"No it's not! It's not the truth with Casey, and it's not the truth for me. I happen to have much bigger goals, and none of them require 'some rich guy' to make them happen."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"I don't know yet," I laughed, absently running a finger around the edge of my champagne flute. "But who knows? It's a new year, right? Anything can happen."

He clinked his bottle against my glass. "Here's hoping."

"Crap. I missed."

I stood upright after taking my fruitless shot and noticed a bit of wobble in my legs. I placed a hand on the table and used my cue to steady myself.

Yeah. I am definitely buzzing.

Zac and I had been playing pool for over two hours. He suggested we team up, and when we did, we became a force to be reckoned with. Challenger after challenger got smacked down as we dominated the billiard room.

Our latest contenders were Travis and Selene. Travis was one of Zac's teammates, and Selene was one of the Angels. I knew her well.

"My turn!" she let out, before moving into position and bending over the table. I watched as Travis gave Zac a nudge and nodded at her ass.

I shook my head at the two of them, then called them out. "They're checking out your butt, Selene."

She gave a flirty look over her shoulder. "Well, I should hope so. I didn't wear this tight little dress for nothing."

We all shared a good laugh at that as she took her shot.

"Yippee! Made it!" she exclaimed as she spun around and I gave her a high-five. I was giggling at her word choice. Who the hell says yippee? She must have been more excited than actual words could convey.

"Hey! I'm your teammate, remember?" Zac asked.

How could I forget? I'd had his undivided attention the entire night. I was normally a decent pool player, but I made a point to play better than I ever had in my life, because every time we won meant we got to play another game in order to defend our championship. And every game we played meant another chunk of time together. As partners. Teammates. A couple, by the loosest definition of terms.

Even though our relationship was planted firmly in The Friendzone-and I was content with that, truly-it didn't stop me from crushing on the guy. Especially when he looked so hot all dressed up.

I took a look over at Zac and Travis, two incredibly beautiful men leaning against the wall together. Zac's dark good looks were offset by Travis's light brown hair and eyes. Zac was wearing a black, button-down shirt, and Travis had on a chambray snap-up with white piping (and a white cowboy hat to match). Night and day. City meets country. Damn. It was quite an enticing vision.

I smiled involuntarily at the sight and explained, "Just showing a little sisterhood solidarity." Although, since I was feeling the buzz from all those glasses of champagne-and two Lemon Drop shots-I was sure my words came out more than a little garbled.

"Oh, darlin'. I think you need another drink," Travis suggested in his honeyed drawl. He was a regular good ol' boy, that one. I didn't know too many cowboys, much less ones who played hockey, but he was a really great guy, not to mention a damn fine athlete.

He waved the waitress over and asked her to hang on while Selene sank the 8-ball. She dropped her cue onto the table and threw her arms in the air. "Whoooooo!"

Travis came over and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the floor as he put in his order to the waitress. "Well, I know I'll be having another beer. And this little winner here will have"

"A white zinfandel!"

"You heard the woman. You can deliver them to our table, thank ya kindly. Oh, and make sure you put it on McAllister's tab," he added with a wink in Zac's direction before carrying Selene out to the bar.

The waitress followed them out as Zac came over by me. He tossed his cue onto the table and said, "Well, partner, we gave it our all. Looks like we finally have to hand over the trophy. Good game." He held his hand out to me and I shook it.

"At least we drank for free all night!"

"That's true," he agreed, before rolling his beer bottle over his forehead, trying to cool off. I was feeling a bit hot and bothered myself. He was such a sexy bastard. He didn't even need to try. It was just who he was.

Maybe it was the booze lightening my inhibitions, but I suddenly came to an indisputable revelation: Standing right there in front of me was this gorgeous guy who made my heart do somersaults in my chest, and yet I'd been keeping him at arms' length for years. Why did I do that? I'd only ever let him be a friend to me, as opposed to the manwhore he was with the rest of the world. But why was I so afraid to let him be both? How come I never even tried?

And that was it for me. That was all it took. That stupid bottle was like a switch being flipped in my brain, a split second that changed everything. You could spend your life thinking a certain way, just following the status quo. And then BOOM. Just like that, the most inconsequential thing would have you rethinking everything.

He lowered the bottle and leaned against the pool table. I went to do the same, but I misjudged its height and fumbled a bit before getting situated. Zac watched me in amusement and asked, "Just how much have you had tonight, anyway?"

I didn't know where the hell I found the nerve, but I ran a hand across his and teased, "Why? Worried I won't be able to get it up?"

The comment actually floored him. Hell. It floored me.

He looked at me in open-mouthed shock and laughed out nervously, "You shouldn't joke around like that, Ave. A guy could take things the wrong way."

He'd been flirting with me all night; hell, he'd been doing it for three years. Teasing me into oblivion was pretty much his default mode, but this was the first night I ever let myself flirt back. I don't think he knew how to take it.

He tried to go back to joking, tried to bring things back down to friend level. "We should get you some water."

I was definitely not drunk. Tipsy, but not full-on, head-in-the-toilet, falling-over drunk. At least not on alcohol. I'd become high on the idea of getting him alone, and I was suddenly hellbent on doing everything in my power to make it happen. "We should get out of here."

That threw him. He scanned my face, trying to see if I was putting him on, but I didn't waver, didn't even crack a smile. I knew he could tell I was one hundred percent serious. I could tell he was fighting it. He wanted to believe me and was scared shitless about it.

I loved every second of confusion on his face.

Finally, tentatively, he raised a palm to my jaw. His fingers brushed under the hair at my nape; his thumb feathered against my lips. I almost fainted, I swear to God. But I knew he was testing me, seeing just how far I was willing to take this little joke.

When he could see that I wasn't going to break, his grip tightened as his teeth clenched, and like some sort of holiday miracle, he hissed, "Screw it. Let's go."

Yippee!

Prince's "1999" was playing for the third time that night as Zac walked me out the door. It had to only be a few minutes until midnight, but I couldn't care less. I came out for the evening to hang with my friends, but I'd suddenly found a much better way to ring in the New Year.

We got to my car and I fumbled with the keys. I was kind of in shock that this was actually happening, and my shaking hands were so obvious that it was embarrassing. Zac's hand closed over mine, and when I looked up, he was wearing that adorable lopsided grin. His eyes met mine as he slid a palm behind my neck and into the back of my hair. We stood there like that for a moment, my stomach threatening to explode, Zac giving me one final chance to change my mind. As if I would.

He waited for just one extra beat before backing me against my car and lowering his lips to mine.

Holyshitholyshitholyshit!

My heart started beating like crazy, but my arms managed to wrap around his shoulders. Thank God, because my body was about to crumple into a useless heap right there in the parking lot.

He broke away for a moment, looking at me in what I can only describe as amused shock.

"Jesus, Ave," he whispered, stunned but pleased, before pressing his mouth to mine once more.

Oh God. Kissing him was the sweetest thing in the world. He tasted like candy and sunshine and Johnny Walker Blue. He smelled like winter chill and peppermint. He felt like Heaven.

He pulled me tightly against his length as his lips moved tenderly across my own. I knotted my hands in the back of his hair and opened my mouth, pressing myself against him as his hands slid down to my ass, pushing me against the car again, his mouth devouring mine, his hips grinding against me.

My breath was coming out in an unsteady gasp; my heart was pounding against my ribcage. The feel of his firm lips against mine and his insistent hips and his possessive hands Whoa. I mean, just, full-on, mind-numbing whoa.

He took half a step back, wearing that stunned look on his face again which was quickly becoming my new favorite expression. "I tried," he said, lowering his head and giving it a good shake. His eyes raised to meet mine as he added, "I really did try to stay away from you."

A warmth spread throughout my entire body at his words, warding off the winter cold. He'd been trying to stay away from me? He wanted this as much as I did?

I found that completely too good to be true. My brain simply wouldn't allow me to believe there was any way he was as into this as me.

But still, his admission gave me the confidence to accept that this was actually going to happen.

This was sooo going to happen.

I stepped away momentarily in order to unlock the car, sliding behind the wheel and starting the engine just to get some heat flowing through the frosty space. "I hope you don't expect me to drive anywhere."

Zac was leaning in the opened driver's side door. His lips pursed together and I could see a muscle twitching in his jaw. "So, you are drunk."

Is it bad that I found his devastation positively exhilarating?

"No, Zac, I swear. I'm only buzzed. Too drunk to drive, not too drunk to know what I'm doing. Okay?"

He searched my face for a minute longer than necessary, assessing the situation. His lips curled into a dangerous grin as he realized I was telling the truth. "Get in the back."

I took him up on his invitation, ditched my coat, and maneuvered myself into the backseat as tactfully as possible. Not exactly the easiest thing to do while crawling on my hands and knees and wearing a dress. It was long, thankfully, but there was a slit that ran from hem to thigh, and as I sat back on the seat, the damn thing betrayed me. I hadn't planned to present myself to him quite so boldly. Not just yet, anyway.

Zac's eyes locked onto my bare leg, and I swear, he practically licked his chops as he climbed onto the floor of the car.

He slammed the door behind him, ran a palm up my exposed skin, then bent down to kiss my thigh. "Fuck," he scratched out. "Your legs have been driving me insane forever." He gave a light bite to the spot he just kissed, adding, "And Jesus. They taste as good as I hoped."

Okay. Zachary McAllister had been wondering what my legs tasted like? I'd say I would've been willing to die happy at that second, but the truth is, I wasn't quite ready to check out just yet. I wanted more of him first.

I put my hands on either side of his head and pulled his lips to mine once more. My Jetta didn't necessarily allow much space to move, but he managed to find a way. His body slid up the length of mine before settling himself right between my legs, and oh my God, what did I ever do in my life to deserve this?

His tongue swept into my mouth as his hand glided along my side. I felt a groan escape from his chest and rumble against mine, the weight of him on top of me stealing my breath. He pulled a strap of my dress off my shoulder and kissed me there, my skin on fire from his touch. His hand was in a fist at my arm as he moved his lips over to my collarbone, peppering soft kisses along the swell of flesh above my strapless bra.

I was in a complete daze from the surreal events taking place right there in the backseat of my car. But when his hand slid between my legs, I became more than aware of what was happening.

Trust me. I noticed.

He pulled my panties to the side and slipped a finger across my sensitive skin. I gave out a shaky sigh and he raised his head to smile wickedly at me and then slid his finger inside.

Oh my God. Just Oh my God.

I closed my eyes and let my head fall back, giving myself over to the sensations he was stirring within me. My nails dug into his muscular shoulders as my body pressed involuntarily against his hand. His movements were slow, tender, and I guess I never expected him to be such a patient lover. The reality was much better than my expectations. Much. Much. Better.

I didn't think anything could feel more incredible than what he was doing to me right then.

I was wrong.

He slipped a second finger inside as his thumb joined the party, and by the time his lips met mine, I was ready to completely fall apart. He groaned against my mouth in an aching voice, "Jesus, I want you so bad, Ave."

Oh God. You have me. I'm yours.

I could feel how badly he wanted me by the insistent knot pressing into my thigh, and I moaned back, not even trying to hide the effect he was having on me. I kissed him then, rough and wanting, feeling his fingers moving inside me and the growl stirring in his chest.

The electric charges started to run along my skin; I don't know why I should have been surprised, but it snuck up on me. Zac's mouth let out a groan against mine and that sound is what put me completely over the edge. I held on for dear life as the pressure built into a cataclysmic storm of epic proportions before completely exploding; every synapse of my brain igniting as every nerve ending in my body caught fire.

I absolutely fell apart. Died a thousand tiny deaths. Shattered into a million little pieces.

Zac chuckled as I caught my breath, fairly pleased with his accomplishment. I swiped a hand through my sweaty hair and then abruptly pushed him down to lie across the backseat, immediately covering his body with my own. The movement startled him, but I only registered his surprised expression for a second before slamming my lips against his. His hands went around to my back and undid my zipper, pulling my dress and bra down to my waist and grasping at my breasts.

This wasn't over yet.

I was exhausted and out of breath, but his touch gave me a second wind, and I found my hands moving on their own, sliding down his chest as I undid each and every button, unwrapping him like a present. I swiped his shirt open to reveal his sculpted chest, all bulging muscle and unblemished skin, just the slightest tuft of hair between his pecs. I kissed his smooth skin as his hands knotted into my hair, then ran a tongue across his ripped abs.

He chuckled at that, pulling me up by my hair to kiss me again.

It's not as though I was some innocent virgin, but I sure as hell had never been the demented sex-kitten that was currently possessing my body at the present moment. I'd never felt so uninhibited before. I'd never felt this anything before.

I unzipped his jeans quickly, then slipped my hand inside to wrap around him. He let out a heavy breath at my touch, and all I could think at that second was how exciting it was to get a little payback. I wanted to see him completely lose his mind.

I was off to a good start, apparently.

My tongue was moving inside his mouth; my hand was moving inside his jeans. He groaned against my lips, and I moaned back, his hips rolling against my touch, my bare breasts against his chest.

He lifted up my dress, enough to slide a palm underneath and across my ass, kneading the flesh there, his thumb under my panties. I didn't know if I should stop what I was doing to take them off or if I should let him do it for me.

"I need to fuck you," he gritted out, and I almost passed out from the sound of his voice, all hungry and wanting and craving. Before I could answer with a resounding Okay! he clenched his teeth together and said, "Not here, though. We're not doing this tonight. Not like this."

I knew we weren't in some fancy place in some comfortable bed, but I also knew that it didn't really matter to me. I was reluctantly impressed that it seemed to matter to him.

All thought ceased after that. My hand was working him over; his hands were everywhere else, sliding along every inch of my body within reach like a sex-crazed ninja octopus.

When one of those hands slid down to wrap around mine, I almost died at the sight. I watched our joined hands working together to get the job done-no pun intended-and wondered what would happen if I simply nudged myself out of the way Holy shit, he's flying solo right in front of me.

I grabbed him behind his neck and kissed his throat, licking and tasting and biting, shooting the occasional surreptitious look at what was doing south of the Equator. There was so much power in his movement, from his clenched jaw to his flexing bicep to his fisted hand, and I found it hard to tear my gaze away. It was the hottest thing I'd ever witnessed, and there was decidedly some new precipitation moving into my own southern hemisphere.

I watched him in a daze, his strokes building speed, his breaths turning choppy. I grabbed a tissue from the box on the floor and he held my hand over his length as he flinched and unloaded into it.

"Fuck," he snarled, panted, laughed as his movements slowed and his body sank back on the seat. He grabbed a few more tissues to clean himself off before buttoning up, then grabbed me toward him to brand my lips with a searing kiss. I settled myself on top of him, the both of us trying to catch our breath, my fingers lightly dancing over his naked torso. I laid my head on his chest, hearing his racing heart under my ear.

He let out with a cleansing breath and growled, "That was insane."

Yes. Yes, it was. It was the most incredible non-sex I'd ever had in my life.

I was still out of my mind, but the real world slowly started to creep back in. Led Zep was singing "Tangerine" on the radio, and I figured it must have been well past midnight if the stations were back to playing slow songs. I curled up against Zac's side as his hand brushed a sweet caress along my bare skin. The back of my Volkswagen wasn't exactly the most comfortable place to snuggle, but somehow, we made it work.

Out of nowhere, he said, "I'm kind of crazy about you a little bit."