Give Me Something (3 page)

“
Thanks.” I brushed my hand down his arm, hoping the spark that I felt when he touched me would ignite on his skin.  “You don't look too bad yourself.”  We held each other's gaze for a moment longer when the music suddenly stopped.  The crowd booed in disappointment.

“
Shit.”  Nick grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him over to the makeshift DJ booth he'd set up.  “Sorry folks, my bad,” he explained as he pulled his headphones on a started a new song.  I felt the bass reverberate through my body as it erupted from the two loud speakers set up on each side of the table.  I spent the next few songs by Nick's side, watching as he entertained the room.  Nick had a good ear and he knew what people wanted to hear.  He blended songs in perfect unison and kept the masses dancing.  It was fun to watch him work. Each time he moved his fingers up and down the mixing board he smiled.  Music was the only thing that made Nick smile the way money did.

He plugged his iPod in and selected a pre-made playlist.  “This will keep them dancing for a while.  Come on.”  Nick grabbed my hand and led me out the back door on to a deck that spanned the backside of the house.  Nick pulled his hand from mine and walked over to a cooler, pulling out two beers.  I leaned back against the deck railing.  Nick twisted the cap
s off of the bottles and handed me one.

“
Thanks.”

“
No problem,” he said before taking a drink and settling next to me.  “Having a good time tonight?”

“
Yeah.  It's not what I expected.”

He chuckled. “Not enough beer pong and wet t-shirt contests for you?”

“No, that's not what I meant.” I laughed.  “The party is what I expected.  I meant this house.  This place is beautiful.”  I looked up at the two-story brick facade.

“
Yeah, it's pretty nice.  Sure beats some of the places we've been.”  Nick nudged me with his shoulder and smiled.  He was right.  Over the past few years, we'd stayed in cars and at youth shelters, and there was one week where we actually camped out in a tent.  When you're sixteen and on your own, you have to do whatever you can to survive.  “It's only a matter of time before I fuck this up, too.”

“
Don't say that.  We deserve to live in places like this.”  I turned to face him and placed my hand on his shoulder. 

Nick brushed my hair from my face and rested his hand on my cheek.  “You're pretty amazing, you know that?”

“I've been told.”  Nick's eyes were locked in on mine until the back door opened and a few of his fraternity brothers came laughing out.  He glanced at them, but quickly turned his attention back to me.  As he started to lean his face toward mine, I felt my stomach begin to flutter.  He whispered something, but I was too entranced by him to comprehend.  His eyes moved to my lips and I realized that everything I'd hoped for between Nick and me was about to happen.  The inches closed between us as he flicked his tongue over his lips, I closed my eyes and anticipated the feel of them on mine.  This was it.  A chance to rekindle what we started all those nights ago.  Maybe he'd finally realized his feelings for me.  I knew the way I felt about him was too strong to be one-sided.  I felt him gently sweep his mouth over mine as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.  An indescribable feeling took over my whole body as I kneaded my hand into the fabric across his chest and pressed my body to his, needing to get as close to him as possible.  His tongue traced my lips, begging for entry.  The sweet taste of him flooded my senses as our tongues met.  The sounds of the party were completely drowned out by the sound of my heart racing as I finally felt what it was like to kiss him again.  To
be kissed
by him.  I could have stayed like that all night. Unfortunately, the cheers of Nick's friends cause him to pull back.  He rested his forehead against mine as we both regained out composure.

“
Wow.”  Nick smiled as he looked into my eyes.

“
Yeah.” I grinned, breathlessly.

He pulled away from me and turned his attention to the crowd that had now gathered on the deck.  “Hey guys,” he
acknowledged as he moved toward them, taking my hand in his.  “This is Lila.”

I was greeted by
five guys, each one epitomizing the fraternity stereotypes.  They were all clean-cut and handsome in their own right. I said my hellos as Nick moved me down the line. 

“
Hi, I'm Matt,” one said as he shook my hand.  I assumed he was the fraternity president because the red t-shirt he was wearing had
PRES
scrawled across it in blue letters. “Looks like you're enjoying yourself.”  I felt my cheeks ignite in embarrassment.

“
Yeah.” I tried to hide my flustered reaction.

“
That's Mike,” Nick started pointed to the redhead with warm smile.  “Duncan, Sam and Boomer.”  Duncan and Sam seemed nice.  Boomer, on the other hand, was a whole other story.

“
Goddamn, Nick,” his loud voice carried across the deck. “How do you always land the hottest pieces of ass?”  I assumed the vibrato of his deep call had earned him his nickname.  Nick just smiled as he shook his head and rubbed his hand across his stubbled chin.

A couple of the guys were anchored down by the girls that were hanging on their arms.  Each one gave me the once-over to assess my threat level.  I wanted to ask them if they'd just seen the kiss that occurred between Nick and me.  They were blind if they didn't see that I only had eyes for one member of the Sigma house.  I could feel their stares burning through me, but they weren't the only ones.  I looked over their heads to find a very focused set of blue eyes locked on me. I felt my breath hitch.  I watched his lips twist seductively as he bit down on his bottom lip.  I forced my attention back to Nick hoping to avoid getting pulled into his quicksand gaze.

“There someone I want you to meet,” Nick said as he pulled me through the crowd directly over to
him
.  “This is Tucker Kline.”

I extended my hand and he quickly grabbed it in his.  His hands were strong and smooth.  Completely different from Nick's.  I loved the feel of Nick's hand in mine – familiar and comforting. His fingertips were rough from working on the mixing boards, and each time he touched me I felt safe.  These hands were definitely different and the excited, nervous feeling that came along with the contact was almost too much for me to take.

“Tuck, this is Lila,” he said as he moved behind me a placed his hands on my shoulders.  With Tucker's hand in mine and Nick's hands on my shoulders, my body and mind started to go into overdrive.  Nick gave my shoulders a firm squeeze as Tucker moved his thumb over the top of my hand.  I held my breath, unsure of what to do.  It was like lighting a stick of dynamite with wicks on both ends.  I foresaw an explosion and managed to pull my hand from Tucker's, snuffing out whatever he was doing to me.  I leaned back into Nick.  Back into my comfort zone.

“
It's so nice to meet you.”  Tucker's deep, raspy voice cut through the tension. “I've heard a lot about you.”  I wanted to respond but I couldn't come up with anything as I once again fell into his eyes.  I offered a dumbstruck smile and nod.  Along with the most amazing eyes I'd ever seen, Tucker was tall, dark and Omigod handsome.  A piece of his dark brown hair fell across his suntanned forehead before he smoothed it back into place with fingers.  His eyes were framed by thick dark lashes and brows.  I noticed a tiny scar on the right side of his nose that probably went unnoticed by most, but my eyes had done their best to take in every single details of his face.  It was only right that he had that scar, it wouldn't have been fair if everything physically about him was perfect.  He was a couple inches taller than Nick.  Where Nick was tall and lean, Tucker was broad and strapping.  The white button down shirt he was wearing accented his muscular chest.  His sleeves were rolled up over his strong forearms.  He was definitely a jock that worked out.  A lot.

Nick's voice quickly pulled me back to reality.  “Tucker is my roommate.”

“Oh.” I smiled. “Nice to meet you too.”  Tucker's words settled in my brain as I looked to Nick.  “What exactly have you been telling your roommate about me?”

“
Only good things,” he chuckled.  “I promise.”  Nick glanced back at the house. “I should probably check the music.  They're liable to start a riot if it stops again.  Keep an eye on her, Tuck.  I'll be right back.” 

“
Sure thing,” Tucker replied, his gaze never wandering.

I watched as Nick quickly turned and made his way back to the house before I could say anything. I debated whether or not I should follow him and avoid the intimidating presence that was Tucker Kline, but as long as his eyes were locked on mine I couldn't move.

“So, Lila, where exactly have you been all my life?” He inched toward me.

I could feel the laughter begin to pool and it quickly exploded from my lips.  “Are you serious?”

He started laughing with me. “No.  You seemed nervous.  I thought I'd break the ice.”

I shook my head as a final giggle escaped.  “I'm glad that's not your pick
-up line.”

“
I don't need a pick-up line,” he proclaimed with a smug smile.

“
Wow.  That's a pretty big ego you're carrying around,” I sarcastically replied.  “I'm surprised you can walk.”

“
It's my cross to bear.” He laughed as he dramatically placed his hand on his chest.  I wanted to believe that he was completely joking, but I was pretty sure his arrogance wasn't just a rouse to make me feel comfortable around him.  He looked like the kind of guy that got exactly what he wanted.

“
Good luck with that.” I turned to head toward the house to find Nick.  My lips started to tingle when I thought about the kiss we'd shared.  I needed to talk to him.

“
Where are you going?”  I felt Tucker's hand on my arm.  The feeling on my lips was quickly replaced by the jolt that took off down my arm.

I turned back and quickly pulled from his grasp.  “To find Nick.”

“He said he'd be back.  Just stay here.  Talk to me.”  It was hard to deny him, something about the authoritative tone of his voice made me want to stay.  I felt like I needed to please him.

I looked at the house and then back at Tucker who was pretty much demanding my attention.  I was mentally divided.  I really wanted to figure out the story behind the supermodel good looks and arrogant facade, but I needed to find Nick and discuss the kiss that we'd just shared. 

“I really need to find Nick.”  I moved through the French doors back into the house and into the now shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. When my eyes finally settle in on Nick's sandy blond head I pushed through the dancing bodies to get to him.  What I wasn't expecting was to see his arms wrapped around a petite brunette as she ground her dancing ass into him.  Watching as he ran his hands up and down her body in sync with the rhythm of the music, I felt the walls start to close in around me. 
What the fuck is going on?

“
Come on.”  I felt Tucker's chest press into my back as his velvet voice whispered in my ear. “I'll walk you home.”  I let Tucker usher me toward the door as I forced myself to look away from Nick.  We walked outside and down the sidewalk.  All the while, I fought back the tears that I had welled in my eyes.  I was completely blindsided by what had just happened.  When Nick kissed me I was so sure that it was because he really wanted me.  Apparently, I was wrong.  I couldn't get the image of him dancing with that girl out of my mind.

“
You okay?” Tucker asked as we rounded the corner to my street.  I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that I forgot he was walking with me.

“
Yeah, I'll be fine.” I lied.  I was so far from okay that I knew my words were transparent.

“
I'm really sorry you had to see that.”

“
You're sorry?” I stopped, looked at his apologetic face, and felt a twinge of guilt for making him feel like he was to blame for any of this.  “You didn't do anything. It's my fault.  I'm the one who let Nick treat me the way he treats every other girl.  I should have known better.”

“
You're not every other girl.”

“
You don't even know me.” I shook my head as I crossed my arms and started walking again.  We continued across campus in silence until we reached my dorm building, Marris Hall.  Just as I was about the pull the door open and go inside, Tucker grabbed my hand and pulled me to face him.

“
I know I don't really know you, but...”  Looking down, he brushed his thumb over my hand.  “It just pisses me off that he just treated you like that.”

“
It's fine. I know how he is.  He didn't mean to hurt my feelings.  That's just Nick.”

Tucker's grasp on my hand tightened and I saw his eyes flicker with anger.  “That's bullshit,” he stated bluntly.  “I haven't known Nick as long as you have, but I know exactly what kind of guy he is.  When you're my girl I'll never treat you like that.” 

“First of all, you're right, you don't know Nick.” I pulled my hands up on my hips.  “Whatever happened back there is between me and him, and while I appreciate you walking me home, you have no right to judge him.  You're his roommate.  You're supposed to be his friend.”  Why on earth I felt the need to defend Nick's actions, I had no idea.  I guess it's just what I was used to doing.  When I finished, the rest of what Tucker said took center in my mind. “And what the hell do you mean when I'm your girl?”