A dozen outfit changes later, Alyssa settles on a black knit tank and white skirt that showcases her sun-kissed legs to their best advantage. Alyssa has been taking dance classes since she was three years old. She's toned with long, lean muscles."Damn girl, you look hot." Not that her crush will appreciate the effort. Alyssa needs to move on. I'm thinking a twelve-step program would help kick the Colton Montgomery habit."I would gladly live in your closet if you'd let me." She grins before doing a little twirl. "It's my happy place."A reluctant smile quirks my lips.My mother is a card-carrying shopaholic and has the Amex Black Card bills to prove it. She buys clothes like our house burned to the ground and nothing could be salvaged. Even with racks of space, my wardrobe is bursting at the seams. Three-quarters of the stuff has never seen the light of day. Alyssa is lucky we're roughly the same size so she can borrow whatever she wants.Now that she's dressed and ready to

Instead of finding a dejected Alyssa crying in the corner, I'm amazed to discover that she's clawed her way to the front of the pack. Who knows, she may actually have a shot of getting picked from the crowd.This could be a real game-changer for her.Guess that means I'm stuck here. I look around the patio, searching for a place to park my ass. The Hollingsworth property is about an acre in size, which is the same as ours. The space around the pool is gated with a black-iron fence and tall arborvitae that spear into the dark night sky. Toward the back of the gate is an unoccupied lounge chair with my name on it. I'll hang out there for forty minutes before dragging Alyssa's panty-less ass back to my house.Before I can take three steps, a deep voice cuts through the raucous noise of the party."Well, well, well. Look who decided to make a cameo appearance tonight."I swing around, knowing exactly who I'll find.Beck.As difficult as it is, I try not to notice how delicious he lo

"Actually," I slur, taking offense to him making decisions for me, "I will have another." At least, I hope that's what comes out.Beck scowls before shifting his hardened gaze to his teammate. "What the hell, dude? Why did you let her have so much? She's officially cut off."Excuse me?Who does this guy think he is?Beck is the king of bad decisions. And he has the audacity to tell me-me, for God's sake, who hasn't gotten so much as a tardy in her life-that I can't have another drink? I'm not even driving home.He didn't nickname me good girl and little miss perfect for nothing. I'm eighteen-years-old. If I want to cut loose for once in my life and have a few drinks, I'm more than capable of making that decision for myself. I don't need Beck swooping in and telling me what I can and can't do.That thought alone is enough to piss me off."You're not the boss of me," I add belligerently with a slight curl to my lip.Beck doesn't spare me a glance. His focus is trained on Landon

"Mia?" His voice sounds deeper, more roughed up than seconds ago. Even though I fight against it, my core clenches in response.It takes a moment to break free of the trance that has fallen over me. I gulp, wishing there was a way to escape the situation. In two swift steps, Beck is back to invading my space. He towers over me, standing so close that the tips of my breasts brush against his shirtless chest."You need to stop staring at me like that," he growls."Like what?" I whisper, trying to play dumb.His face hovers so closely that his warm, minty breath ghosts over my lips. All I want is to close my eyes and lean into him. To take a deep lungful of air and savor it.How is it possible to want someone and yet hate them at the same time? It doesn't make sense."Like you might be interested in hanging up your good girl title."A wave of arousal crashes over me, making my head swim.Is that how I'm staring at him?Like I want him to touch me in ways I've only dreamed about in

I shake my head. Stopping is the furthest thing from my mind. Maybe I didn't plan this, but I want to experience this moment with Beck."It's going to hurt," he whispers.Beck has been so gentle. I never imagined he could be this way. It only makes me fall harder for him. I suck in a breath and nod as I mentally prepare myself for what will come next.He flexes his hips, and his hard length slides further inside me. I wince as pain blooms, becoming more of a burning sensation. He leans down and takes my lips with his own before carefully thrusting against me. When it feels like he can't slide any deeper, he angles himself differently and moves further inside my body.A whimper escapes, and he swallows it down. Our tongues tangle as he holds himself perfectly still, balancing on his elbows so the full weight of his body doesn't pin me to the mattress. It takes a few moments for the sharp bite of pain to recede.I blow out a steady breath, and he gently withdraws from my abrad