Page 4 of This Is War: All's Fair Duet
“In a fifth? Like fifteen or sixteen.” I reach over and take the bottle back from her and down another shot. “And if we go sip by sip, we’re going to be here all night.” Squinting in the dark, I search out Logan. “Who did you come with tonight?”
“Just a couple friends.”
I nod.Interesting. I take another long swallow.
“It was mostly my roommate. She loves a good party.” She wets her lips before continuing. “Your name is Jaxon, right?” At my nod, she finishes, “I can drink more. It didn’t taste so bad. I don’t want you to have to drink an entire bottle because you got stuck with me.” She moves to her knees beside me, holding out her hand.
“All right. But don’t force it down. And we can go slow.”
“I just don’t drink very often. I’m, uh… I’m a dancer.” She swallows deeply before handing the bottle back to me.
My brows drift upward, and I smirk.Nice. Very nice.
We exchange the bottle several more times over the next twenty minutes or so. The more Rya drinks, the looser she gets, becoming less cautious with her words and way more touchy-feely with me. And I gotta say, I’m living for it, especially because Logan hasn’t stopped looking over here. Not for a second. I shoot a feral grin in his direction.
Rya takes another swig of the rum, then flops against me, giggling at her own clumsiness. “I feel… all floopy. Like I’m not myself. But… so free.” She stretches her unbound arm into the air, swaying to the music, as she glances around the room. Her eyes widen as they drift overquite a few pairs of booze buddies going at it, hot and heavy in the dark. The music has changed, it’s sexy and sultry, and damn, maybe this is what Trip and his fraternity brothers had intended. They’re probably all upstairs watching the live porn with popcorn. I have no problem giving them a show.
“You know what?” I whisper in Rya’s ear.
“What?” She laughs and might have tipped over if we weren’t tied together, but I tug gently on her arm, bringing her fully upright.
Yep. Good and intoxicated, and the hilarious thing is I didn’t have to do a fucking thing. I set the bottle down at my side, then deftly maneuver her until she’s straddling my lap. “I just wanted to be able to look at you. You’re so fucking pretty.” Her mouth drops open, and I draw her closer to me with my free hand pressed against the small of her back. “You feel good, Rya?”
She nods, leaning close, her lips a hair’s breadth away from mine.Holy shit.Logan’s girl is going to kiss me before I can kiss her first—which had totally been my intention, because I figured it’d piss him the fuck off. But hey, even better if it’s not me who initiates it.
There’s a scuffling noise from Logan’s direction. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Logan lurch toward us, dragging his partner with him. “Rya! Don’t?—”
She jerks at his shout, but before he can finish, thedoor upstairs whips open, and two frat brothers thunder down the stairs. “You’re done, Logan and Hazel. Let’s go.”
Rya stares at me bleary-eyed and gasps out, “What’s going on?” Her whisper-shouted question near my ear is comically loud, betraying every bit of how drunk she really is.
I can’t see much of the chaos occurring on the other side of the basement in the dark, but it’s clear from the grunts and groans that Logan is struggling hard not to be removed. I return my attention to Rya, shaking my head. “I’m not sure, babe.”
Logan’s muttered cursing is only partially audible as the Tri-Betas grab the first losers at Friend and a Fifth and begin hustling them toward the stairs. My stepbrother isn’t taking news of their departure very well. “Get the fuck off me. I need?—”
“What youneedto do is exit the basement,” the brother at Logan’s side barks out with a laugh.
The other guy joins in with a mirthful, “But good news, you’re free to join the rest of the party now.”
“Aw, man!” Hazel grumbles. From her somewhat giddy tone it’s obvious that she’s consumed more than her fair share of whatever alcohol they were given, and she probably doesn’t comprehend what’s going on in the same way Logan has. As they’re led up the stairs, she turns back andshouts, “Rya! Whatever you do, don’t break the seal, girlfriend!”
In direct opposition to her friend’s instructions, Rya swipes the rum and chugs. She lowers the bottle, licking at a droplet lingering on her lip before asking, “What’d she just say?” Frowning, she takes another mouthful as the door leading to the raucous party above slams shut.
My eyes follow every move my little boozy buddy makes, and I attempt to stifle my laughter as I relay Hazel’s message. “She thinks you should slow down on the alcohol so you can hold off on going to the restroom.” Shooting her a wink, I hold out my hand for the bottle. “Here. You should let me finish it,” I urge, my damn fucking conscience getting the better of me.
“Well, nobody tells me what to do.” A few of her words come out the tiniest bit slurred, and I try to take the rum from her grasp, but she holds it over her head, arching her back to keep it away from me. Never mind that I have to hold onto her so she doesn’t go toppling over with it.
She shakes her head, giving me a rather devious smirk, considering I swear this girl is mostly innocent. Locking eyes with me, she brings the bottle back to her lips, pouring more of the potent drink into her mouth before setting the glass bottle down on the floor with a loudthunk. The alcohol I’ve already consumed swirls in my head, and I watch in a semi-dazed state as she leansforward, bracing her hand against my chest.What is she doing?My mouth drops open, and the next thing I know she’s let the rum she’d apparently held in her mouth flow into mine. I drink it down as her tongue follows, sweeping into my mouth in a hot, wet kiss. She tastes of rum and my stepbrother’s girlfriend—and there’s nothing I want more than another motherfucking swallow.
3
RYA
Jaxon groansas our tongues duel, threading the fingers of his free hand through my hair, and drags me closer. “You’re making me crazy, Rya.” His voice is husky, warming me to my toes. “I’m so fucking glad I came to this party,” he mumbles against my mouth.
A breath stutters from me, and I grip his shoulders for support. Biting my lip, I wonder if he’s as affected by the rum we’ve consumed as I am. There’s no denying I’m in a ridiculous state of drunkenness. Somewhere in my alcohol-soaked brain, I’m aware Jaxon and I have only met tonight, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t have who I want, anyway. So, why shouldn’t I at least have some fun?
Not wanting to think too much more about it, I press myself against Jaxon’s chest and concentrate on kissing the shit out of him. My heart hammers in my chest as mythoughts scatter. The fleeting thought that slowing the fuck down would be smart takes up residence, but quickly leaves. I want to experience being fucking free to do what I want for once. I don’t know if a single thing could stop the inebriated one-way train I’m on with Jaxon. Not with the way he’s holding me and touching me. He seems nice enough. I think.Please let him be a nice guy.