Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(4)

Here's to forgetting Austin. My head was beginning to grow foggy, but I downed the second shot as well. Tyler grabbed my hand and we ran into the sea of people dancing. He turned me around and pulled my hips into him. I let my body move to the beat.

"Penny," he whispered into my ear. "What are you trying to do to me?"

I reached my hand up behind his neck and let him control my hips. He turned me around so that I was facing him.

"You're a great dancer."

"Tyler, this is not dancing," I laughed.

"Oops, alcohol must have worn off." He quickly picked me up and lifted me over his shoulder.

"Tyler!"

He walked me over to the bar and placed me back on my feet. Everything seemed a little blurry. He grabbed the bottle and wrapped his free hand around my waist. He led me toward the staircase. When we reached the first floor he led me to another set of stairs.

"I haven't shown you the second story yet," he said as we made our way upstairs.

"You mean your room?"

"Penny, you are quite the cynic. Actually, no, not my room." He touched a tie on one of the doorknobs. "This room," he said, and opened the adjacent door that didn't have a tie hanging from the doorknob.

"I can assure you, Tyler, that you will not be getting lucky tonight."

"I don't even know what you're referring to. I just wanted you to show me how you prefer to dance. Without all those other people around." He took a swig from the bottle and handed it to me.

I took a small sip and set it on the bureau. I grabbed his hands and placed them on my hips. Then I reached up and wrapped my hands around the back of his neck. We slowly swayed back and forth. This was probably the sweetest thing a guy had ever done for me. I moved closer to him so that our bodies were touching.

"So you like it nice and slow?" Tyler said gently.

"If you are referring to dancing? Yes, isn't this nice?"

He leaned down to kiss me. I wanted to forget about Austin and I needed to forget about Professor Hunter. I grabbed the back of his head and pulled him closer as he kissed me deeply. His hands slid down from my waist and grabbed my ass. I let him squeeze for a second before reaching down and moving his hands back to my waist.

"Penny, please, you're killing me." He lifted my chin in his hand and kissed me again.

I liked how his hands felt on me. "We should take things slow," I said breathlessly.

He pulled back and lifted me into his arms. He set me down on the bed and lay next to me. "Then why are you lying on the bed? That's rather forward of you."

"Tyler. I like you." Melissa was right. He was funny and sweet, even if he was a little pompous. Maybe this could be more. Maybe Tyler was just what I needed.

He put his hand on my knee and slowly moved it up my thigh. "I like you too, babe."

I grabbed his hand and held it there to prevent it from rising anymore. "Tyler, we've had too much to drink." My body wanted him and he could tell.

He looked down at me with his blue eyes. He lifted his hand off my thigh and slid his fingers through my hair. "I believe that I'm thinking pretty clearly." He kissed me again and I let my hips rise into him. I did want him.

But at the same time my mind was screaming "no." Austin had always made me feel insignificant. All he had ever wanted was my body, and I had given it to him. I liked the feeling of Tyler wanting me, but I didn't want to sleep with him on our first date. My flirtations had gone too far.

He moved on top of me and pushed my skirt up a little.

"Tyler, please." I began to sit up.

"No need to beg for it, babe." He unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. He pushed me back down onto the bed and lifted my hands above my head, holding them firmly in place.

"Tyler, get off of me." My mind was suddenly beating my body.

"Don't be a tease. You know you want this as much as I do. I promise to take it slow. Just the way you like." He began to kiss my neck.

I pulled up my leg and kneed him in the groin. He rolled off of me, grabbing the spot I had hit.

"What the hell, Penny?!"

"I asked you to stop." Tears had begun to stream down my face. I got up off the bed, stumbling slightly.

"You're such a bitch!"

I made my way over to the door and slammed it behind me. A few people turned to stare as I ran down the stairs.





Chapter 4


Thursday

I stumbled out of the frat house. It was drizzling and I had no coat or umbrella. I silently cursed Melissa for making me wear this miniscule outfit. No wonder Tyler had acted the way that he did. This wasn't me. Austin had messed with my head and completely demolished my self-confidence. I was embarrassed and ashamed of what had just happened. The tears began to mix with the drizzle. I had to focus hard on not falling over because of my stilettos and the booze.

The drizzle turned into rain as I made my way onto Main Street.

"Miss Taylor, is that you?"

My whole body froze at the deep voice. I was wearing the most inappropriate outfit I had ever worn, and now my white tank top was drenched and completely see-through. "Um...no. You have the wrong person." I quickly started walking again, but my high heels prevented me from moving too fast.

"Penny, stop!"