Evelyn Vine Be Mine (19 page)

The kiss seemed to last forever, but was still over much too soon. Stone pulled away slowly, his eyes opening in time with mine, his breath shallow. I opened my mouth to say something, but could think of nothing. He tucked my head against his chest and closed his eyes, holding me close as my own eyes grew heavy and the alcohol left in my blood dragged me to sleep.

***

Come morning, I was still held tightly in his embrace. I snuggled into for a moment, before realising what had happened last night. A stampede of thoughts crowded my brain and my hangover headache pulsed with anger. I didn’t want to think about last night’s implications. I didn’t want to worry. Stone shifted against me, slowly coming awake. His arms tightened briefly, then loosened as he stared at me for a few moments. He didn’t smile. He didn’t frown. He didn’t say anything. He simply yawned adorably and kissed my forehead, letting me go and rolling out of the bed. I blushed at the impressive morning wood fighting against the fly of his jeans, still not used to waking up to that every day. He left my room without another word or look and shut the door behind him. I knew that he’d gone to his room to shower and change before breakfast, but I still felt dismissed.

With a groan, I forced myself from the bed to shower and change. I dressed for comfort, pulling on a pair of camouflage pants that used to be baggy on me. Now they fit perfectly. I struggled into a black singlet top that had a built in bra and pulled my hair into a messy bun. I shoved some money into one of my many pockets and slipped a pair of thongs on my feet. I trudged into the dining area and waited in the now short breakfast line. I grabbed a big bottle of water, some fruit and some plain toast to put on my tray, but paused when I came to the treat fridge. There was a plate of iced cupcakes in there and a sudden idea made me grab one with a giggle. Stone didn’t celebrate his birthday and I doubted he’d accept a gift…but the big man had a weakness for sweets. I saw trays of chocolates in the next fridge and searched eagerly for a box of Smarties.

I grinned as I pressed the multi-coloured sweets into the icing of the cake in the shape of a smiley face. I didn’t care when the checkout lady glared at me. I just handed over the opened box of Smarties for her to scan and practically skipped to the band’s table. I sat down in my usual seat beside Stone and casually placed the cake on his full tray. He stared down at the smiling face, his face expressionless.

Donny pouted. “Hey!” he protested, “Where’s mine?”

I blushed and started eating my toast, hoping that everyone would stop staring soon. I saw Stone fight to control his quivering lower lip and knew that he was fighting a big grin. He didn’t say anything though. He just reached beneath my seat and tugged my chair right up against his. He picked up his knife and fork and continued to eat his breakfast. I breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever he’d been angry about…it was obviously resolved. I allowed myself a small smile of satisfaction, before returning hungrily to my breakfast.

TWELVE

Chapter 12.

Stone came to my room before dinner the next day and sat down on the bed beside me. I hastily tried to hide the erotic photographs I’d been studying, but he carefully took them from me. I blushed and played with the hem of my shirt as he flicked through the stack of prints, his eyebrows rising and his eyes glowing with amusement.

“They’re…They’re for my assignment,” I whispered, moving closer and tentatively taking them back. Stone looked at me, waiting for me to continue.

“They’re part of a catalogue,” I explained, “It’s called Voyeur. It’s one of Billy’s.”

He gave a brief nod, his eyes moving beyond my head to look at the picture above my bed. I raised my hands to my heated cheeks and bit my lip.

“Billy gave that one to me,” I said softly, “It’s the original print.”

His gaze moved back to meet mine. I swallowed.

“It…It’s my favourite one,” I admitted, my voice barely audible.

He looked back at the picture, standing up so that he could move closer for a better look. He said nothing for several long minutes, before looking at his watch and bending to feather a light kiss against my lips.

“Dinner,” he said, his growly voice sounding even deeper than usual.

“I…” My voice cracked. I took a deep breath and tampered the sudden rush of arousal I felt.

“I’ll meet you down there,” I murmured, “I have to pack up.”

He nodded quickly and left the room. I carefully placed the prints away and shoved my notes in a folder. I picked up the prints I’d developed from my camera earlier today and placed them on the desk by the door. I paused as I went to open the door, my eyes caught on the top photo. It was one of Stone, taken at the Hedley-on-Todd race, through the crowds. It was a good photo, clear and well positioned; the expression of pride and satisfaction on his face captured perfectly. I’d taken the shot from Logan’s shoulders, but the heads of the crowd were still visible and Stone was surrounded by large and small boats, making it appear as though I’d been stalking him from the safety of the sidelines. I flicked through the other photos I’d developed, trying to find the few others I’d shot of Stone.

There was the one I’d taken through the crack of my bedroom door while he was sleeping and one I’d taken at the Finke Desert Race through a haze of red dust and cheering people. There he’d stood, with his arms crossed. He looked tall and powerful, his expression noticeably watchful despite the aviators hiding his eyes. He’d given them to me after the shot, when I’d copped a face full of dust.

An idea started to form as I looked back and forth between the three black and white prints. The photography assignment I was writing on Billy was nearly finished and I’d need to start preparing for the next assignment, which was to recreate a famous catalogue or photo story. We’d been told we could use the same one we’d analysed for the first assignment, but I’d rejected that idea, certain that there was no way I’d try to recreate Billy’s Voyeur. I mean…just who was I going to get to pose for such raunchy pictures? No one would be willing to do that for free…well okay, maybe Donny or Fredi would…just not together.

I let the pictures fall back to the desk as a small smile spread across my face. I would take a different approach to Voyeur… and Stone would be my subject.

I frowned as I made my way down to dinner.

Would Stone be alright with that?

Somehow, I didn’t think so…but then, the whole point of my idea was to take them unnoticed…

***

Stone didn’t hold me close or kiss me during dinner. In fact, he didn’t show any signs of being more affectionate than normal. It was almost as if that amazing kiss last night hadn’t happened…and from the way the rest of our friends were reacting, none of them knew about it, nor sensed anything different between us.

Were things different between us? I didn’t know. He hadn’t asked me to be his girlfriend and he didn’t look to be publicly claiming me either. Perhaps we were just friends that kissed?

…and shared a bed.

I shrugged off those confusing thoughts and tuned back into the conversation at the table.

Donny and Fredi were being surprisingly civil…in fact, they looked to be getting along quite well as they enthusiastically bragged that they were going to win the pool tournament being held on the weekend.

Alec grinned and tossed Stone a bottle of Coke as he rejoined the table. “Are we going to give Fredi and Don a run for their money?” he asked Stone, taking a seat beside Briar.

Stone shook his head and Alec frowned. Stone opened his Coke and took a long sip before draping an arm over my shoulder. Alec looked back and forth between us with a growing smile.

“Are you going to partner Stone this year Evie?” he asked happily.

“What?” I asked, startled. I looked up at Stone in question. He stared back at me with no expression on his face, waiting for me to either confirm or deny Alec’s question. What did he want from me? What game was he playing? I stared back at him, trying to find some emotional crack in his expression, something that would explain his actions, his feelings, his wants.

“Evie?” Briar prompted and I realised the entire table had gone quiet, watching us stare at each other while they waited for my answer.

“Yes,” I murmured, blushing and shrugging off Stone’s arm.

“Yes, I’m going to be Stone’s partner,” I agreed.

“For pool,” I added quickly.

Alec grinned and wrapped an arm around Briar. “Looks like it’s you and me,” he told her.

Briar frowned in confusion. “Why would you want to partner me?” she asked, looking up at him as if he was stupid, “I suck.”

Alec shrugged, “Anyone’s better than Jamie.”

“Hey!” Jamie protested, glaring across the table at him.

“Still,” Briar persisted, ignoring Jamie, “You hate to lose. You’re competitive. Why don’t you pick someone else?”

I rolled my eyes. Duh! He likes you!

Alec smiled one of those sexy, panty-dropping grins he gave his fans, “Winning isn’t everything Briar-Rose.”

His voice deepened and he tugged gently on one of the springy curls hanging in front of her face. “Play with me,” he asked huskily, “It’ll be fun.”

Briar swallowed and her eyelashes flickered. I could tell that she’d been affected by Alec’s lethal charm. He was the sweet and sensitive one of the boys in the band, but that didn’t make him any less sexy. He hadn’t pushed his hair into its usual short Mohawk tonight. Instead, the soft, dark strands were messed in sexy, sleepy disarray. His usually warm and kind hazel eyes were lit with heat and sex.

“Sure,” Briar agreed after a deep breath. She grinned widely, her dimples cutting deep grooves in her apple cheeks. “Sound’s like fun.”

“Are you and Mason playing?” Jamie asked Candy with a scowl.

Candy wrinkled her nose, “No. Mase is disk jockeying. I’m going to dance and get drunk.”

Jamie sighed, but it turned into a wicked grin. “Hell, more women for me then if you four are too busy playing with sticks,” he said with a laugh, giving Donny a friendly shove.

“Four?” one of the randoms at our table asked.

“Donny, Fredi, Alec and Stone,” Jamie supplied, looking the guy over with a frown, “Who are you?”

“He’s a friend of mine,” Briar supplied nonchalantly, turning toward the guy with a smile, “Fredi’s a lesbian.”

The guy looked back and forth between Fredi and Donny, the confusion clear on his face. Briar sent him a knowing smile and gently patted him on the head. “Don’t worry about it, Patrick,” she mumbled on a low laugh, “They’re just as confused as you.”

Jamie got up from his chair and sort of bounced with pent up energy. “You guys up for a band practice?” he asked, clearly antsy to get hold of his guitar.

I felt Stone hesitate beside me, before nodding slowly. He squeezed my thigh beneath the table briefly and stood up with Alec, Fredi and Donny. I discretely rubbed where he’d touched as the band said goodbye, hoping to numb the hot impression his strong hand had made.

Briar grinned when the rest of the crowd left, leaving Candy and I as the table’s only other occupants. “Thank God they’ve finally left,” she said, sitting down next to me in Stone’s vacated seat. Candy moved closer as well.

“We’ve got to talk strategy,” Briar explained, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Strategy?” I asked curiously.

Candy’s cheeky grin rivalled Briar’s. “She means we have to prepare you for this weekend’s competition. Make sure you and Stone win.”

“But what about you and Alec?” I protested.

Briar snorted and waved a hand airily. “I suck at pool,” she admitted, “I’ll try to keep us in as long as possible, but it’s up to you and Stone to kick everyone’s butts.”

“Especially Fredi and Donny’s,” she added with a small growl.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t see how we could form any kind of magic strategy that would ensure we would win. I played rather well and so did Stone…what else could we do?

A lot, I found out as they dragged me upstairs to choose an especially distracting outfit and teach me the art of bending over…

***

“I still think this is a little much,” I protested for the hundredth time as Briar and I walked toward the Uni Club that weekend.

Briar groaned. “Quit complaining,” she begged me, “You look amazing and it’s not that revealing. You’re wearing full length jeans for Christ’s sake.”