Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,36

swallowing roughly, giving no doubt she noticed. The pulse in her neck fluttered against her damp skin, making my cock jump again, liking her attention far too much. The rush of desire moved me toward her, like a child running for his mommy.

“Uh.” My throat hitched, my thumb automatically pointing back. “You want to play pool? Or darts?”

She blinked at me.

I turned before she could respond, needing to put space between us. I scanned the crowd for another choice as I moved, hoping some girl would pique my interest like the one behind me. Anyone would do… It just couldn’t be her. Pretty faces and figures swam in my view, but my gaze didn’t land on one in particular. Sadly, it didn’t matter. Tonight, I had to go with one of them. Give them the best night of their life, and let my body have what it’s wanted for so long. Anything to stop the need pulsing inside my boxer-briefs. It had been a while, and being in close proximity to Kinsley had put her at the top of the list. That was the only reason. Any woman I was spending time with would have me feeling like this.

Would you feel the same if it were Kasey here instead?

I tried to imagine her in Kinsley’s place. I had seen recent pictures of her on Kyle’s Facebook page. She hadn’t changed much, still beautiful, still very much in shape, with a huge smile.

Her sensual smile and batting lashes flooded my head, the memory of her in her nightgown, finding me in the hallway one time as I exited the bathroom. She was coy, twisting my shirt, talking in a slight baby voice, like I would find that sexier.

Granted at seventeen, I found anything sexy, and she was without a doubt. But something always held me back from pursuing her. It wasn’t because I found her slightly boring and far too controlling. It was because I knew she liked the game—the teasing, the getting me hot and wanting me running after her. She was used to boys falling at her feet and didn’t like that I wasn’t.

I enjoyed women too much to settle then, loving all their attention on me. Who wouldn’t? We never officially dated, but she told everyone we were. Got me to take her to the prom. The night in my car…

My feet almost stumbled as the memory of Kasey’s beautiful face and young body straddling mine in the driver’s seat as we fumbled and took what we wanted—but then the image turned into another person—and this time it was an RV, and not my pickup truck. Her dark hair wrapped in my hand, her head back in utter pleasure, riding me.

Heat filled my gut, swirling around the alcohol, slipping and sliding over my skin. The heady music played from the jukebox and hummed through my veins.

Stop, Smith. You can’t think of her that way. It’s wrong. Not with your past and present situations.

Kasey had already messaged me, saying how excited she was to see me and pick up where we left off. Thanks again to Kyle… She must have gotten my number from him. There was no mistaking her intent. She was never one to be sly. She was direct in what she wanted, and she pursued it with the same determination. And all I needed was another Maxwell sister to set upon me with that kind of resolve. I really was a dick.

Locking down my thoughts and feelings, I strolled to the pool table, almost tossing the sticks on the table.

“You’ve played?” I barked.

“It’s been a while.” Her brows furrowed, sensing my shift in demeanor. Anger at myself and her moved me like a beast around the table as I racked the balls.

“Ask if you need help.” I chalked my tip, not looking at her. “You can go first.”

She was silent long enough to pull up my gaze. Her narrowed eyes were on me.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She grabbed a stick, chalking it. “Why don’t you break?”

“You sure?”

“Yep.” She kept her expression blank. “I’ll watch and learn.” Her voice was slightly strange, but I shrugged, taking point on the cue ball, drawing back my stick; the sound of cracking clapped in the air, a striped ball sinking into the corner.

“You’re solids.” I relocated to get a good shot on another striped one.

“Am I?” Her light tone craned my head back to her. Her face was still empty. I turned back, dropping another one, my third ball missing the pocket.

“You’re up.”