk.”

“What about Tyler?” I asked softly.

“Hey, Lacey,” Kelton said. “Tyler has a dislocated shoulder. Coach Preston is furious.” Mr. Preston was the football coach, and according to Tyler, meaner than Coach Dean.

“Where’s Kross? Are you two okay?” Kade turned into the visitor’s lot.

“We’re good, Bro. You know no one can touch Kross.” Considering Kross was into boxing, I didn’t doubt it.