MICHAEL
Sara looked beautiful and that was the problem. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her.
When his stepmother spoke to him Michael forced his eyes from Sara for what had to be the 10th time since she had walked into the room.
He met Grace's smiling eyes and sighed inwardly in relief. Surely if she was even remotely aware of his thoughts about her daughter she wouldn't be smiling at him? No, she would most likely be throwing things at him and screaming pervert till they reached the airport, where she would then happily shove him on a flight back to Linc and as far away from Sara as she could get him.
He still couldn't believe what had happened in Sara's bedroom the previous morning, and as much as it would complicate their lives he wouldn't change things.
Pushing his thoughts away he reminded himself that now was not the time to think about milk and cookies and Sara's lips. Not unless he wanted to rush from the room to avoid embarrassment.
"I don't think so, but I can run out front and check, if you'd like"? He said in answer to Grace's question about whether the Limo the two couples were to share that night had arrived.
Grace shook her head. "No, no I'll go check, you just relax dear, you seem nervous".
Michael took a deep breath. "Yeah, a little", he admitted to his stepmother's retreating back.
But he knew the real reason behind his nervousness. And she was standing a few feet away adjusting the straps on her dress.
He let his eyes take Sara in and felt his breath leave him when she looked up and met his stare with a smile. Her black dress clung to every curve and was cut low pushing up her breasts. His eyes wanted nothing more than to travel back to her milky skin, but he held her gaze.
Her smile widened as she walked towards him. They were finally alone for the first time that day.
"You look amazing", he said softly.
"Thanks. You look pretty amazing yourself", she grinned.
He looked down at the tux he was wearing.
"What, this old thing? Just something I had in my closet", he grinned back.
Sara reached to straighten his tie.
"I want to dance with you", she said softly in almost a whisper.
He felt his smile slip away as his blue eyes grew darker and more serious.
"Sara, I don't know how I'm going to watch you with that guy all night", he spoke almost as softly as she had.
"It's no big deal, Michael, David is a good guy. I know he comes across a little gangsta, but I've known him forever; since kindergarten at least".
Michael looked quickly to the door and then took her hands in his.
"I just don't want to see you with anyone else, Sara. I wish it was me taking you to the dance", he said moving closer until his body was mere inches from hers.
He knew he was being careless, that Grace could walk back into the room at any moment, but he couldn't seem to stop himself as he leaned in and brushed her lips lightly. He felt her fingers squeeze his and then she pulled away and looked anxiously to the empty doorway.
"Michael, we can't…I mean that was"…
Michael nodded.
"I know… I'm sorry… I just… I had to", he said apologetically.
They locked eyes for a moment and then he told himself to look away before he did something even more stupid.
He knew he needed to put some distance between them, so he walked to the window. He stared out at the night, his eyes drawn to the lights from the Limo illuminated in the darkness of the driveway.
"The Limo's here", he said turning back to Sara.
Just then Grace swept into the room.
"The Limo's outside waiting for you two. And I must say I have never seen a more striking brother and sister", she smiled.
Michael bit his tongue, crushing the need to state that they were step siblings, and smiled as Sara hugged her mother. He pulled his hands from his pockets and returned Grace's hug as she next wrapped her arms affectionately around him.
He then followed mother and daughter down the hallway and to the front door where they said their goodbyes.
SARA
Sara sat next to Michael in the Limo fighting the urge to raise the dark glass that would allow them the privacy she craved. She knew the trip to Christy's was a short one, and her observant friend would take one look at them and know they had been fooling around. Still she was tempted.
She could still feel his soft kiss of a few minutes before, and it had left her whole being aching for more, but she told herself she had to be strong.
She sighed softly.
And then feeling Michael's eyes on her,she kept her own gaze averted and trained out the window. She knew if she were to meet his eyes her resolve would weaken, and she would give into the temptation to push the magic button that raised the glass.
A few seconds passed and then Sara heard the soft, but unmistakable whir of a machine and looked to see the glass rising as if telepathically. But she knew it was Michael's doing.
She looked over at him and met his stare; his blue eyes dark with desire as he moved closer. Sara put her hands on his chest.
"We can't, Michael. Christy will know something was going on".
Michael sighed and sat back heavily against the seat.
"I can't do this, Sara. You're driving me crazy in that dress"! He cupped his head in his hands in frustration.
Sara reached and took his hand in hers lacing her fingers through his.
"We can do this", she said smiling softly.
He took a deep breath and squeezed her hand.
"Yeah, okay", he said with a smile and leaned his head against hers.
But Sara knew that like her; he wanted more. But she also knew that they had to use caution. And making out on the way to pick up his date for the dance was fool hardy at best.
They spent the rest of the drive to Christy's in a silence filled with sexual tension. Sara wondered if her friend wouldn't still think something was odd. Wouldn't Christy feel the tension in the air?
When they pulled up in front of Christy's house, Michael kissed her hand and then let it go before hopping out of the back of the Limo. Sara watched him go to Christy's door with a dull ache.
What she wouldn't give to be the one opening that door to find Michael looking so dashing in his tux ready to whisk her away for a night of close dancing and whispered promises.
Sara sighed. She knew this was going to be more than a little difficult. She looked out the window to see Christy and Michael approaching the Limo. Christy had one arm hooked though Michaels, while the other held up her beautiful white silk dress. She looked amazing.
Sara looked down at her own dress, and though she knew she looked good she couldn't help but compare herself to Christy. She sighed again and slid across the seat making room as the driver opened the door for the duo.
"Hey, Sara, oh, God you look so good"! Christy gushed, grabbing Sara's hands and squeezing them in excitement.
Sara forced a smile. "You look really great too, Christy. Doesn't she, Michael"?
Michael met her eyes and she noted the questioning look in them.
"Um, yeah you look really great Christy", he said, and Sara looked down at her hands.
"Well you look really hot in that tux"! Sara heard Christy coo, and then looked back up to see her friend leaning in close to whisper in Michael's ear.
Sara took a deep breath as the green eyed monster reared its ugly head. She knew it wasn't Michael's fault, but she still felt herself getting angry with him.
She caught him looking her way and turned to look out the window avoiding his eyes.
For the remainder of the drive to David's, Sara listened to Michael and Christy talk about her new BMW and something about gas mileage, but she wasn't really paying attention. She was too busy wondering what Christy had been whispering to him.
When the car stopped at the curb in front of David's house Sara didn't wait for the driver to come around to open her door, but jumped out and headed for the door.
She was only halfway to the porch when the door opened and David came out. He jumped the last two steps and pulled her into his arms and spun her around.
"Damn, girl, you look fine"! He said laughing, and Sara couldn't help but giggle as she was spun.
He stopped spinning her and they both clutched onto each other to keep from falling down in their dizziness. Sara wasn't expecting his lips to find hers, but then the kiss was happening.
She pulled away and put her hand over her mouth.
"Um, maybe we should go? We wouldn't want to be late. And besides, Christy and Michael are waiting in the Limo".
"S'all good. There's plenty of time for more of that later", he said grinning, and then he tucked his arm into hers and they headed for the waiting Limo.
MICHAEL
When Christy commented what a cute couple Sara and David made, didn't he think? Michael unclenched his jaw and tried to smile. But then when he saw David kiss Sara, his jaw tightened again and his fists curled into tight balls.
He took a deep breath and worked at slowly relaxing his fists as he watched, telling himself that Sara had in no way initiated the kiss. But then the two climbed into the backseat across from him and Christy.
"Hey, y'all"! David said smiling. "Let's party, Yo"!
Michael forced a smile and said hello, while Christy just giggled.
He felt his blood boil when Sara avoided his eyes, and then giggled at something David said softly to her. Had he missed something here?
Christy's hand slid onto his and he felt her fingers wrap around his. He was pissed. Sara was acting like she was into this guy!
Michael felt Christy's thumb stroke his palm, and turned to meet her eyes.
"Is something wrong, Michael"? She smiled softly.
He shook his head, "Nope, what could possibly be wrong"? He returned her smile and then looked across to see Sara's eyes watching them.
He caught a glimpse of the hurt look on her face before she looked quickly away and stared out the window.
She was upset about hand holding? She had just let David kiss her! His mind churning and his anger at a strong simmer, Michael couldn't wait to get out of the Limo.
And while the ride to the club seemed to be taking forever, Michael knew that really only a few minutes had passed.
And then the Limo was coming to a stop. Michael let go of Christy's hand when the driver opened his door and climbed out quickly. He helped Christy out, and then watched as Sara climbed from the Limo, her eyes meeting his briefly before looking away. David climbed out, and then the Limo was pulling away, presumably to find a place to park and wait for the dance to be over.
"I'm so excited"! Christy gushed and pulled Michael in for a hug.
He could see Sara's troubled eyes and looked away, his eyes falling on David, who was blatantly staring at Sara's cleavage. Michael looked away quickly, his anger growing as he fought the urge to rip David's eyes from their sockets. This was a disaster. He should have known this wouldn't work. How was he supposed to watch this clown salivating over Sara all night?
Michael felt Christy hook her arm through his and tried to pay attention to her excited babble as she pulled him in the direction of the large doors that led to the country club. But he could hear David's phony gangsta talk behind him and Sara's soft voice as the two conversed.
Fighting the urge to tell Christy to shut up, he tried to make out what the two were saying. He thought he heard David say something about after the dance, but he wasn't sure. Did Sara have plans to hang out with David after the dance?
They stepped through the doors and all conversation was drowned out by the loud music issuing from the sound system.
And then Christy was pulling him out to the dance floor. He looked behind him to see Sara and David moving as well, but then lost sight of them as he and Christy joined the other couples that crowded the floor.