Page 24 of First Kiss with a Mothman

“What’s uuuupp?” Arie murmurs, swaying in my arms. I only have to glower at Shorley once before he hands the shorter guy to me.

“He really wanted to kiss me!” Shorley says. “But he’s pretty messed up. His first frat party, after all.”

The knowledge that Shorley isn’t trying to get with Arie is a huge relief. “I know. I’ll get him outside for fresh air!”

“Are we gonna hook uuuupp?” Arie asks. Shorley and I glance at him, then exchange concerned looks. With a nod, I casually guide Arie away from the dance area.

“Don’t take advantage of him!” Shorley says.

“I wouldn’t.” I pause and look my frat brother up and down. “I thought you were gonna do the same.”

“He’s cute, but too far gone right now. I’m not interested in any drunken hookups. The minotaur grins at me and adds, “Take care of him, Mort.”

Okay, why do I feel even more exposed? “I will.” With that, I guide Arie to the back door.

“Where are we going? We gonna have sssseeeex?”

“None of that. Let’s get you outside to breathe some air.”

“We’re doing it outside?”

I bristle and say, “No.” After an eternity, we finally make it past several folks in the kitchen and out the backdoor.

“Watch your step,” I say. The cool air soothes my face. Hopefully it gets Arie to be less messed up.

“You’re so chivalrous. I’d be happy to do it with youuu.”

“No, Arie.”

We manage to get down two steps and make it to the backyard bench. The students who were making out here take one look at us before darting back into the house.

“Why not?” he whines. I sit him down, and he honest-to-goodness pouts at me. His mouth is tantalizing. If he ever does that to me in broad daylight and sober, asking me for something, I doubt I could say no. He hiccups and continues, “Do you not…find me attractive?”

“It’s…it’s not that.”

“Then why did you pull me out of there?” He tries to break away from me, but I hold him so he remains seated. “I wanted my-my-my first time. The list, it…”

“Your first time shouldn’t be when you’re drunk as hell.”

He sniffs and gazes at me up and down. “I’m never going to be wanted, am I?” The tears on his cheek shine in the moonlight. This emotional outburst is a product of the booze, that I do not doubt. But it comes from a place of true vulnerability. I don’t enjoy seeing him hurt, but this is all for his own good. When I brush away his tears, he leans into my touch. My hormones spike, and desire floods my veins.

I want to kiss him. I want to do things with Arie Baker, if nothing else to explore this simmering physical attraction I have to this dude. But that’s a bad idea for several reasons. He’s gazing at me with so much desire, and a kiss right now would mean more to him than I could provide.

Most importantly, he’s very drunk.

“That could never be true, Arie. You are so wanted.”

“But that big dude did want me, Mort,” he whines. He wipes his face and turns away. “I was so close to my first time.”

“Like I said, you should be sober for your first time having sex. Being a virgin is not a big deal.”

“No, not that. I wanted…I…”

He stammers for a moment, then turns away. In moments, he’s vomiting on the ground. I glance up, scrutinizing the night sky as I hold his shoulders. He continues to throw up as I grimace and try to give him privacy while simultaneously holding him. I’d be more grossed out if this were the first time I’ve had to support someone while they vomited, but I’m in Alpha Claw Omega―getting messy is a time-honored frat party tradition.

“Ooh, I feel awful,” Arie says, a few moments later. He appears to be done emptying his stomach.

“Let me go get you a water.”