Within two seconds, our blanket huddle is feeling increasingly intimate, the air inside our cocoon almost sizzling. I shoot a glance toward my friends, assuming they will be agog at my forced situation, but they are too wrapped up in their own conversations to notice. That’s when I realize I would have been the odd woman out tonight if it weren’t for Cal. The thought makes me even grumpier.
“Where is Emerson?” I call out to the group. She’s the science fanatic and single too, although that might be changing soon given what I’ve witnessed between her and her bio partner, who also happens to be the son of infamous rocker Diesel. Heck, I think I’d change my no bad-boys rule for him too.
“She couldn’t make it,” Amerie informs. “Something about a team project she’s working on.”
At this hour? “I bet,” I mumble, already planning to give Emerson shit the next time I see her. The imagined scenario is at least keeping my mind off of the oh so handsome but annoying guy next to me.
That is until Cal’s muscled arm accidentally brushes against my breast, causing my nipples to harden immediately, and I curse myself for not having put on a bra after all. His gaze has zeroed in on my treacherous buds, which only tighten further from the attention.
“Sorry,” he whispers, his voice sounding deeper than I’ve heard it before. The sensual sound courses through me, and I bite my lip to suppress a shiver. His exhale tickles my neck and I bring my shoulder up in reaction.
Smiling, Cal wraps the blanket tighter around us, and warmth radiates over me. He may have been trying to ward off the chill, but the feel of his body cuddled up to mine has only made my shivering worse. His heat scalds me and I try to wiggle away, accidentally causing another boob graze. One more touch and I’m afraid I’ll combust. I’m starting to think that the only option is to abandon my cozy blanket cave, when Diego interrupts the group.
“I brought Wint O Green Lifesavers for everyone,” he declares, passing out the individually wrapped candies. “When I was a kid,” Diego continues, “we used to do this trick. If you dry your mouth and bite down on the mints in the dark, you’ll see sparks.”
“It’s triboluminescence,” Amerie supplies.
We all stare at her. Whatever that means.
“It’s kind of like static electricity or lightning on a much lesser scale,” she adds.
I bob my head, kind of getting what she means. It’s what causes stuff to spark, like when you break a glowstick. I unwrap the mint and pop it into my mouth, and Cal does the same. Staring at each other’s mouths, we mash and crush the mint between our teeth. “Oh,” I yelp, spotting the blue sparks lighting up his tongue. “I see it!”
“Me, too!” he says, pointing back at my mouth, and I smile with the candy still clenched between my teeth.
“That was fun. Now it’s time for a BJ!” Diego declares, and I almost choke on the remaining piece of mint. Cal’s hand slides up my back to give me a soothing pat, but his touch only makes me sputter more.
Once I’ve gotten myself under control, I see Jax is swatting at Diego for his dirty remark.
“What?” he asks, raising his hands up in defense. “Everyone knows it’s supposed to add extra sensations after a girl eats an Altoid or something minty like that and then gives head.”
“Really?” Brady asks, eagerly looking at Amerie, who is shaking her head.
To be fair, I’ve heard that fellatio rumor, too, but I’m not about to chime in on the topic.
Luckily, a rumbling of squeals and shouts erupts across the field and we return our attention to the night’s sky. The spectacular meteor storm sends streaks of light above us.
I start to lie down on my back to watch but accidentally pull Cal along since he’s tethered to me by the comforter. We bump and jostle each other while trying to rescue the blanket trapped underneath us. Every time his touch brushes over me, my blood ignites and my stomach does a slight flip. Finally, he tugs the blanket free, and while I gaze above, he tucks it around me, making sure it’s snug around my arms and shoulders. I can barely mumble my thanks as I’m overwhelmed with a sensation so unfamiliar that I’m rendered speechless, which is a shock in itself. To calm my electrified nerves, I concentrate on the meteors and manage to point to a streak of light all the way to the left. The motion has me almost leaning over Cal’s body, and I’m left staring down at his full lips, which twitch up into a smile. I gulp and lie back down, returning my attention to the sky. This is torture.
“Shooting stars and meteors are said to possess a bit of magic,” states Jax whimsically, sounding very much like a wistful Disney princess. “I’ve heard you’ll have good luck for a year if you kiss under a meteor shower and I don’t know about ya’ll, but I can use some good juju.”
“That’s not a thing,” I state. I wish Jax had kept her mouth shut. My hormones are on overdrive, and I can feel Cal’s gaze on me.
“She’s right, that’s not a thing,” Amerie chimes in, and I could kiss her for agreeing with me.
“Wait, so we’re not gonna?” Brady asks, and even I can hear his disappointment.
“We are.” She sighs. “But I still think it’s fairy tale bunk.” Yet, she is immediately straddling Brady’s lap, seeming eager for their kiss. I flick my gaze back up at the sky, not wanting to see the rest, but I can hear the lip-smacking around me.
Again, I sense Cal looking at me. In fact, I can feel every bit of him calling out to me. Or maybe it’s my body calling out to him? Either way, the result is the same. I’m being steadily drawn in by the enchantment of the sky and the heat of his body.
Casting my eyes away from the show above, I narrow them at him, which only makes him smile more. Normally, that look sends most men running, but it has never seemed to work with Cal.
“Soooo … what do you think?” Cal asks with a smirk.
Chapter Two
I just kissed who?
