Embracing Trouble (Trouble Series) (16 page)

“Are you going to smoke that or let it burn?” he asked in amusement.

I put the joint to my lips and took a small drag as he watched me. It burned my throat and tasted terrible. I blew out the smoke with distaste.

He quietly laughed at me, shaking his head, saying, “That good, huh?”

So I took another drag, a bigger one this time. I let the smoke slowly come out. It still tasted horrible.

He leaned in and took the joint from my fingers. He took a deep drag while not taking his eyes off me. I looked at him and felt a little numb as my lips tingled.

“Very nice,” he said to Janey as he passed the joint back to her. “And the weed’s pretty good, too.”

Janey laughed and took another drag, winking at me cheekily.

Zac

I walked into the club, following the guys in and scanned for Janey and Ava. I then went straight to the bar with Noah and ordered a round.

Will shook hands with one of the security guards and talked to him. He was soon joining us at the bar.

“They went upstairs about twenty minutes ago.”

“Let’s go,” said Noah taking his drink with him.

We reached the second level, greeted friends, and looked around. Soon, we were heading up to the next level.

I saw her instantly, giggling with Janey. Her long legs were bare and she was wearing her Converse sneakers. Her tight tank top offered a view of her impressive cleavage and her perfectly-sized breasts. I watched her as she leaned against a guy who seemed to be laughing and touching her. Was she high? Jealousy burned my gut and I strode over, not even thinking how I was meant to be staying away.

I saw her sway as she laughed at something and tried to keep her balance. I came up behind her and slid my arms around her waist, holding her against me. She giggled in delight and leaned back into me with her head on my shoulder.

“Hey,” she said happily.

“Hey,” I murmured into her ear.

I noticed the guy take a small step back, and as I glared at him, he took another step back.

“He’s been making me laugh,” she said softly.

I leaned down and nuzzled the side of her neck.

“I’m sure he has.”

I felt her gasp as I bit her neck softly and then licked at it. Her hand shot up and felt its way up behind my neck. Her bottom began to slowly grind against me. She was fucking turned on, and if she kept doing that to me, I would explode. My hand caressed her waist and then it gently stroked her stomach, making its way to just under her breast. I wanted to reach higher.

“So, this is a good surprise,” said Janey as she kissed Will and passed him the joint.

Conversation continued around us as I held her in my arms. She leaned back further into me.

“You have to stop that,” she whispered.

“Why?” I breathed into her ear.

My senses were reeling with excitement from her writhing in my arms.

“You’re making me crazy,” she said and giggled softly.

“Do you feel what you’re doing to me?” I whispered into her ear.

She giggled more.

“Yes,” she said wriggling her bottom against me for effect.

“Stop,” I said biting her ear with an amused grin. “How much of that joint have you had?”

“Enough,” she breathed. “But I can’t feel my feet.”

I chuckled as she turned around in my arms. Then she looked up at me with her big beautiful eyes. She was going to end me. Her hands went under my T-shirt, feeling my stomach. She suddenly smiled mischievously and moistened her lips.

I didn’t wait any longer to claim her lips. My hand grabbed the back of her head. I held her firmly in place and kissed her. Her tongue caressed mine as her hand stroked my back, her nails dragging against my skin. I wouldn’t last if she kept that up.

“Demented looks like he’s having fun.”

I pulled back slightly. Ava softly moaned in protest as I stopped. My brain registered the voice. Max. Fuck. He was the last person I wanted to see right now, especially with Ava here.

I turned and saw him with a smug look on his face, a girl on both sides of him.

“Hey, man,” I greeted him.

I looked to Janey meaningfully. I needed Ava away from here.

Janey went straight to Ava with a smile.

“Let’s go and dance,” she said pulling her out of my arms and leading her away.

“Who’s the girl?” asked Max.

He sipped his beer as he sat down on a recently vacated lounge area. He put his arms around the two girls as I sat down across from them.

I lit up a cigarette and exhaled.

“Just a girl.”

I didn’t even want Max’s eyes on her, let alone give him her name. Max always looked out for himself first and foremost. He also always enjoyed some healthy competition with me. I didn’t want him sniffing anywhere around Ava.

“She’s fucking hot,” Max said, looking for my reaction.

I tempered the instant anger that surged up within me.

“Looks like you have your hands full as it is.”

The two girls giggled and one used that opportunity to move over to me and rest her hand on my thigh. A few weeks ago, I would have had my way with her, but all I could think about was sexy Ava.

“What’s one more?” sneered Max.

I smirked and took a deep drag of my cigarette, hoping to fuck that he would leave soon. We were only friends from Juvie and Max was a bottom feeder. I needed him to forget Ava even existed.

Ava

As Will and Janey kissed on the side of the dance floor, I moved away and headed back upstairs. Zac was no longer standing where we had left them and I searched around for him. I soon found him further back in the lounge area where he was sitting with Noah and his friend with the two girls. The only problem was that one of the girls was now sitting on his lap.

I didn’t take another step. I felt confused with the scene that was playing in front of my eyes. We had been kissing the hell out of each other half an hour ago, and now he had someone else sitting on him.

The girl laughed and leaned back on him, putting her arm around his neck. With frustration coursing through me, I turned back around and quickly left that level.

As I hit the ground level, I was weaving my way through everyone when my phone vibrated. Janey.

Janey:
Where are you?

Ava:
Going to head home

Janey:
What happened?

Ava:
Nothing, just time for me to go

Janey:
Wait! I’ll come with you!

Ava:
Stay with Will. I’m fine.

Janey:
Girls night remember??? Wait there. I can see you

She appeared in front of me and I forced a smile.

“Don’t leave because of some skank,” she said instantly.

I couldn’t lie to her or pretend that it didn’t bother me.

“It’s probably best if I go home.”

“Why? You were having fun, weren’t you? Ignore her. It happens wherever he goes,” she said, taking my hand and squeezing it.

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” I answered. “Go back and have fun. It’s a school night anyway, remember?” I said with a wink, trying to lighten the mood.

She looked into my eyes for a moment.

“Let’s go then. We came out together, and we’ll go home together,” she said pulling me towards the entrance.

We stepped out into the cooler night air and looked for a taxi.

“So, who’s his friend?”

“That’s Max,” she said rolling her eyes. “Total scumbag. They bonded during their time in Juvie together five years ago.”

I kept an eye out for a taxi. Five years ago, Zac was in Juvenile Detention, while my mother disappeared from my life.

“Do you think he’ll take her home with him once he realizes I’m no longer there?” I asked suddenly.

Janey shrugged.

“Who can tell? If it was anyone else, I’d say probably, but he’s different with you, so who knows.”

I sighed in frustration and put my hand out for a taxi. I couldn’t take much more of this.

Zac

A few hours later in the taxi on the way home, I looked at the Facebook photo Janey had put up of them both licking ice creams.

She had tagged Ava and had called it:
Nothing like finishing a night with dessert! A girls got to have some sweetness in her life

I looked at Ava, laughing and licking at the same time. I had known the moment Ava had left the club earlier that night, because Janey had texted me a furious, short message. I didn’t doubt that the title of the photo was a shot at me as well. I let out a frustrated sigh, knowing I was damned regardless of which way I went with this.

As we walked into Noah’s, my eyes settled on Ava curled up on the couch, asleep next to Janey. I suddenly wanted her. I could have sworn I felt something in my chest as I looked her over. Fuck.

Janey was awake and went straight into Will’s arms, giving me a death stare on the way, making sure I was aware of her feelings on the matter. Tonight had been to get Ava away from Max. Nothing else.

I knew I would lose myself if I stayed around her long enough, and the thought scared me. Her eyes opened slowly and landed on me. I suddenly wanted her hot and panting body beneath me, begging for me. I didn’t want to think how much she unsettled me. I didn’t want to think about how I could never give her what she wanted or deserved.

Chapter Nine: I’m Worth More Than a One-Night Stand

Ava

I watched him come over to me and crouch down. The fact that there was no girl with him made me feel better. He didn’t say anything as he lifted me in his arms and carried me into his room.

He kicked the door shut behind him and put me down slowly so I was facing him.

“Did you kiss her?” I asked, still hurt and angry about tonight.

“No,” he glowered putting his hands on my waist. “I just didn’t want you anywhere near Max.”

I saw the fire in his eyes and glared back at him in defiance.

“So, having a big boobed hot girl in your lap fixed that?”

His eyes danced with amusement.

“It was a means to an end, Ava.”

“Don’t laugh at me,” I whispered, wanting to tell him how much he hurt me.

A sane person would leave, but his eyes seemed to dare me to try. He twirled me around until I was against the wall and he was up against me.

“She wasn’t hot,” he said, his mouth inches from mine.

“She was big boobed,” I whispered, wanting his lips on mine regardless of the consequences.

“Didn’t notice,” he whispered back, looking down at my mouth. “Stay with me tonight.”

I swallowed hard, knowing deep down that there was no way I would let myself leave tonight. He put both hands on the wall, on either side of me. He glared at me with intensity, waiting for my answer. I felt nervous but alive at the same time. I saw the desire in his eyes and it made my heart race.

I wanted nothing more than to throw caution to the wind and sleep with him. But I knew deep down that I didn’t want to do it yet. Not like this. If I was going to give something up like that, it would have to be when I was the only one in his life.

“I wasn’t waiting for you to come home. I was going to leave an hour ago,” I whispered defiantly.

His face became unreadable as my tongue darted out to moisten my lip and he watched the action closely.

“I’m not going to have sex with you,” I whispered next, avoiding his eyes. “I’m worth more than a one-night stand.”

“I know,” he replied huskily.

I looked back up at him then, trying not to get lost in his eyes. He moved one of his hands from the wall and caressed my waist. He stepped closer and his body touched mine. His hand stroked the skin on my back, and I instinctively curved my body intimately into his.

He gently squeezed my bottom over the top of my skirt, and then his hand was underneath my skirt, squeezing one of my cheeks firmly. My heart skipped a beat.

His hand kept moving and exploring my skin, going down my thigh and then pulling my thigh up against him so I was flush against his arousal.

I let out a whimper and saw the hunger in his eyes just before his mouth met mine. He groaned low in his throat as my lips parted and our kiss deepened.

My arms went around his neck as we kissed hungrily, sucking and biting each other’s lips. He ground his body against mine and I gasped in awareness, suddenly needing more.

My nerve endings were going into overdrive, shooting sparks through me. His kisses went deeper than before, and I let him devour me, knowing we were totally alone. Nothing could stop us now.

His hand went under my tank top, and he caressed my stomach. Then he moved up further over my ribs, making me kiss him frantically.

I wanted him to touch me, desperately. His hand went over my bra and then he squeezed my breast gently like he was committing the feel to memory, over and over again. It felt so good that I needed more.

I let him take my tank top off completely. Then he stopped for a moment and took in the sight of me against the wall in my bra. The way he gazed at me made me feel hot and desirable. I wanted him to stare at me longer. I wanted to rub my bare skin against his hands, his chest, his face, and…

“So fucking perfect,” he whispered, almost to himself.

I was softly panting as he returned both hands to my breasts, and he kissed me again. His mouth soon moved down my throat as he kissed and licked at me.

My hips rubbed against him, needing more. His fingers pulled my bra cups down, exposing me to him. My breath caught in my throat as he took my nipple into his mouth. I heard a deep groan and realized it was coming from me.