His eyes snap to mine, and I can see he wants to argue. I can’t resist taking advantage of the moment to tease him. I get up and walk around the table, then quickly slide in next to him. Placing a hand on the table, I lean in really close to him. When my lips part, his eyes immediately drop to my mouth, and then I whisper, “Thank you.”
He frowns. “Huh?”
Struggling not to laugh, I say, “Would it kill you to just say thank you?”
Falcon lets out a burst of laughter and takes hold of my chin, keeping me close to him. His eyes shine with warmth as he stares deep into mine. “Thank you, Layla.”
“You’re welcome, Falcon.”
Wanting to hear him laugh, I quickly close the distance between us, press a kiss to his mouth, then dart out of the booth. I throw cash on the table and walk as fast as I can away from him, and sure enough, his chuckle follows me all the way to the exit.
When we step outside, I grin at him. “You survived eating at a diner. I’m impressed.”
“Let’s hold off on celebrating just yet. Food poisoning takes a while to set in,” he jokes.
“Mr. Reyes!”
Both our heads snap in the direction of the person calling Falcon, but before I can see who it is, Falcon grabs hold of me and shoves me against his chest.
“Back into the diner,” Falcon snaps, and I don’t have a choice but to move with him, because he’s not letting go of me. “How do I get to the back entrance?”
Only when we’re rushing down a narrow hallway does Falcon let go of me, but then he grabs my hand. “We have to run.”
“Why? Who was that?” I ask, and the worried look on Falcon’s face makes me glance over my shoulder to see if we’re being followed.
“It’s paparazzi. Just keep your head down, so they can’t get a photo of your face.”
Wait. What?
Stunned I follow Falcon out the back and I automatically just run with him. I don’t take in my surroundings or where we’re heading. I vaguely hear Falcon make a call.
Falcon doesn’t want to be seen with me in public?
But he practically announced it to the whole Academy yesterday?
But the press? That’s everyone finding out, including his family.
A Bentley pulls up next to us with screeching tires, and then Lake calls out, “Get in. Quickly.” Falcon yanks open the back door and shoves me inside before sliding in next to me. He shrugs off his jacket and wraps it around me, covering my head.
Why are there tears burning my eyes?
Why do I feel like less?
Because Falcon is hiding you. You’re a secret, Layla.
I shouldn’t be hurt. I knew this would happen. Our lives are light years apart. Who was I kidding to think if we really wanted it, we could make it work.
Falcon will marry a trophy wife who will look good on his arm, not the PA’s daughter who got a free ride because his father felt charitable.
Chapter 14
Falcon
That was close. I keep Layla covered, and when Lake drives through the gates of Trinity, I glance at the press vans parked outside.
I shouldn’t have let Layla leave the campus. That was a stupid mistake.
Lake parks right in front of our dorm then glances back to us. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I should’ve expected it after the article.” I open the door and get out. Turning back, I hold my hand out to Layla, but instead of taking it, she gets out and shoves my jacket against me.
Without a word, she begins to walk back towards the entrance where the press are all camped out.
“Layla,” I call after her, “what are you doing?”
She doesn’t stop, and when I take hold of her arm, she yanks it away from me. “I’m going to get my car.”
I dart in front of her and grab hold of her shoulders, so she won’t just walk around me.
She lowers her eyes to our feet, wraps her arms around her middle, and then begins to slowly rock herself back and forth.
Fuck.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Slowly Layla shakes her head, and then she looks up, and the hurt on her face stabs right through me. I’ve never felt any kind of failure before but standing in front of this woman, I feel inadequate for the first time.
“I’m an amazing person, Falcon,” she whispers, and as she continues, her voice grows stronger. “My parents are proud of me. I’m proud of myself. Honestly, I didn’t see it coming. I should’ve, though. I won’t degrade myself to being some heir’s secret or side-piece until he’s finished with school.”
I’m so stumped by what she’s saying that she manages to pull free. I stand like a zombie and stare at the empty spot where Layla stood a second ago.
Secret? Side-piece?
Slowly, anger begins to burn in my chest.
Anger at the press. At this world I live in.
And at Layla, for doubting me.
I look up, and my eyes meet Lake’s. He must see my anger because he quickly says, “Falcon, give her time to calm down.”
I drop my jacket and spinning around, I begin to run. Layla’s halfway to the gate when I catch up to her. I grab her hand and pull her the rest of the way.
“Let go of my hand,” she grinds the words out. I hear the sob coming from her but keep my eyes on the press. When they notice us, they scramble to start taking photos.
I stop and pull Layla against me. I bring my hands to her face and force her head back, and then my mouth slams down on hers. She brings her hands to my chest and pushes against me, but as another sob forces her lips to part, I tilt my head to the right and let my tongue slip inside.
Layla freezes for a moment, but then her hands move up to my neck. She pushes herself up on her toes, and her tongue begins to dual with mine.
It’s our first fight.
It’s the first time we’ve hurt each other.
It’s our first kiss.
It’s the first time I’m publicly seen with a woman… and it won’t be the last.
Layla
It’s not like we were actually a couple, so why does it hurt so much?
A stupid tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe angrily at it.
Did he really think so low of me?
A sob escapes my lips, and it upsets me even more that I’m crying over something which didn’t even last a day.
Suddenly, Falcon grabs hold of my hand and drags me behind him. I scowl at his back and try to pull my hand free.
“Let go of my hand,” I say, and I hate that I don’t sound angry. I try to suppress a sob, but the stupid thing sounds louder than the one before.
Falcon stops and yanks me to him. He takes hold of my face, and then his mouth crashes against mine.
It takes my mind a moment to catch up to what’s happening. I’ve wanted this kiss for the past twenty-four hours. I wanted to feel his arms around me while his lips were on mine, exploring and claiming.
He’s finally kissing me.
Wait, hold up a minute. You’re angry, remember?
I bring my hands up between us and try to push him back, but another traitorous sob gives him access to my mouth and the second his tongue brushes over mine, I lose all my resolve to fight.
Falcon.
My soul sighs his name as I reach up so I can get closer to him. I kiss him back, and my heart begins to weave hopes and dreams of having a chance to fall in love with this man.
He lets go of my face only to wrap his arms around me, caging me to his body, and he deepens the kiss. His tongue makes all my thoughts go up in a puff of smoke as it brushes hard strokes over mine.
Soooo gooood.
I slide my arms around Falcon’s neck and hold onto him, not wanting the kiss to end. But instead of things heating up like I want, he slows the kiss down.
He pulls back, and when I open my eyes, it’s only to meet his burning gaze.
“Don’t ever doubt me,” he says, and letting go of me, he takes my hand and turns us to face the fl
ashing cameras which I totally forgot about.
“What’s her name?”
“Are you dating?”
“What affect will this have on CRC Holdings?”
“I’ll only answer two questions, and then I hope you’ll respect my privacy,” Falcon states.
He places an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side, looking down at me with affection softening his features.
“Meet my girlfriend, Layla Shepard.”
Falcon
After giving the press the show they wanted, I practically drag Layla back to the dorm, and once we’re in her room, I go stand in front of her.
For a moment, we just stare at each other.
“I wasn’t hiding you from the press. I wanted to protect you from them,” I explain my actions of earlier. “Now…” I shove a hand into my hair, regretting that I was so damn impulsive, “Now your face is going to be plastered all over the damn country.” I turn away from her, my mind racing as I search for a way to fix the mess I’ve made. “Fuck.”
“I’m sorry. I misunderstood,” I hear her say. She places a hand on my shoulder and moves in front of me. She makes the same adorable face from this morning, and it melts my heart.
“That’s unfair,” I growl. “You don’t get to look at me like that right now.”
She takes a step closer and somehow manages to look even cuter. “I’m sorry, Falcon.”
“I’m never going to win an argument between us,” I groan.
“Let me make it up to you. We can do anything you want.” She smiles and begins to nod enthusiastically. “Anyyyyything.”
“And you can’t say no?” I ask, really liking the idea.
“Of course, there are certain things we can’t do, like murdering someone, eating strawberries because I’m allergic.” She pauses to think.
“There’s only one thing I want to do,” I say.
“Oh? What?”
I take a step closer and bring my hands to her face, gently framing it. Looking into her eyes the anticipation we’ve felt the previous times come rushing back. I was scared it would be gone after the impulsive kiss at the front gate.
Layla takes hold of my forearms, her breaths coming faster.
Slowly, I lean down until our breaths are mingling. I never take my eyes from hers, and the current between us becomes charged, causing goosebumps to spread over my body. My heartbeat speeds up when her pupils dilate, and then I press my mouth to hers.
I keep still as my eyes flutter closed, savoring this moment which should’ve been our first. Tilting my head, I breathe in her scent. I feel her skin growing warmer under my palms, and then I can’t wait any longer. I press my body close to hers, as close as I can possibly get with the clothes between us. Our mouths begin to move, soft and curious until my teeth scrape over her bottom lip. Soft turns to sucking and biting.
Our tongues explore each other, the heat of her mouth driving me to the edge of losing all control. A soft moan from her is all it takes to push me over the edge.
Using my body, I push her backward until she bumps against the wall. For a moment our mouths separate, and gasping for air, I stare down at her. Seeing her as breathless and turned on as me, has me reaching down and grabbing her thighs, lifting her up against me. Her legs wrap around me, and when my mouth latches onto hers again, I wish there were no clothes between us so I could bury myself deep inside of her.
I get so lost in Layla I forget to breathe. But damn, if I have to die from lack of air, it would be a perfect way to go.
Her fingers tug my hair, and she sucks at my bottom lip, drawing a groan from me.
This is what I’ve been searching for. This is the one thing I could never buy.
A moment.
A moment where I am her whole universe. She’s as focused on me as I am on her, with nothing else mattering right now.
Just us kissing.
Chapter 15
Layla
My hands rub over his shoulders, needing to feel more of him. The kiss grows urgent, our mouths pressing so hard against each other it’s bordering on being painful.
But it’s a sweet pain which sparks an ache in my abdomen. Something similar to a million butterflies taking flight.
There’s a knock on my door. “Layla, we’re going to be late for class.”
Falcon frees my mouth but doesn’t move back. His eyes burn down on me, and I have to clear my throat before I breathlessly call out, “Give me five minutes.”
Falcon’s breathing is as ragged as mine, his eyes twin infernos. As the heat of the moment fades, emotions crash over me.
If someone had to ask me when was the moment I fell in love with Falcon Reyes, I’d tell them I fell for him when he kissed me as if he was poisoned, and I was his only cure.
“You have to pull away. I’m not strong enough to let you go,” he whispers, and it feels as if the words carry a deeper meaning.
I lower my legs and squeeze myself out from the space between Falcon and the wall. With a trembling hand, I try to straighten my hair before I open the door. Blocking the inside of my suite with my body, I say, “I’m going to have to miss today’s class. Can you take notes for me?”
A slow smile spreads over Kingsley’s face. “Sure. We can exchange notes later, although I bet yours will be much more interesting than mine.”
I stick my tongue out at her, which only makes her laugh as she walks away. “Enjoy it.”
I shake my head as I close the door and turning around, I lean back against it.
Falcon is still standing exactly where I left him, bracing himself with hands against the wall. I let my eyes glide over the wide expanse of his back, his trim waist, perfect butt, and strong legs.
There’s so much power in this man.
Not only is he physically strong, but he has the kind of influence most people can’t even begin to imagine.
And me… I’m an eighteen-year-old girl who managed to make him lose control.
For a moment, a dizzying feeling of power overwhelms me. I cover my mouth with a trembling hand as the realization hits hard.
Falcon turns and rests his back against the wall, and when his eyes find mine, I can see he realized the same thing.
“In my world having a weakness is dangerous,” he admits, his voice low and hoarse. There’s a vulnerability in his eyes which makes me want to hold him. “You’re my weakness.”
I shake my head and dropping my hand from my mouth, I rush over to him. I wrap my arms around him and struggle to keep my emotions from overwhelming me.
When his arms remain hanging at his side instead of hugging me back, I look up at him. There’s something in his eyes I never thought I’d see… fear.
“I didn’t know it would cost so much.”
I pull back and wrap my arms around myself. “What?”
“A moment,” he whispers. A slight frown forms on my forehead, but then he explains, “A moment of being someone’s next breath. Of meaning something more than just this…” He looks like he’s about to cry, and it makes my eyes blur with tears. “Something more than this black and white existence.”
“What was the price?” I ask, not sure I want to hear his answer.
His eyes lower to the floor and minutes pass before he looks at me again. “Giving you the power to crush the one thing no one else has access to.”
Knowing exactly what he means, I urgently shake my head. “I won’t do that.”
“That’s a promise you can’t make, Layla.”
“I can,” I argue.
“Nothing lasts forever,” he whispers, a heartbreakingly sad look flashing over his face.
“Not in your world, Falcon. In mine, there are things that last.”
“How can you say that when your parents are divorced?” he asks.
I smile past the sadness I feel for him. “Because they never ended, Falcon. They just got divorced, but they’re still good friends. They still share a glass of wine, and my mom will complain about her wor
k, and my dad will complain about delayed flights.” A tear slips over my cheek, but I still keep smiling. “My parents still love each other. They never stopped.”
“How do you feel about me, Layla?” Falcon asks a resigned look making him come across distant again.
“I like you, Falcon.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, but it’s only slightly. “That’s the problem. I’m the only one who fell.” He pushes away from the wall and walks toward the door.
“No. Wait!” I cry, and I rush past him. Blocking the door with my body, I say, “I’ve fallen.”
Falcon closes his eyes for a moment before he opens them to look at me.
“Falcon, I’m in love with you.”
He stares at me a while longer, his eyes searching mine for the truth.
“I’m in love with you,” I whisper, my throat closing up with everything I feel.
Every painful heartbeat because I realized Falcon hasn’t been loved before. He’s been given everything, but love.
Slowly, I push away from the door, and I lift my hands to his face. He clenches his jaw as he struggles with his own emotions.
“I’ll never use your feelings for me against you.”
I promise you this.
“Instead of me being your weakness, let me be your strength.”
Please. Please let me show you I’m a loyal person who will never use you.
Taking hold of my hips, he lowers his head until his forehead rests against mine.
“This got serious really fast,” he whispers.
I let out a tired chuckle, drained from the intense feelings. “Yeah.” I hunch down a little, so I can catch his eyes. “Want to take a nap with me?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on.” We walk to my bedroom, and I close the curtains.
Falcon lies down on the same spot he did the night of the attack, then holds his arm open for me. I get on the bed and crawl over to him, and lying on my side, I rest my head on his chest. He places his hand on the side of my head, then turns his body into mine while wrapping his other arm around me.
Falcon (Trinity Academy Book 1) Page 11
