Alluring Ties Read Free Page A

breath.
    For half an hour, Lexi and I charm the crowd around us. Erik disappeared shortly after we arrived with strict instructions for me to “keep an eye on Lexi.” Damn, he’s protective. It’s so sweet though. Be nice to have someone like that in my corner.
    Suddenly, it’s like someone touched me with a charger. Goosebumps break out on my skin. There is warm breath in my ear as a hand is placed on the bare skin of my lower back. “Walk with me?”
    Turning, I meet Micah’s gaze. With my shoes on, our eyes are on the same level. He smiles at me as my eyes widen. I have to force myself to breath normally and clench my hands to keep from touching him. I arch my brow as I exclaim, “Walk with you where?”
    He’s rubbing small circles on my lower back and the goose-bumps are traveling all across my skin. Leaning in to be heard over the noise, he says directly in my ear, “Outside. There’s a swing in the back by the trees. It’s quiet. We can talk.”
    Fully turning around and taking him by surprise, I wrap my arm around his neck and pull his head down. Lining my mouth up with his ear, I blow into it. I see him catch his breath as I say, “Ok, let’s go talk .”
    He pulls back from me and smiles. My heart kick starts again. Then, I remember Lexi. Shit!
    I’m about to tell him I can’t go when I see a decidedly rumpled looking Erik come through the doors a split second before a slim, sexy blond guy. Their hands touch and they exchange a look before the blond rubs the back of Erik’s hand and disappears down the hall. Erik searches the room and heads in our direction once he sees us. Interesting.
    Once he gets to us, he wraps his arm around Lexi’s waist and swings her around. She laughs and hugs him and they walk over to meet us. Erik smiles as he notices my hand still on Micah’s neck. “You two getting along?” he asks.
    Lexi is beaming and I notice she’s wobbling some. How much did she drink tonight? Damn, some friend I am. Thankfully, Erik has her.
    Micah looks down at me and smiles. I clench my thighs as I feel the moisture his smile creates. Dear God. He answers Erik while still looking at me. “Yeah, man. We are. Bradi and I were just about to go for a walk. Y’all ok to get back to the dorm?” He looks up for a second and I see him and Erik seemingly having a silent conversation. “I’ll bring her back in a bit.”
    From the corner of my eye, I can barely see Erik and Lexi smiling because I can’t seem to look away from Micah. I should probably speak up and say that I can walk myself back, or leave with Erik and Lexi, but my mouth refuses to open. Well, shit!
    Erik turns and bends down. “Hop on, love,” he tells Lexi while gesturing to his back.
    She jumps on, laughing, and says to us, “We’re good. You kids have fun! Get her back safe Micah, ya hear?!” She winks at me. Erik fist bumps Micah and they’re off.
    Taking my hand, Micah leads me through the house and out the back door. True to his word, there’s a wooden swing hanging from a tree in the back corner of the yard. It’s unoccupied.
    We settle on the swing and he stretches his arm across the back while turning his body towards mine. There’s about a foot of space between us, but it feels like we’re touching. My hands are moist and I realize Micah makes me nervous. Guys don’t make me nervous. Ever.
    Suddenly, I feel him playing with the strands of hair near his hand. He’s letting them sift through his fingers before he picks them up again. My back is so tense, but I’m trying very hard to play it cool.
    Chuckling, he says, “Do I make you nervous, Bradi?”
    My head whips around and my sharp green gaze zeroes in on his serene chocolate one. “Nervous? No. Why would you make me nervous?”
    He leans in. “You tell me. I can see that you’re a force to be reckoned with, but for some reason, you seem on edge when I’m around. I’m curious as to why that is?”
    Leaning in so only a whisper of space is between