“Eric...” I said chastisingly.

“Allie Kat...” He ducked his head to match my tone.

“You’re deplorable.”

He chucked the bottom of my chin and gave my sullen lips a quick peck. “Come on. We’re going to go play some old-fashioned spin the bottle.”

I groaned aloud. No.

“I’d rather be slowly burned alive.”

“You’ll be fine. Just spin the bottle.”

“I thought that teenage ritual died with every Beetles record ever made.”

“Only amongst the prudes.” He tossed back equally as derisively.

Apparently, I’m a prude now. I stiffened.

He tugged harder and I stumbled after him to the next room.

This is a really, really bad idea.

He tugged me into a side room which was already darkened from someone unscrewing a few bulbs. One lone 60 watt flickered above me. Illuminating the room in a dim yellowish haze.

It already smelled like alcohol, cigarettes and some pungent human odor. I crinkled my nose and suddenly wished I was anywhere but here.

“Welcome to the fun…” Eric gave a broad gesture for me to enter further.

I swallowed. Giving him a dark look.

He impatiently caught my hand and yanked me in.

“Now’s your chance to get another taste.” He moved his lips in one quick pucker. “And this time you’ll have an excuse other than you just wanted to climb up on me.”

I gasped. Gaping at him in horror. That wasn’t how that happened!

I suddenly hoped I ended up sparing a kiss to Jake Tully.

Eric’s arch-enemy since middle school.

Now that, would be hilarious. It’d serve him right.

***

My cheeks were still burning from the crude remarks Eric’s friends had made about me coming into the party under his arm.

Everyone was giving me intimate looks like they suddenly thought I was a particular kind of girl.

I’m not his kind. I was meeting all their looks steadily. Not who you think…

A few girls were casting me venomous looks. I assumed they were probably his former playthings.

I don’t really want to know.

“Come on.” He touched my lower back. Nearly making me jump from my skin as I jerked away. Sending him a chastising look.

His eyes narrowed disapprovingly on me as though I were naughty for dodging his touch.

Betraying our deal. Dammit. Feeling utterly disgusted I settled back against his still floating hand.

He gave me a satisfied look and a nod of approval.

So, glad I could make you happy, My Lord. I thought maliciously. Wanting to claw his corded throat out.

***

Eric dropped to the floor and crossed his legs. I settled in next to him. Knowing full well it was unlikely for him to spin the bottle and it land on me at his side.

“Nice try.” He remarked under his breath. Lowering his head with a grin. “No, no, Sweetheart. Over there.” He pointed across the room.

“Yeah!” Another guy said. “Nobody sits next to who they came with. Takes the fun out of it.”

I doubt that.

Clearly, the game was already ongoing. A giggling girl broke a lip-lock with an athletic male and sat back. Putting her hand on the bottle.

I eyed it fearfully. Chewing my lip.

Feeling a penetrating gaze, I slowly looked up and met Eric’s appreciative study. His blue eyes sparking with intensity.

What’s he thinking now?

The girl spun the bottle and it landed haplessly on other people.

I blew a relieved breath. Realizing it was going to be a long night.

The bottle spun several times, and I held my breath each time. Finally, one of Eric’s friends wound the bottle and it landed with the narrow tip aiming at me like a pointing finger.

Shit. I looked up in panic and met the grinning kids look.

The boy sent Eric a taunting look.

Eric blinked unflappably and gestured for him to have at.

I winced. Nervously tugging my shirt as I sought a way out of the awkwardness. Why’d he drag me to this of all places?

I was completely out of my element in this setting and couldn’t work out an escape route.

His friend, Billy leaned over a few other people’s knees, putting a hand over the bottle to stretch toward me.

“What’s that?” I heard Eric ask. Making Billy pause.