Take My Dress Off (11 page)

Finally, I knew for certain what he needed from me.

I slipped out of my dress, only my bikini underneath. I pressed my body against his, soaking in the heat from his back. I fingered the hem of his golf shirt, coaxing it over his head and tossing it to the floor. I reached through his arms and spread my fingers against his hard chest, exploring the sharp cuts of his abs, dipping down lower under the waistband of his khakis. He turned and curled his fingers into mine, his eyes gliding over me from head to toe, evaluating, a battle raging inside him. I stood displayed before him, bared in confidence, my chest rising and falling as I fought to breathe, a crushing, smothering heat rising up my neck. He ran his hands down my arms, pinning them against my body as he looked down into my eyes, his penetrating gaze making me burn hotter.

“Paige, I love you so much it hurts,” he whispered through clenched teeth. “Sometimes it makes me crazy.” His words set me on fire. He’d said it before but never with this intensity. All my doubts about his feelings for me evaporated. I pressed myself against him.

“I love you, Chaz,” I whispered back and meant it. I had never said those three words to any other man besides my father.

“I want you so bad.” He twisted his hands through my hair.

“Me too.”

He pressed his tongue into mine, softly at first but then with increasing demand, searching, twisting, tasting.

“Let me love you, Paige.”

We fell onto his bed between the piles of laundry, his hard body crushing me beneath him. Chaz settled between my legs and I reached for his belt, tugging to release the buckle. My pulse quickened as I pulled down the zipper, my hand grazing over his hardness as he quickly slipped out of his pants. He rolled his groin against mine and I wrapped my legs around his waist, my heels digging into his back and pulling him closer, delighting in the feel of him. He reached up behind my neck and loosened the straps of my bikini top, discarding it quickly to the side of the bed. His hands sought my aching breasts, kneading and caressing as his lips soothed the hard points. I sat up on my elbows and watched as he fluttered achingly slow kisses down my stomach, swirling his tongue into my navel. Chaz hesitated as he hovered between my legs, his emerald eyes locking with mine as my chest rose and fell in shallow breaths. He raised his hands to the sides of my hips, twisting his fingers into the strings of the bikini bottoms, never releasing his eyes from mine. He began to slide them down then paused, waiting for my permission.

I nodded.

He inched them down slowly, gliding them over my thighs and down my calves as I wriggled beneath him. I lay before him stripped, exposed, my eyes pleading with his. He brought my ankle to his shoulder and kissed softly up my leg as I tried to slow my breathing. When his lips reached my inner thigh, my muscles clenched and I bolted upright, surprisingly anxious. I had never been this intimate with someone before. His reassuring gaze settled me back down into the pillows. Electricity and warmth pulsed through me as he stroked his tongue gently through the delicate folds of my desire. I reached down for him, aching to have him inside me. Chaz crawled back up my body and stilled as my hand swept over his groin. I closed my hand around him, delighting in how smooth he felt as I moved my hand up and down over the hard ridges. He grabbed my hand and stopped my assault.

“Hold on.” He reached up over me and slid open the drawer to the nightstand, searching with one hand, his other hand cradling my waist. His hardness glided back and forth over my thigh as he moved.

“You don’t have to,” I whispered up to him.

“Yes, I do.” He found what he was looking for and put the packet between his teeth, tearing it open.

“I trust you.”

“You shouldn’t trust anybody,” Chaz growled and sheathed himself. I forced myself not to think about his last statement. I didn’t want to think about either of us being with anyone else, ever. He settled back between my legs and pushed between my thighs as his tongue licked in and out of my mouth. I burned beneath him, wild to have him enter me. He slowly rocked into me and I brought my hips up to meet his. He claimed me with measured control and I bucked against him, wanting it faster. My body was on fire, delicious heat spreading and tightening through my core. When I began to moan he silenced my cries with his mouth as I writhed underneath him, overcome by how fast I reached my release.

He stopped and pulled out.

“What’s wrong?”

“Roll over.”

I did what he asked and he covered my body with his. He entered me again, nudging my legs apart with his thighs and pinning my wrists with one hand over my head, his other wrapped around my waist, fingers splayed over my belly. Having him take control like this, being confined beneath him, brought me back to the edge again. He began thrusting quickly, his teeth teasing at my neck. I cried out as he unfolded on top of me, gasping into my hair as perspiration dripped down my back. We lay motionless for so long that as our breathing slowed I drifted off beneath him, content and deliciously satisfied. He rose up on his elbows and withdrew from me, my thighs clenching from his sudden absence. He disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door and I drifted off again…

I felt the mattress dip next to me. I untangled myself from the sheets and snuggled up to him, fresh tears slipping down my cheeks. This was what I had been waiting for, it was perfect.

Chaz gazed down at me, his dark brows knotted together. He lifted my chin, his eyes narrowing. “You aren’t regretting this are you?”

“No, no.” I smiled though my tears. “I don’t know why I’m crying, I’m so happy.”

“This is a first,” He trailed his hand across my wet cheek. “Was it that bad?”

I punched his arm and he rolled on top of me, coaxing me into a kiss. He pressed his forehead against mine. “I gotta get you home,” he whispered. “It is a school night after all.”

“Ugh, school.” I rolled away from him, taking the sheets with me, suddenly feeling modest.

Chaz gathered my clothes and I quickly dressed in the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and pulled my tousled hair back into a ponytail. I was glowing.
Danielle was right, it wasn’t a myth.

When I came out of the bathroom Chaz was gone. I grabbed my purse and walked outside. I could hear the Mustang idling in the distance. I made my way through the grass and paused at the pool, admiring the soft glow. I thought about the last time I was here, when Donny was walking around the perimeter of the pool. That horrible night that we were at Piper’s party and Chaz’s father had died. It wasn’t that long ago but it seemed like it was.

“C’mon, you,” called Chaz walking through the grass toward me, his hands shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket. “I’ve got the car warmed up.”

I followed him out the gate. The top was up on the Mustang and he held the driver’s side door open. I scooted across to the passenger seat noticing the faint smell of weed. I hadn’t thought about Chaz smoking since the night at the drive-in. But I was thinking about it now.

I didn’t like it.

Chaz guided the car down the driveway and onto the road.

“Chaz?”

“Paige?”

“Were you smoking just now?”

“I took a hit, I had a little left. Do you want some?”

“No. I don’t do drugs.”

“Weed isn’t a drug, it’s an herb.” He merged the car onto the highway then turned to me. “I just needed a hit. Is this a problem for you?”

“Is it a problem for you?” I tried to sound casual. I didn’t want to start anything after the great night we’d just had.

“No, it’s not.”

“Where did you get it?”

“Donny.”

“Where does he get it?”

“Some guy in Oceanside.”

He turned on the radio and we rode quietly the rest of the way. When we pulled into the driveway, neither of us moved. We sat and stared at the garage door.

“I wish I didn’t have to go to school tomorrow,” I said.

“At least it’s your senior year. I’m starting all over. A freshman again. Lame,” he sang.

“True.”

He opened the door and I slid over. He helped me out of the car then pushed me back against it, slowly lowering his head, his lips gently brushing over mine. My body went from zero to horny in three seconds and I was gasping for him, my hands stealing into his hair.

He stepped back. “Oh no, you don’t. I just got myself calmed down. You’re not getting me worked up again.”

I pouted but he grabbed my hand and led me to the door. It was after midnight and I knew I was going to be confronted by a very angry Maddie on the other side of the door.

“Do you want me to come in with you? Help soften the blow?” he asked.

“No…I can handle Maddie.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow after you get home from school.” He gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “We’ll compare notes.”

“School,” I groaned and put my key into the door.

The next day
I wandered from class to class in a blur. Same cliques, same drama, nothing ever changed at Vista High. Danielle and I only had one class together, third period Algebra Two with Mr. Haines who, (I was told), was a total hard ass. I arrived at the classroom before Danielle and took a seat behind Todd Guthrie, one of the few openly gay guys in school. I saved Danielle a spot, placing my binder on the seat behind me.

“Ladies and gentleman,” called Mr. Haines as he rushed into the room. “Make sure the seat you choose is the one you want because you’re staying there for the semester. I’m only making this seating chart once.” He took his place behind the podium. I kept my eye on the door to see if I knew anyone entering the classroom. My heart sank when Dillon strutted in like James Dean, looking drop-dead gorgeous in black jeans that slouched on top of black army boots and an INXS t-shirt.

Of course I noticed. He still got to me.

His arm was around Sloane Pierce. She stared up at him adoringly with her doll face as she batted her big brown eyes. Sloane Pierce was a cheerleader and friends with Marissa but I didn’t care for her. She was the gossip of the school, always spreading a rumor about someone. But she did it in that sneaky quiet way that made her way more formidable than she looked. I had heard that Sloane and Dillon were slobbering all over each other (not that I cared) at the drive-in. I was hoping I wouldn’t have a class with him this semester.

Dillon paused at the seat behind me and Sloane sat in the row next to him.

“That’s my binder,” I said without turning around. “I was saving that seat.”

“What are you, the Seat Nazi?”

I couldn’t help but turn around and glance at him. He tossed my binder onto the desk behind him and then sat slowly and deliberately in the seat, smirking the entire time. My chair wobbled as he rested his boots on the book rack underneath.

I tried to ignore him.

He poked me in the back with a pencil.

“What?” I snapped and turned around.

“How are you?” he said and flashed his dangerous smile.

“I was having a great day until about five minutes ago.” I turned back around.

He leaned forward and yanked my ponytail.

“Ow!” My head snapped back.

“You. Constantly. Kill. Me,” he whispered into my ear, tugging my ponytail with each word.

Danielle breezed in and smacked him on the arm. “Get out of my chair, asswipe.”

He leaned back in the seat and smiled up to her. “You snooze you lose, baby. You can plant your fat ass right behind me.”

Danielle tossed my binder back onto my desk. “You’re so tragic,” she scowled at Dillon and slammed her books onto the desk behind him. I was dying to tell her about last night but it was going to have to wait until lunch. The bell rang and we settled in our seats as Mr. Haines called out the names for the attendance.

Dillon tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and he slipped a note into my hand. Seriously? Is this how it was going to be for the semester? But it was Danielle’s flowery handwriting on the note. I slipped it into my binder so I could read it discretely.

I know you got home late. Are you grounded?

Dillon poked me in the back.

“Hanson?” called Mr. Haines.

“Oh uh…here,” I shouted and raised my hand.

“Hunter?”

“Present sir,” called Dillon. I heard Danielle make gagging sounds.

I quickly scrawled on the note:
Yes, but you know Maddie, she’ll forget.

Mr. Haines was writing on the board so I passed it back over my head to Dillon who tossed it to Danielle. Once again the note came back.

Tell me what happened! I’m dying! I can’t wait
!

I wrote back:
I’ll tell you at lunch.

Mr. Haines was still writing. Sloane was watching, her ostrich eyes darting from Dillon to me. I turned and pretended to adjust my purse hanging on the back of the seat. I passed the note back to Dillon. He slid his Ray Bans over his eyes and gave it back to Danielle. She quickly jotted down her response and passed it back. Mr. Haines turned around and shuffled through the papers on his desk. This time Dillon pretended to tie his boot and slipped it into the book under my seat. I reached under and retrieved the note.

Just tell me one thing, was he successful?

I blushed and looked around the room. No one noticed our exchange except for Sloane.  She ran her hands through her long Sun-In streaked hair and glared at me. If she was getting jealous over this she wouldn’t last one hour with Dillon Hunter.

I wrote one word on the note.
YES!!

A worksheet was being handed down the row so I slid the note in between the papers and passed it to Dillon. I began working on the pre-test assessment. A few minutes later the note landed on top of my test. I opened it but the response wasn’t from Danielle. Under the word
YES!!
in Dillon’s block handwriting it said:
WHO IS “HE”?
I tucked the note into the pocket of my binder and shot Dillon an angry glare. He shrugged his shoulders as Danielle mouthed
douchebag
behind him.

“Is there a problem over there, guys?”

“No sir. No problem,” responded Dillon. “Paige’s pencil broke, may she get another, sir?”

I slipped my pencil into my binder. A few students giggled.

Sloane raised her hand. “Mr. Haines, I have an extra pencil I can loan her.”

“Fine, take care of it…and voices off, gang.”

Sloane handed the pencil to me and smiled sweetly before mouthing “back off” with her perfectly white Pearl Drops teeth.

She definitely wasn’t going to last two seconds with Dillon.

***

“Holy shit, I can’t believe it!” squealed Danielle when she and I finally got to talk in the cafeteria at lunch.

“Jesus, keep it down!” I threw a grape at her and looked around the cafeteria. I had just given her a play by play of my incredible night between the sheets with Chaz.

“Relax, Paige. It’s so noisy in here no one can hear anything.” She popped the grape into her mouth. “Shane wouldn’t go down on me. But he had no problem when I did. Douche!”

I looked around our table. No one was very close and the stereo was blasting Madonna’s
Get into the Groove
through the cafeteria.

“Can you not broadcast my sex life please?”

“At least you have one. I’m totally over Shane the Wonder Lay.”

“Do you know how many times I’ve heard you say that?” I took a bite of my dried-out cafeteria taco.

“Well, I mean it this time. For sure!” She punched a straw forcefully into her carton of chocolate milk. “If I start mooning over him again you remind me of this day.” She crossed herself and held her right hand on top of a bag of Cheetos. “I, Daniella Maria Russo, do solemnly swear, that I am officially over Shane Davis and his itty bitty teeny weenie.” I laughed so hard I started to choke on my taco and that only made me laugh harder.

“Do you need me to perform the Heimlich on you? Or anything else?” Dillon straddled the bench and wrapped his arms around my waist. He held his cheek against mine. “Maybe a little mouth to mouth?”

“This table is full, Hunter. Move along,” snarled Danielle.

“It doesn’t look full to me.”

“Everything’s reserved. Make like Michael Jackson and beat it.”

“Danielle,” I glared. She could be too blunt sometimes.

“That’s okay.” Dillon pecked me on the cheek, swung his leg over the bench, and stood up. “I know when I’m not wanted.” His attention focused on Sloane who was waving way too eagerly at him. “And I know where I am wanted,” he grinned and ran his hand through his perfectly disheveled hair. “See you hags later.”

“I really don’t know what you see in him,” said Danielle sliding a Cheeto between her red lips.

“Saw,” I corrected.

“He may be a total babe but it’s ruined by the fact that he’s a complete dick.”

“He’s not a dick, Danielle. He can be sweet sometimes.”

“Ya, when he wants in your pants.”

I looked over to him at Sloane’s table. She was sitting in his lap but he was watching me with intensity in his dark eyes that had started to become familiar.

“Paige?”

“What?”

“He never got in your pants, right?”

“Seriously, Danielle? As if.”

Danielle looked back to Sloane and Dillon. Sloane was giggling and tossing her hair as he tickled her. Danielle grabbed my hand with her Cheeto stained fingers.

“Paige, stay away from Dillon. Donny says Chaz and Dillon have a lot of bullshit between them. They’re going to end up killing each other over you.”

“I think you’re being a little dramatic.” I brushed off her comment but part of me felt a slight spike of anxiety. Chaz had a definite disliking to Dillon, for why I didn’t know. It couldn’t just be about me. There was something else, something deeper that went back to before I came into the picture.
I’m friends with Donny, not Dillon.
Chaz’s words echoed through my thoughts.

Danielle popped another Cheeto
into her mouth. “Damn, I wish I had two guys fighting over me.”

***

I raced home and checked the answering machine. No message from Chaz. I did my homework and cleaned my room. Still no call, no Chaz. I checked the clock on my nightstand, four-thirty. I would have to leave to go take care of my horse soon. I decided to call him. Maybe we could meet up while I was out. It rang and rang then I heard a click when it switched over to the main house. I was just about to hang up when his sister Kelly answered. She said he was at Spade’s house. I asked her to have him call me and left for the ranch in San Luis Rey.

No matter how much my life changed the one thing that remained constant was the ranch. It was my refuge from the world. No matter how weird things were getting in life (my break-up with Brit, drama with Dillon) I always felt at peace there. It was quiet now that Jen had moved to her place in Fallbrook but everything else remained the same and that was how I liked it. People were always milling about, cleaning stalls, feeding their horses. Some were leaning on fences, chatting lazily in the afternoon sun, and some were invariably riding in the arena.

I brought my horse, Dusty, in from the pasture and groomed her while she munched contentedly on her hay. I tried not to let my mind drift to Chaz and the events of yesterday, practically forcing a new thought into my mind whenever he tried to steal in.

But it was impossible.

Dusty helped distract me by snorting or stomping, occasionally swatting at flies with her tail and shaking her head. I hated that I felt so vulnerable now, that I let him get close to me. Dad and Maddie’s split and my break up with Brit had rendered me cynical, untrusting, convinced that anyone I cared for would end up leaving me.

“You keep brushin’ that horse and she ain’t gonna have no hair left.” I turned around to see Woody, the manager of the ranch, unloading buckets of grain from a wheelbarrow, a cigarette pinched between his stained teeth. 

“She’s shedding like crazy,” I said and proved my point by pulling a wad of white hair from the brush.  He grinned and nodded, exhaling smoke from his nose.

I wondered if Chaz had called.

Ugh! I didn’t want to be that girl again, obsessing over the answering machine, worrying about missed calls.
Why hadn’t he called?
We were supposed to talk about our first day of school and he was at Spade’s house instead? I thought after last night we would have met up right after school. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone back to his house last night.

Stop it, Paige
, I scolded.

No. I wasn’t going to get down on myself. All of a sudden I was pissed. I decided I wasn’t calling him when I got home. If he wanted to talk he knew where to find me. I put my bucket of brushes away in the tack room.

When I stepped back out, a familiar Mustang was parked next to my Firebird. Chaz was leaning casually against it in Levi’s 501’s, an aqua polo shirt, and topsiders with no socks. His emerald eyes caught mine and my knees went weak. I wanted to run to him but forced myself to walk slowly instead. I tried to remember I was pissed.

“I heard you were looking for me.” A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“I didn’t know you were lost,” I said coolly.

“Come here.”

I found myself being drawn to him like a magnet and fell into his soft kiss. Why did he have this power over me? If he had said to get on all fours and bark like a dog I probably would have.

He pulled back from me and tipped my chin up to his. “So...how was your first day of school?”

“Not totally bogus but not awesome either.”

“Same here. I came to take a beautiful girl to dinner. Have you seen one?”

I pretended to look around.

“If you see her, tell her to meet me at the Bob’s Big Boy Diner in ten minutes.”