Burning For You

Pizza & Pool

"So, what's the plan?" Elara asked as Ezra strode into the room.

"Dunno, what did you want to do?"

She shrugged sluggishly, skin sticky from the heat. "I don't know. I'm just too hot and don’t feel like doing anything."

Ezra wandered toward the kitchen. "We'll just watch a movie then!" he yelled over his shoulder. A moment later, he returned with two mini tubs of ice cream and handed her one along with a spoon before dropping onto the couch beside her. He passed her the remote.

Lara flicked through the options until she landed on Friday the 13th.

As the movie went on, she gradually melted into the cushions, eventually curling up with her knees tucked to her chest. Ezra watched out of the corner of his eye as her lids grew heavier. By the time the credits rolled, she was out cold. He gently lifted her head and slid a cushion beneath it, then gathered the empty ice cream tubs and left her to sleep.

Around three in the afternoon, Elara woke to shouting and splashing outside. She wandered to the back door and squinted out to see Ezra in the pool with five other guys.

They all went still when they spotted her, then immediately started nudging each other and making faces at Ezra.

"Hey, Lara!" Lenny from the party called, grinning.

"Hey," she muttered, giving a small wave before retreating back inside.

She'd barely made it down the hall to the bedroom when she felt eyes on her. Turning, she found Ezra standing there, dripping wet, towel slung low around his hips.

"What’re you doing?"

"Just checking on you now you're awake." He strolled closer, dragging the towel over his chest and down his stomach.

"I... I'm fine," Lari stammered.

He nodded slowly but didn’t move away. "You're a little liar, Lari," he chuckled.

"That nickname is reserved for Millie only." Lara rolled her eyes, though her jaw slackened as he kept moving toward her, close enough that his body heat brushed hers despite the water still beading on his skin.

"Well then, what can I call you?"

"Elara or Lara and nothing else," she snapped, shoving the door shut in his face.

He only smirked and walked back outside.

"So what's up with the red-headed chick?" Marco asked, beer in hand.

"She needs a place to crash," Ezra shrugged.

"You've never let girls sleep over before."

"This is different."

Lenny cackled. "What, is she marriage material? The quiet one in the year below us?"

"Shut the f**k up, okay? We haven’t even f****d," Ezra muttered, trying not to sound disappointed. "And her name is Elara."

The boys exchanged looks, raised brows, then carried on roughhousing in the pool.

Hours later, Lara crept back into the lounge room—and to her relief, found Ezra alone.

His grin lit up instantly when he saw her. Even in her bike shorts and oversized t-shirt, she was hot as f**k to him.

"I ordered us pizza. Got Hawaiian and meatlovers." He pointed to the coffee table, where two boxes sat alongside a massive bottle of Mountain Dew.

Lara plopped onto the couch, crossing her legs before leaning across for a slice. Ezra’s gaze dipped straight to the low neckline of her shirt.

"Hey!" she snapped.

"What?" He smirked far too innocently.

"Stop staring at my tits."

He scrambled for a comeback. "Well, I already know you have such beautiful blue eyes."

He said it like a joke—but it wasn’t. He knew exactly how pale her irises were, how they glowed in sunlight.

"You're so cheesy," Lara cringed.

He went quiet, watching as she took a bite. Her hair fell over her cheek perfectly, her lips plush around the crust. He cleared his throat and poured them both glasses of fizzy to distract himself.

When the pizza was gone, Ezra found himself panicking at the idea of her returning to the bedroom.

"Wanna play pool?" he blurted, already leading her to the game room.

"I’ve not actually played pool before," she admitted.

This made his entire day. "I can teach you then." He racked the balls and handed her a cue.

She held it awkwardly. "What now?"

"Here." He stepped behind her, hands sliding down her waist as he pressed himself against her. He bent her over the table gently. "Aim like this."

He adjusted her grip, fingers covering hers. His c**k throbbed painfully at the feel of her ass pressed back against him.

"Ezra?" she squeaked.

"Mm." It came out more like a growl. He hadn’t been this out of control of his own body since he was thirteen.

She tilted her head, catching his gaze over her shoulder. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she deliberately pushed back, grinding ever so slightly.

"What's this?" she whispered, cheeks flushed.

Ezra’s knuckles whitened against the table. "Can I be honest with you?" His voice dropped low.

"I dunno. Is it gonna scare me?" Lara turned to face him fully, standing chest-to-chest.

He swallowed hard, Adam’s apple bobbing. "I want you. So fucken badly."

"Really?" Lara bit her lip.

"Really."

"So?"

"Can I kiss you?"

She nodded, breath hitching.

His warm hand curled around the back of her neck as he leaned in. His soft lips met hers, teasing at first, then deeper as his tongue traced her bottom lip. She parted for him willingly, letting him take over.

Their tongues brushed before he pulled back, staring down at her flushed face.

"Sorry," she gasped. "I don’t really know how to kiss."

"You've never been kissed before?" Ezra blinked, stunned. She was untouched?

"I’m sorry," she mumbled. "Was it awful?"

Ezra barked a laugh. "No! No, it was... it was good."

I was wrong, Lara realised. He’s not a d**k. She saw it in his eyes, in the gentle hold on her neck, in the low rumble of his voice.

But it was too much. Too soon. She pressed a hand against his chest.

"I... ah... I think I’ll go to bed early tonight."

She turned to slip away....