The hypnotic feel of intoxication was hitting her hard and she giggled compulsively. “Is her name really Coco?”

“Just a nickname,” he said swaying his hips in time with her. All of his friends seemed to have nicknames.

She stopped thinking as the next song came on, and focused on dancing in Ramsey’s muscular arms. The music and dancing took her back to hanging out with Chyna in New York when she was just able to be young and carefree, dancing all nights in clubs, and drinking an exorbitant amount of alcohol. No matter how often she drank, she was still the cheapest date of anyone she had ever met. Her tolerance never wavered. She was sloshed after the second drink, and would likely be throwing up if she exceeded five.

As she let her body roll against Ramsey, she focused in on a couple in front of her seductively dancing against the wall. Lexi’s heart rate picked up as she watched. Bekah pushed Jack back against the wall and began to kiss him feverishly. Lexi couldn’t pull her eyes away. She hadn’t even thought of Jack since she had gotten out on the floor with Ramsey. It had been a comfort to forget him, but now here he was…on display. Bekah gripped his hips and slid alluringly down his front. She took no care of her tiny skirt as she perched with her head in front of his crotch. Lexi felt as if she were intruding on a very private moment. Their intimacy was so seductively erotic that had they been alone Bekah could have easily been going down on him. She watched as Bekah forced herself up and back against him. He moved easily with her as if this were a common motion…just a transfer of sexual emotion from the bedroom to the dance floor.

Lexi hated to admit it, but they looked good together. It sickened her watching them move together so perfectly…to fit together so perfectly. She could feel alcohol-induced tears welling in her eyes. She turned around so fast she knocked into Ramsey, and nearly fell back from impact. He snatched her before she could fall into another person, and looked down upon her mortified face. The tears were threatening to seep out, and that was the last thing she wanted.

He seemed to comprehend that as he bent down to speak into her ear. “Do you want to get some fresh air? I’m kind of suffocating,” he admitted, though she knew it was more for her sake.

The crowd parted as he passed through, and he staved off his roommates. Opening the back door, he ushered her out into the humid August air where they found themselves blessedly alone. She checked her cheeks and found them dry, which was her sole comfort from the entire episode.

“Are you okay?” he asked purposefully giving her enough room to breathe.

Lexi remained silent but nodded. After a few minutes of strained silence, she felt more composed, and a little extra tipsy from the emotional whirlwind she had just undergone. She breathed out heavily, and leaned her elbows back against the wooden banister. Ramsey walked forward and stood in front of her. She couldn’t help but notice how attractive he looked in the moon light. She smiled at him endearingly.

“It’s good to see that you look better.” She shrugged again. The earlier incident, though not out of her mind, was at least momentarily forgotten.

“Thanks. I think I dress up well too,” she said biting her lip and staring at him flirtatiously.

“I think both clothing options work for you,” he said taking another step closer to her.

“Thank you very much. I have to say…” She eyed him up and down. “Both options work for you too.” She hiccupped and leaned forward against him as she giggled. “Though, these muscles are much better in your polo.” She placed her hand on his bicep and squeezed.

He smiled his perfect smile, and reached out to help support her. “I’m glad you like them. I spend a decent amount of time in the gym to keep them.”

“I didn’t say I liked them,” she said blushing.

“Fine. I’m glad they look better in my polo,” he corrected boldly circling her waist. She let him. It was a nice feeling. He wasn’t exactly holding her, but having his big strong arms this close was nice indeed. “You really don’t remember me then?”

“Nope!”

“You know I wasn’t being completely honest with you,” Ramsey said sliding her back another step and leaning her against the balustrade.

“It doesn’t matter,” she slurred staring at his lips. By now, she wasn’t all too sure what he was talking about. She couldn’t remember if it was important.

“No, I guess it doesn’t, but I could still tell you.”

Her head felt heavy and it lolled backwards twice before she looked back up at him. God, his lips looked damn near edible from this close up. They were a soft pink color and perfectly proportioned. He licked his lips as she watched, and couldn’t help but let loose a soft breath as her heart rate picked up.

He chuckled quietly when he noticed she wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying. “Lexi, don’t you want to know what I’m talking about?”

“Yep,” she said letting her focus shift back to his emerald green eyes. “I want to…”

“You want me to…” he began letting the words hang in the silence. Her eyes widened and pupils dilated with longing at the words. “…tell you what I’m talking about?”

“Oh,” she said, sucking in her bottom lip in confusion. “That’s not what I thought you were going to say.”

He snickered again. “What I have to say can wait. What did you want me to say?” he asked leaning into her.

She blushed furiously as her thoughts turned sexual. She tilted her head back to look up at him. Suddenly, she wanted to be sitting on the banister so she could get a better look at him. She wanted to be eye level with him. “Put me up,” she demanded slapping her hand playfully on the banister.

“Alright, but be careful,” he said hoisting her up and sitting her on the top of the railing. He held a firm grip on her so that she wouldn’t fall. A ten foot drop while she was drunk probably wouldn’t do her any serious damage, but he didn’t want to take the chance.

She liked her seat. Now she was even with him. This was much easier. His hand came up and swept her hair out of her face. “You know, Lexi, you’re very beautiful.”

She smiled at him through her lustful eyes. “Thank you.” Her breathing quickened as she noticed how close they had gotten. She hadn’t noticed it before, but he had scooted in between her legs to block the view from the window. She felt her bare thighs press against his sides, and realized her skirt was barely covering her lower half. One hand was wrapped around her holding her securely in place. The other was on the back of her neck gently kneading the muscles. His breath was hot on her face. Their mouths were so close together.

There was no reason for her not to kiss him. She was single. She was completely one hundred percent available. Jack was nothing to her. She couldn’t have him. Not the way she wanted him. She might as well go for what was right in front of her. She pushed herself a little closer to Ramsey. She was so close she could almost feel his lips against her. His breathing was wretched with anticipation. As he moved closer to her, something caught her eye in the window. She let her gaze shift fleetingly, and saw the most brilliant blue eyes lock onto her own. Then Ramsey was kissing her, and all thoughts were lost.

CHAPTER 10

MAY THREE YEARS EARLIER

Lexi crept back into the beach house just before sunrise. She and Jack had sat together all night peacefully enjoying each other’s company. Their attempt at friendship had been mildly successful. Lexi was glad that they had resisted kissing again. She was pretty sure they had gone over the line that was normally reserved for friends, but it was so incredibly mild and tame compared to their normal impulsive demeanor, neither of them had complained.