Free Never Me by Kate Stewart

is a caveman with no manners. I’m Ellie.”
    “Derek,” the shaggy haired brunette said, taking her hand. “Should we go to the bar and do a few shots?”
    “Sure,” Ellie said, sticking out her hand further to let him help her from her chair.
    “How about you?” The next guy sat beside me, taking Ellie’s seat, giving me a great view of what he had to offer. He was a little too short with wavy brown hair and blue eyes—nice eyes. I smiled at him and started to answer when I heard the boom in Spencer’s voice.
    “What the fuck did I say?”
    “Sorry, man. Is this your girl?”
    “No I’m not,” I said, glaring at Spencer who was standing behind and above us.
    “The hell you aren’t,” he said, lifting me from my chair into his arms. In an instant I was being carried away over his shoulder and laughed whole heartedly as I pounded on his back to let me down. When he finally did we were on the sand, the sun setting behind him. Our smiles faltered and only one word could come from my lips.
    “Spencer.”
    It was more of a question than a statement. I had never taken the time to get to know any of my invites, but I knew better than to think this sexual pull was normal. Every time he looked at me my senses reeled, my body ached in places he had already touched. He was most definitely invited. This was so out the norm for me, I couldn’t say anything else. I would have to let him take the lead and that in itself was a huge leap from my comfort zone. Instead of thinking any more about it, I decided to just let it happen.
    His eyes were pooling dark and it took my breath from me. I looked down at my hands, which were balled in fists on my dress, and he tilted my chin back up to keep his gaze.
    “Twenty-five years old and I can’t bring myself to say what I want to a beautiful woman.” He rubbed my cheek and took my lips with a tenderness I wasn’t used to.
    “Spencer.” I moaned in unison with him. “How do I know you’re not just screwing with me?”
    “What do you think, Nadine?”
    “I really don’t care, I guess.”
    “Maybe then I won’t take you until you do.”
    He shut my mouth with his and drank me in completely. I was drunk on his kiss and his arm slid around and cradled my waist. Every touch seemed so natural and so right. His kiss was deafening, though the only sound around were the waves playing their melody. His tongue was so gentle and dipped sweetly into my mouth over and over. I felt the moisture between my legs and began to ache for him. It was getting to be too much for me to handle. I took his assault and leaned my body into him, pressing my chest to his. Telling myself that this may be just another ploy at getting the best of me and worse enjoying it, I ripped my lips away.
    “This isn’t how I usually do this.”
    “Maybe times are changing for you.”
    “And I think I want them to.” Shit. He saw me regret my admission and I saw a curious look on his face.
    “When was your last boyfriend?” he asked, rubbing my bare shoulders in a hypnotizing way.
    “I‘ve never had one.”
    “Never?”
    “No, well once… maybe… kind of.” Our voices were in whispers as if we were trying to keep a secret between us.
    “Kind of? You were his or you weren’t?”
    “I wasn’t. I don’t care about that stuff. It’s not my thing.”
    “Your thing?” he asked harshly.
    “I’m not comfortable with the … relationship stuff. It’s not me.”
    “Oh, really? So when I kiss you, you feel nothing?”
    “No.”
    “Ah, got it.” He let go of me quickly and turned away to start walking toward the restaurant.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To lick my wounds. Coming?” He turned back to eye me. The sun was finishing its decent, washing us in a haze of purple. It was absolutely beautiful.
    “Don’t take it personally or anything. I like you and you’re so much fun.”
    He turned to fully face me and made it back to me in a few quick strides. I felt my body being pulled to him