by E. K. Blair
Then I heard his voice in the hallway. “Sam?”
It wasn’t long before my door was pushed open and he flicked my light on. I was blinded for a moment.
“Hey, did you get my texts?”
I snapped my phone shut and drew my robe tighter around me. “Yes.”
He grinned and ran a hand through his wet hair. He looked like he’d showered. “You pissed at me because I haven’t called all week?”
“Nope. Not at all. I cried on Adam’s shoulder today.”
His eyes narrowed and lingered on my face. “Did you?”
“Yep. I did.”
“Okay. I don’t know what to do with that. You want to get some food with me? There’s a party tonight.”
“Is there?” I cringed at the jealousy in my voice. It wasn’t like me. “I’m sorry. I’m acting stupid.”
His eyes took on a darker look and he shut the door behind him. He turned the light off and it wasn’t long before his hand was on my knee. He murmured against my skin as he tenderly nudged me back down on the bed. “I’m sorry I haven’t called this week. I am.”
My neck arched when his lips found it. His hand swept from my cheek, down my arm, to my waist, and swept back up to cup my breast. I groaned when I felt his hand work its way past my robe and his thumb grazed over my nipple. His mouth replaced his thumb and I felt his tongue sweeping around it next.
He whispered against my breast, “It won’t mean much, but I thought about you. All week. I wanted to do this and I knew if I called you, I’d come over and do this.”
“Just...” I braided my hands through his hair and pulled his head up. “Shut up.”
He chuckled before his mouth slammed onto mine.
***
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
He thrust in me a last time. My legs were wrapped around his waist and one of his hands held them up as the other braced himself on the bed above my head. My entire body lifted off the bed as my climax ripped through me. Waves of pleasure rode through me and I trembled as he held me in his arms. He trembled with me and then tucked me in front of him to curl around me. He tucked his chin into the crook of my neck.
When he yawned, his whole body yawned with him.
Something fluttered in my stomach at the feel of that and I laced my fingers through his. “No party for us tonight?”
He chuckled and his breath caressed my skin. “It’s three in the morning. It’s a bit late for that.”
As he tightened his hold on my waist, my eyelids started to close, but my whole body felt renewed and invigorated. “Are you going to stay the night?”
He cursed and reached over me. “I need to set the alarm.”
When he was done, I turned and slid one of my legs through his, the other was on top of his and I snuggled against him. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and my body tingled as he brushed back some of my hair.
“Your mom’s not expecting you?”
“Nah. She knows we’re out. She’s not stupid. Logan probably won’t go to the hotel either.” He chuckled and skimmed a hand down my side. “He dropped that girl. Did you hear about that?”
“Tanya, the one Adam liked?”
He smirked. “The other one he liked, yeah. He dropped her after the game and went off with some other girl.”
“He called me after your game. He was pissed I wasn’t there.”
He smoothed back some of my hair and ran a thumb over my cheek to my lips. “I wasn’t sure if you’d come. I figured if you came, I’d want to bend you over.” He grinned. “No offense, but you get in my head.”
“Do I?” I grinned as I caressed up his arms. His muscles twitched under my touch.
He groaned and wrapped his arms around me to hold me tighter. He rolled to his back and pulled me on top. I laughed huskily as he ran his hands over my body. When he hardened between my legs, I closed my eyes to enjoy it. The heat was gathering again. As he smoothed circles on my back, I laid my head on his chest.
I was intoxicated with him and I murmured against his skin, “When do you have to get up?”
“In three hours.”
His hands started to explore some more and when he dipped a finger inside of me, I was helpless. Desire coursed through me and I was soon throbbing again. It wasn’t long before I had enough and sunk onto him. He responded quickly, but after he had thrust deep, he gasped and shoved me off.
“What?” The need for him was making me blind. I only wanted him.
“Condom,” he rasped out. He rolled over and reached for one. As soon as I heard that wrapper, I reached for him again. When it was slid on, I raised my hips and sunk down again. I pushed him deep and he fell back with a groan. Then I rolled my hips and started a rhythm. His hands grasped onto my thighs and he pushed and pulled me until we were both gasping for breath. As my climax was nearing, I dipped my head and touched his lips with mine. His tongue swept against mine and took control of the kiss. A primal emotion took root. I was helpless against it. Our hips slammed against each other and we hurdled over the edge together. Waves exploded in me and I trembled as each rushed through me.
“Sam.” It was a whispered caress from his lips before he placed a gentle kiss on my lips again. Then he held me against him as his own body trembled with mine. After our breathing had steadied, he murmured, “I only need two hours of sleep anyway.”
I bit back a laugh and raised my head. “So now we sleep?”
His eyes were on my lips as his hand cupped the side of my face. And then he cursed. “I can’t get enough of you.”
“You have been gone all week.”
“Yeah.” His hand started to trace up and down my back now. “I think my mom’s going to stick around for the month. She’s got some friends that she wanted to visit. Dad’s going to love that.”
“I met my dad.” I flushed as I said it. I hadn’t meant to, but as soon the words left me, something lifted off my chest.
He met my gaze through the darkness. “You did?”
I nodded before I pressed my forehead to his chest. “He was here Tuesday night when I got back from a run. We didn’t talk much.”
“What’d you talk about?”
“He asked if I kept track of my achievements and I told him he could go home, I wasn’t worth his time.”
He chuckled, but then his hands skimmed down to my waist and he lifted me higher on him. He started to nuzzle underneath my chin and as the same need started to stir inside of me, I closed my eyes and surrendered. We both knew he wouldn’t get any sleep.
And when his alarm went off, neither of us slept a wink. With a huge yawn, he rolled over and shut the alarm off before he slowly turned and sat on the edge of the bed.
I sat up and scooted against my headboard with the sheet gathered around me. “Are you going to be okay today?”
He shook his head and then shrugged. “Shower. Then I’ll tell you.”
When he stood from the bed, he checked his phone, cursed, and yawned again. I watched as he tried to shake the yawn away, but it didn’t go anywhere. Then I realized I had one also. I was still yawning when he came back from the shower.
He came to the bed and bent down to press a kiss to my forehead. “I’m going to get some clothes from my room and take off.” He swept a hand down the side of my face and lifted my chin. I gazed at him through sleep deprived eyeballs. They should’ve been sucking the moisture out of the air, but I didn’t feel an inch of my exhaustion.
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you tonight?”
I nodded and my eyelids were already starting to droop as I nestled under the covers. I was faintly aware of my door opening, but my bed was so comfortable. I was asleep before it closed.
*
When I walked into the festival, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never been one for school events so the sight of streamers, balloons, blown-up slides and fun houses wasn’t what I had in mind. Booths were spread out everywhere within the school. They started in the parking lot with one for co
ffee and cappuccino and one was even snuggled in a back janitor’s closet for Fallen Crest Academy flags.
Little kids darted around my feet. I saw more than enough of my classmates and our teachers positioned everywhere. When I passed the football booth that had footballs with Fallen Crest Academy’s name on it and made with our colors, I saw David chatting with some parents. Then I realized they had old varsity jackets on and knew these were the alumni.
I wandered through the entire school, even up to the third floor, before I found Mason. He had been tucked near the art room behind a table of white lacey doilies. He was lounging back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, his legs crossed underneath the table, and his cap pulled low enough to cover his eyes. As his chest rose up and down at a steady rhythm, I enjoyed the sight for a moment before I kicked his feet.
He jerked back, startled, and threw back his cap. A snarl lit over his face, but he relaxed when he saw me. “I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“What if I’d been my dad?” I shrugged. “Why not come, it’s my school.”
He grunted. “What does he expect? He stuck me up here selling some church ladies’ handkerchief things. No one wants these.” He eyed the coffee in my hand. “You got another one of those?”
I grinned and pulled out an energy drink.
“Thanks.” Then he nudged the other chair out. “Want a seat? Keep me company?”
“So you can sleep and I’ll sell the doilies?” I was aware of his hungry gaze as I sat beside him. Every nerve in my body was awake and kicking because of it. Who needed coffee when I had him?
“No one wants to buy from me. I look angry when I’m tired.”
As he yawned again and tried to cover it with his hand, I thought he looked adorable. His eyes were softer from the fatigue and his eyelids drooped a bit. His lips were a little swollen from our kisses and his skin looked bright with color. When I caught sight of the hickey I’d left under his shirt’s collar, I reached over to tug his shirt to the side.
He grinned when he realized what I was doing. “Yeah, I keep moving my shirt too, but it always goes back. I’m sure people have already seen it.”
“I hope not.” What if David had seen it?
“Who cares if they do?” He studied me as he said that.
“What? I’m supposed to say something or...what?” Was he testing me?
He cracked a grin and squeezed my knee. “I’m messing with you, but I don’t care if they see it or not.”
I’m not sure how to react so I grew quiet and sat back. After a few minutes, I knew he’d fallen back asleep, but it was a relief. His presence affected me so much. I had a hard time making clear decisions, especially when it came to him or us. After an hour and after I had sold three doilies, I nudged his foot. His eyes opened and he was awake, just like that. There was no sudden movement, no snort. Sometimes he reminded me of a machine.
“I’m going to wander around.”
He groaned. “Please stay. You make this somewhat bearable.”
I grinned at him. “Could you be more dramatic?”
“Yes.”
Something bolted inside of me when I saw he spoke the truth. He was unreadable again and my finger itched to reach out and touch his lips. Those delicious and earth-shattering lips that could do wonders on me... I shook my head to clear the lustful thoughts.
His eyes had darkened as he watched me. “You want to go to my car? I have a lunch break coming up.”
“Your car? Now that’s romantic.”
“It’s the best I can do. I don’t know this place and I’m pretty sure every hidden nook and cranny is being used.”
I arched an eyebrow, but I saw the teasing light in his eyes. Oh how those eyes could unravel my wardrobe in a heartbeat. “I’m going to get some more coffee.”
“Get me some?”
I nodded and moved past him. He leaned forward and his hand grazed the back of my thighs as I went.
A jolt of lust coursed through me, but I readied against it. It was a feeling that I was starting to grow accustomed to, but as I pushed into the bathroom, I wasn’t ready for the sight I saw in the mirror. The girl who looked back had sex-crazed written all over her. Her lips curved up in a seductive tease with a blush to her cheeks. And the lust in her eyes had darkened them so they wore an unrecognizable gleam. My skin glowed and I touched it in wonder.
Who was this stranger?
The door shoved open behind me and I turned away, but I was too late.
Cassandra laughed abruptly as she stood beside me and washed her hands. She eyed me in the mirror. “Who’ve you been banging, Strattan? You look good.”
I flushed under her gaze and watched with helpless horror as my skin seemed to glow even more. “Maybe I should be asking you that. How are things with Adam?”
She snorted and reached for a paper towel. “I think you’d know more about that than me. He told me you two made up yesterday.”
I looked down at my hands. Had we? Maybe...
She continued as she patted her hair, “I’m not stupid. I know he wants you, he’s always wanted you, but you don’t want him.” She snorted again. “And he doesn’t have a chance against the Kades. I’m just waiting until he realizes that and gives up.”
I looked back up. She was so cold.
She shrugged and smiled brightly. “What do I care? It’s not like I really need a serious boyfriend now anyway.” She laughed to herself. “And I heard Logan’s back on the market. He was at Fischer’s again with some other chick.”
Every cell in my body had snapped to attention when she came in. I spoke through stiff lips now. “Maybe Adam will want Tanya back?”
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and her laugh seemed genuine. “Yeah, right. Adam didn’t even like her that much. No way he’ll take her back after Logan had her twice over him. Hell, he did it to rub it in Adam’s face that he could get any girl he wanted.” She eyed me up and down in the mirror. “You haven’t been with Logan, have you? That’d be...surprising...”
My eyes grew wide at her suggestion and my chest was suddenly so heavy. There was no way she could guess the truth; she was so close to it... My heart started to pound in my ears again.
“Have you?” She blinked at me. She seemed more earnest now.
“No.” The disgust was evident in my voice as I spat out that word.
She relaxed and laughed again. “Oh, for a minute I thought...Nah. You don’t have the stones to do that. I mean, your dad would freak for one.”
My heart continued to pound.
Then she finished with a taunt, “And you’d never live down your new rap as a whore. Everyone would call you a whore.” She smirked to herself in the mirror and finished patting her hair. “On second thought, get to it. Maybe Adam will finally let you go. I could use the break.”
As she swooshed from the bathroom, I was barely aware of her departure. I kept hearing her words. ‘Everyone would call you a whore.’
I gulped and looked down. My hands had started to tremble again. My knees quaked against each other and I clung to the sink to steady myself.
‘Everyone would call you a whore.’
What was I doing?
***
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
When I left the bathroom and headed for the coffee cart, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. Was I worried about everyone finding out about Mason and me—yes. Was it enough to paralyze me with fear—no. With that decision made, I was more annoyed than normal when I snapped my order to the girl behind the coffee counter.
“Whoa, what’s wrong?”
I stopped in my tracks at the sight of Adam. And then I tried to force myself to relax. “Hey, how are you?”
“You okay?” His eyebrows were arched high with his own cup of coffee in hand.
I rolled my shoulders back. “Yeah, I’m fine or I will be.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, just an annoying run-in with Cassandra in the bathroom.”
“Ah.” He nodded his head. “Gotcha. She does that to me too.”
“I think she’s decided to try her luck with Logan again.”
“Yeah, she told me the same thing.” Something sad flashed in his eyes. “It won’t work, will it?”
I shook my head. “Nope and if it does, I’ll tie him down and do a drug test on him.”
He grinned. “Yeah, you seem pretty tight with both of them.”
“I guess...” I eyed him warily. We were treading into forbidden land, could he handle that reality? He couldn’t before.
He spread his hand wide. “Hey, I’m okay with this. Really. I’ve given up on that, but I won’t for your friendship. I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep your friendship.”
An arm was thrown around my shoulders and Logan’s body fell hard against my side. He smirked. “Really?”
Adam drew to his fullest height and the gentleness in his eyes vanished. A hard look entered instead when he clipped out, “Really.”
Logan’s body shook in silent laughter. “You just want to keep her friendship, huh?”
“You got a problem with that?”
“Yeah, I do. She’s going to be my sister, man. You think I want a parasite hanging around her because that’s what you are. You’re one of those guys who sit back and wait for the guy to screw up. When she’s hurting or lonely, you guys swoop in. Hell, I should tip my hat to you guys. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t wait around and watch the woman I wanted be with another guy, waiting until there’s a break with them, until she’s vulnerable.” He mocked him. “Yeah, it must take a special kind of guy to do that.”
Adam’s eyes had narrowed to a dangerous level. His hand was clenched into a fist, but he kept it down and pressed against his side.
Logan continued, “Or maybe that’s what makes creepers. I’ve got a different viewpoint on stalkers now...”
Adam’s lip curled up as he tried to mask a sneer. “You’re calling me the creeper? What are you doing?” His eyes pointedly slid to me and it took Logan a second before he launched himself forward. His arm was thrown back, his fist ready, and look of hatred came to his eyes.
