"'Got me lookin' so crazy right now! Your love's got me lookin' so crazy right now!'"
Sam jumped up and down, screaming the lyrics to her new favorite song. It was her favorite...at least until the DJ played something else she loved just as much. She was feeling so good! Kyle had given her an iced tea. She knew it had had more alcohol than iced tea, but she'd liked the taste. She'd finished her second, and the world was whirling and wild. She could dance all night!
Kyle moved gracefully next to her. He'd learned to swing dance and could do all sorts of moves that left her tied up in knots. They were both drenched in sweat. His shirt was unbuttoned nearly to his waist, giving her some nice views of smooth skin and hard muscle. As for her own attire, the black cocktail dress that Harumi had insisted she collect from her absent friend's closet fit her like a second skin. Since she could hardly feel her skin--everything was so tingly--it was almost as if she were wearing nothing at all.
A slow-moving Alicia Keys song followed the Beyoncé hit. Kyle pulled her into his arms, and they swayed, his hands traveling up and down her body. Sam hummed in pleasure. The room was dark but for periodic flashes of colored light from the DJ booth and the spinning sparkle of the disco ball overhead. The music was so loud conversation was impossible--she didn't have to answer for her presence or pretend to be interested in anything but the music and moving her body. They danced amidst a sea of people, perfectly anonymous. Kyle had been right: no problems.
The song transitioned smoothly into a Black Eyed Peas number that Sam was pretty sure would become her new favorite song. But Kyle leaned over to shout into her ear.
"Get some fresh air?"
She didn't want to leave the dance floor, not really, but some fresh air was probably a good idea. She could get some water, too. Sam nodded and let Kyle lead her away from her happy place.
"Want some water?"
He was reading her mind. Kyle pulled her through the jam-packed kitchen, keeping a firm grip on her hand. He seemed determined to keep her from any harm, and Sam was glad for his watchful eye and possessive attitude. It helped that the fraternity house--it was a mansion, really--was overrun. This was the first big party of the season, and Sigma Chi was the biggest and apparently the wealthiest of Ballister's many fraternities. Sam wouldn't be surprised to learn that a quarter of the student body had crammed inside this huge house.
Or, at least, a quarter wanted to cram inside. Through the kitchen window, Sam could see a line of people down the sidewalk. Kyle had bypassed the crowds and stepped to the front gate, slipping past the guys manning the gate with the easy authority of one of the elite. Sam was here on his coattails and that was fine. She was having fun for once.
Kyle handed her a red plastic cup. Sam retained the presence of mind to check it before drinking. Water. Thank god. She downed the entire cup to Kyle's great amusement.
"That's kinda hot," he said.
A lanky fellow nearby asked if she could do that with a beer. Sam belched in response, earning another look of admiration. Kyle handed her a refill.
"Come on," Kyle yelled. There seemed to be nowhere quiet on the whole premises. "I'll show you something."
He led her smoothly out of the kitchen to a back staircase. They ascended out of the raucous chaos of the main floor to the second floor, then to the third. At the fourth, she pulled on his hand to catch her breath.
"Sorry," Kyle said. "It's a bit of a climb."
They stood to one side as another couple passed on the narrow stairwell.
"How...big...is this place?" Sam panted.
"Huge. Dozens of rooms. It was built by some eccentric millionaire. Made his fortune in mining or something. We'll have to check out the gardens later. They're a real trip. Ready?"
Sam nodded, and they climbed another floor. Kyle then led her down a long hall, up another few stairs, around a corner into a lounge, through two more doorways and to a large window. Kyle opened the window and stepped out onto a narrow fire escape. A big hand appeared through the dark portal. Sam gave it a concerned look.
"Almost there," Kyle urged. "Come on. It's worth it, believe me."
Sam grabbed hold of Kyle's hand for balance and straddled the windowsill before getting both feet on to the fire escape landing.
"The stairs are steep," he said, guiding her over to one side. "Here, you go first. I'll spot you."
Sam peered up at the narrow metal slats. Were they getting on the roof? Also, was this a ploy to look up her skirt? Again, Kyle anticipated her concern.
"You're wearing underwear, right? I'm not trying to look. I don't want you to fall."
"I'm wearing underwear, thank you," Sam said, a bit more testily than she'd intended. Kyle graced her with one of his more charming smiles. "Don't let me fall."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm right behind you."
Kyle was true to his word. Even with her balance a little wonky, Sam felt safe as she climbed. The steps ended at a notch in a crenelated wall. Sam slipped through and found herself on a flat portion of the mansion's massive roof. She stopped after a couple steps--it was very dark. Her eyes needed a moment to adjust.
"Look up," Kyle said as he slipped his hands about her waist. Sam did, the top of her head brushing Kyle's chest. A glorious night sky full of stars spread across the heavens. To the east, Sam could see the faint glow of the moon about to rise.
"Wow."
"Right? Have a look over here."
Sam followed Kyle over to one corner, narrowly avoiding a few pieces of deck furniture. Kyle pointed.
"The gardens. They stretch all the way to the hills."
Though shadowed, Sam could make out a well-manicured landscape spread out before her. Lamp posts seemed to have been dropped haphazardly into the vast space. Each pool of light illuminated a new shape: an obelisk, a statue, a bent tree, a curving section of gravel trail.
"All of that?" Sam asked, incredulous. She'd lived in Ballister all her life and had no idea these gardens existed.
"Yeah, it's pretty well hidden behind hedges and trees. I'm not sure anyone but the gardeners has explored it all. There are acres and acres. That over there is a gorge."
"Wow."
"You know what else is wow?"
"What?"
"You."
Before Sam could react, Kyle lifted her into the notch in the wall. He slid his hips between her legs, and pulled her into a kiss. He came on strong, his lips firm and insistent.
Sam liked Kyle and the way he kissed her, but she felt trapped. There were stone walls to each side, open air at her back, and a tall, strong man in front. She put her hands on Kyle's chest and pushed, squirming and pulling her face away.
"You okay?" Kyle asked, concerned.
His tone told Sam that not many girls resisted his advances. His warm hand remained at her cheek, caressing. His handsome face, a little flushed, appeared solicitous and attentive, though as she looked up at him, the corner of his mouth twitched as if about to curve into one of his charming smiles. She had to head that off now.
"I'm okay. Just--." She stopped, not sure what to say. "Just a little woozy. I don't drink very often."
"We did a lot of dancing. You should rest. Here." Kyle slid his hands under her thighs and with no effort at all, picked her up.
"Oh!" Sam squealed, surprised.
She grabbed hold of Kyle's strong shoulders for balance. He carried her easily to one of the chaise lounges and laid her upon it, then slid easily in next to her, his body close but not touching. Kyle accomplished the move so smoothly that Sam was sure he had done it before, perhaps several times. Still, she liked this spot better.
"You're beautiful," Kyle said, head propped on one elbow. His eyes traced her cheek and chin, then dropped to her neck and the swell of her breasts. There was nothing shy about Kyle. "I like this dress."
Sam shook her head. Sure, the dress worked well for her, but this was partly a masquerade. This wasn't the real her, and no one would think the real Sam beautiful.
"What? It's true," Kyle said.
"You want to make out."
"It's true, so I want to make out."
Sam smiled at that, and Kyle returned it. Damn, he was handsome. Strong, too. He'd carried her like a sack of groceries. As they looked at one another, Kyle slid his hand across her belly to cup her side. He pulled her body closer to his. Sam enjoyed the warmth of him. His shirt was still unbuttoned, and with little conscious intention Sam pushed her hand past the cotton and ran a hand over Kyle's chest. He hummed in pleasure.
"Can I kiss you?"
Sam didn't respond. She was enjoying the warm, hard feel of the muscles beneath his skin.
"Please."
The magic word gave Sam a chill, a little sense of power. He sounded needy, and he didn't mind showing her that need. Sam didn't trust her voice, so she nodded.
The kiss this time was soft, slow and delicious. Sam let her hand travel up and around Kyle's neck to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. His fingers slid into her hair in response, his thumb softly stroking her scalp. Kyle had the mood right now. He broke the kiss and nuzzled her cheek. He traced a few soft kisses across her jawline before returning to her lips.
Lust bubbled in Sam's belly. She put her other hand on Kyle's cheek, feeling the roughness of his beard's shadow. She slid her other hand lower on his chest, feeling the rigid muscles marking the top of his abs.
Her touch made Kyle bolder. He cupped her breast and squeezed, his gentle touch causing Sam to arch her back. Kyle did the same to the other breast, making Sam whimper. Kyle's tongue grew bolder, too, twining with hers. She was getting hot; she was the one feeling needy now.
"Has anyone ever gone down on you?"
Sam blinked. What did he--. Oh. She shook her head, feeling a blush coming. Thank goodness it was dark.
