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  Mesmerised by Callie’s movements, Haines watched while she removed the denim jacket, assuming she was overly warm from dancing. Not able to help it, he let his gaze rove greedily over the swell of her breasts, remembering the nice weight of it in his hand and that she was braless tonight. Picking up the untouched glass on the bar, he followed the magnetic pull that drew him to her, and joined the others. He dangled the full glass in front of Callie.

  “Ohhh, thank you,” she crooned covetously, accepting the drink. She guzzled thirstily before turning to thank the gifter.

  “Looked like you were working up a pretty good thirst out there.” Cold blue eyes levelled on him. She really did not care for him, he thought comically. “Truce, Cal, just for one night,” he said, holding up his glass amicably.

  Eyes narrowed in suspicion, she asked, “What the fuck for?”

  “You are one prickly puss.”

  “Yeah, and you’re just a prick.” Upending the glass, she drained it impressively. “No ceasefire needed. Thanks for the drink,” she added, handing him the empty glass. She returned to the dance crowd.

  The group turned as one, standing shoulder to shoulder watching her shapely tits bounce freely as she danced.

  “Why do you even try with her anymore?” Tag asked with a large knowing smirk.

  “We’ve all tried. And failed. You haven’t got a chance,” Craig said, joining them with a beer in his hand.

  “She loves me.”

  Later, Haines got into the swing of things. The booze was flowing freely and the women were swarming around him as usual, flirting. Having a good time, feeling no pain, he found himself out on the dance floor, attempting to forget about Callie until he made eye contact with her as she swayed to the music. Instead, bailing on the girl who had lured him out there in the first place, he worked his way behind her, knowing she’d shimmy up against him as she’d been doing with almost every person out there at one time or another, male or female, just enjoying the tunes. The more she drank, the less uptight she seemed. His body reacted as soon as her backside wiggled against his. Turning, Haines expected her to give him a dirty look and bop away, but when she met and clasped his seeking hands with her own and continued to move fluidly, sexily, he was more than pleasantly surprised. He couldn’t take his eyes off her—it was as if she danced just for him. He had no idea where to look—her gaze was on his, mesmerizing and inviting, her lips were parted, pouty and oh-so kissable-looking, that body of hers undulated in a way that had his own on fire.

  Grabbing her, he pulled her close, knowing that at any second, she would bolt. But she was closer to him than he’d ever been able to get her before and he was going to enjoy it for as long as possible. She swayed her body against his.

  “Are you turned on, Hainsey?” she breathed, staring at his mouth while swaying her stiff nipples across his chest.

  “Oh, fuck, yeah,” he answered harshly. Cupping her sweet ass, he pulled her against his painful erection. “Let’s get outta here, Cal.”

  She picked that moment to spin away. “I told ya. You’re easy. And anyone can be turned on in the right or wrong situation. See ya next round, Hainsey.”

  She danced away, leaving him on the dance floor seething, hard as a rock and kicking himself for allowing her to do that to him. Bitch! He wanted to show her she couldn’t fuck with guys like that. But before he got the chance, some other guy put his hands on her and Haines didn’t even think, he jumped in and pushed the jerk. A small shoving match ensued with some appropriate name-calling, enough so that the club bouncers stepped in. But being a regular, Haines watched the other guy and his posse get tossed from the bar for the night.

  “What the hell was that?” Callie demanded after everything had calmed down, hands on hips.

  “Christ! What was I thinking? That you might actually be grateful I saved you?”

  “Saved me?” she screeched incredulously. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to step in,” she yelled over the music.

  He wanted her to focus all that anger and explosive energy on him. He took her wrist, exerting pressure. “Dance,” he demanded.

  She must have had enough – she pushed him, “Go fuck yourself!”

  “I’d rather fuck you,” he retorted. Taking her hips, he attempted to control her, make her do what he wanted, for once.

  Her brows dove and she looked at him strangely. “What is wrong with you tonight?”

  “You know, one of these days you are going to fuck around with the wrong guy and you’re going to get more than you bargained for.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you.”

  “No, actually I wouldn’t. But you can’t tease guys like that. Especially drunk ones. Or strangers, Cal. You don’t know what’s going on in another person’s head.” He wanted to teach her a lesson himself, but for one, he’d never be able to get her in the right situation, and two, he didn’t think he could control himself just to instruct her in what might happen to her if she wasn’t careful. He wanted to fuck her way too much to trust himself to just tutor and tease.

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into your head. I hate your fucking guts, and normally you detest me, too. Get off me!” she said impatiently, trying to pry his grip from her.

  He just tightened it. “You know, if I could just gag you, we’d get along just fine. Admit it, Callie, you were turned on earlier when I was fondling your tit.”

  “Oh, don’t flatter yourself,” she said, squirming.

  It only added to Hainsey’s arousal, even through the alcohol.

  “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not wearing a bra…”

  “Oh, I noticed. Half the club has.”

  She tsked. “And just friction against the fabric can cause the same reaction.”

  “What reaction?” Hainsey taunted her. “Say it, Cal.”

  “Oh, you’re such an easy…”

  “Say, it. Your nipple hardened because you were stirred by the master. Say it, I dare you. Maybe it’s you who’s easily excited.”

  She stilled, then melted into him, her gorgeous blue eyes softening. “You want me to say it, Hainsey? You think I should finally admit I’ve wanted you as long as you’ve wanted me?”

  Unable to speak, he nodded stupidly.

  Licking her lips, she moved within inches of his mouth. Haines titled his head, in anticipation of the explosive kiss to come. Working her palms up his chest, further encouraging his burgeoning erection, she even tilted her pelvis against him.

  “Mmm,” she hummed, working her hips to further entice him.

  “When hell freezes over.” Maliciously she ground herself viciously against his cock one last time, then spun away again, leaving him standing there alone, stunned by how effortlessly she lead him on.

  “Bitch!” he said under his breath, seething.

  Chapter Three

  It wasn’t until after last call and all the drunken patrons spilled outside onto the sidewalk out front awaiting taxis that Callie saw Hainsey again. He was pretty fucked up, by the looks of him, and everyone else from their Friday night group had already gone home hours ago—Tag and Kristie because they’d continued to argue, and Deb and Craig left to take them home.

  “Here, Callie, I got us a cab,” Brad called, holding the car door for her.

  Callie glanced at Hainsey, who was only being held up only by the brick wall at his back, passed out on his feet, seemingly oblivious to the world. Callie was wasted, too, but not as bad as Haines.

  “Callie?” Brad called, obviously itching to go.

  Torn through, Callie hesitated, not only feeling somewhat responsible for how drunk he was, because he really seemed to start pounding them back after she’d tormented him, but also needing to make sure Haines got home safely. It was one thing the group always did for one another. She knew she’d pushed him too far this time and had really pissed him off. But she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Funny, she’d told him that people who talked tended to be the ones who embellished. But w
hat was that quote, something about protesting too much. That was what tonight was, for her. She wanted to piss him off, because the Hainsey that was coming on to her was breaking her down. And there was no way she was going that route. She did it on purpose, sparring with him, trying to make him hate her or think she was nothing but a pain in the ass so he wouldn’t pursue her. That way, she had less to fight against.

  “Brad, I’m sorry. I’m going to have to bail, at least for now,” she explained, hedging towards Haines. Poor Brad was used to this, it wasn’t the first time she’d had to leave him to get one of her friend’s home.

  “No problem. If you get him squared away, you know where I live and I’ll leave the door open. And here, take this cab. I’ll wait for the next one.” He even helped her get Haines inside. “You sure you’ll be able to handle him once you get him home?”

  “Yeah, we’ll be fine. Thanks, Brad.” Callie rose up on her tiptoes and gave Brad a long deep kiss. “I’ll make this up to you,” she promised.

  “Mmm, I’ll look forward to it. Tonight, I hope,” he said, taking her lips again before helping her into the vehicle, then leaning in and paying the driver.

  Waving as they pulled away, Brad smiled warmly.

  Why couldn’t she feel that rush with Brad? He’d be perfect, and he was as focused as she was, not willing to get into any kind of deep relationship until he’d graduated med school. The sex was good with him, but…her thoughts were cut short when, as soon as the car started moving, Hainsey fell over into her crotch, face first. Callie turned his head to the side.

  “You’re gonna owe me big, you bastard. This is not how I had planned on spending my night. I was so gonna get laid.”

  “You still can,” he slurred, popping his head up.

  “Yeah. Right.”

  “I can service you.”

  “Yes, and I’m sure it would be a slobbering awkward thirty seconds of your time before you…”

  His head dropped back into her lap. She patted his shoulder

  “Passed out,” she finished, looking down at him. Sighing, she gave in and allowed herself the indulgence of running her fingers through his thick dark hair and thought again of how good-looking he was.

  “Oh, Hainsey, you are a cute one. It really is too bad you’re such a dick.”

  Eventually the cab pulled up out front of Hainsey’s brownstone. And none too soon, Callie was beginning to feel sick with the movement of the car. She either needed to have another drink or go to bed.

  Callie tried to get out from under Haines, wondering how she was going to get him inside by herself. Perhaps she’d turned Brad’s offer down too soon.

  “Haines, you need to help me out here,” she said, lightly tapping his stubbled cheek.

  “What? Huh?”

  “Let’s get you inside.”

  Pushing open the cab door, Callie wiggled out from under him. Looking at the driver, she soon realised he would be of no help.

  Somehow she was able to rouse him enough that he walked under his own power to the door, an arm around her shoulder, stumbling and staggering every other step, laughing like an idiot, almost taking them both down to the ground, several times.

  “Keys, Hainsey?”

  “Front…” He swallowed hard as if he might puke. “Pocket.”

  Leaning him up against the brick wall, Callie patted down his thighs in an attempt to locate which side his key ring was on. She found a whole lot more than she bargained for rummaging around down there. His cock was rock hard. Skipping over the impressive bulge, she found his keys and reached in to retrieve them, but Hainsey must have thought she was coping a feel. He took her other hand and flattened her palm, moulding her fingers around his length.

  “Ahh yeah,” he drawled. “Feeling frisky, are we?”

  “Thank goodness you won’t remember any of this.” God he felt good. Callie gritted her teeth and fought the urge to keep going, feel him up until neither one of them could stand it anymore, get him inside and maybe even sink to her knees and give in to the almost overwhelming impulse to suck his cock. Giving herself a mental shake, she continued to grope him with one hand while she fished what she needed out of his jeans. Finally she unlocked the door and they practically fell inside.

  Callie’d only been to his place a couple of times. If she remembered correctly, he lived in the basement, but shared the living and kitchen area with the rest of the tenants who lived on the upper floors.

  “Of course you have to live all the way down there,” Callie commented, flipping on the light, then looking down the stairs, wondering how they were going to get down them in one piece. “We are seriously going to break our necks.”

  “I’ll be good,” he hollered.

  “Shhh, you’ll wake the whole house.” Taking hold of the rail, she barely had time to grab onto him when he took the first step.

  About the third step from the bottom, their feet tangled and they tumbled the rest of the way down.

  Callie ended up on her stomach with Haines on top of her, dead weight. Gasping for stolen breath, she managed to turn over. “Good thing we’re drunk, Hainsey, that’s gonna hurt tomorrow,” she panted.

  Suddenly she was wiped out. She just wanted to sleep. “I have half a mind to leave you right here.”

  “Don’t leave me,” he blurted, grabbing at her blindly, his hand coming to rest over her breast. “Nice,” he mumbled, kneading softly. “You know I love your tits, Cal.”

  Callie didn’t even fight the fact that her body reacted again to his touch, as if she could.

  “Mmm, Cal, let me kiss your nipples.”

  “Yep, Haines, in your dreams.” She placed her hand over his and just held him there, closing her eyes for the longest time. They just lay there.

  * * * *

  She had no idea he was playing possum. Haines was drunk, yes, but fully aware of everything that was going on. Things were working out just the way he wanted. He’d pretty much set her up to be the last of their group at the bar, knowing that even though she hated his guts, if Callie was anything, she was loyal to a fault. And using that fact, he made sure she would feel obligated to see him home safely. It was hard to keep from laughing, watching her struggle to get him home. Some of her remarks were quite telling, too—surprising him, actually. As tough as she tried to act, she’d intimated on more than one occasion that she was not immune to the Bennett charm. Even if he was a dick. And that little noise she made in the back of her throat when she was stroking his cock on the front stoop just about brought him to his knees.

  He’d even attempted to save them as they tumbled down the stairs, but she was trying to do the same thing, and they just ended in a heap.

  About half way home, he’d noticed she was just about as intoxicated as he’d ever seen her and she was winding down fast. If he wasn’t mistaken, she would fall asleep right here on the floor if he didn’t do something quickly. Squeezing her tit a little bit too hard, he got the desired reaction.

  “We better get up, Hainsey, just a little bit farther. We’re almost to the bed.” She staggered a little off balance as she got to her feet. “Whew! Is it warm in here?” She took her jacket off and stood back over him. “Come on. At least turn over, so you’re not lying on your face.”

  “Where are we going?” he whined as she pulled on his arm. He turned over.

  “To bed.”

  “I’m going to bed. With you?”

  “Well, no, but you need to help me get you over there.”

  Snatching his arm back, he crossed both over his chest. “I’m not moving ‘til you promise you’ll lay with me.”

  “Sure, Haines, anything you want,” she agreed, tugging on his sleeve.

  “Uh huh, see. Now you’re in a big hurry to get me to bed.” He crawled to the side of the bed.

  “Yep. You’re irresistible. Especially in your own mind.”

  Callie knelt on the unmade bed and struggled to get his upper body up on it. “Come on, boy, you can do it,” she teased.


  “I can’t. I’m too fucked up,” he said, imagining what she might do to get him up there.

  “And I’m too fuckin’ tired.” To his surprise, she just kind of crumpled onto her stomach, sideways on the bed.

  He waited, just to make sure she was really out and this wasn’t just one of her tricks, but he didn’t think it was. She could have just left, but she’d passed out in his bed instead. Well, this was a turn of events, for sure. Moving her hair from her face, he called her name softly. She didn’t even move. He kissed her cheek and nuzzled her ear. Nothing.

  Visiting the bathroom first, he went for a piss, then made his way to the fridge where he grabbed a beer.

  He sat with his back to the headboard and just watched her sleep. He’d been a drunk and been around enough to know that after passing out, a person was useless for the first few hours and he wouldn’t be able to get through to Callie for a while yet. So sitting there, he continued to drink and think up some delicious ways to show her what a guy could do to a girl who teased or lost control of herself. What would good old Brad have done with an unconscious Callie? Haines wondered. But the thought of Callie and Brad together only pissed him off.

  He tossed the latest empty beer can aside carelessly and put his plan into motion.

  Chapter Four

  Callie woke up, her body burning with need. Illogically, her first thought was of Hainsey. She quickly pushed that aside and turned her brain to Brad. But holy shit, he must have taken a wicked anatomy class in lecture hall this week because he had learned some amazing new techniques. Shirt pulled up, Callie could never remember being this close to orgasm by a guy just pleasuring her breasts before.

  Shifting under his weight, wanting to increase the scrumptious heaviness and nearness, she opened her legs as much as she could, then gasped when his rock hard cock settled against her ravenous heat.