I give a slight nod as the world blurs with tears, and I hate myself for going there soquickly.
“I think it’s time for that kiss, sweetheart.” Knox pulls back and nails those deep violet eyes into mine, and for a moment I’m mesmerized. A dirty smile comes and goes quickly on his lips as his chest pumps with a silent laugh. Knox comes in slow, his lids melting over those eyes like a sunset. He brushes his mouth over mine and I hear the chairs grinding against the floor to our right as if two very irate bodies just jumped up in a rush. “Get into it,” he says it sharp like a command before diving over me with an intensity I haven’t felt in a good long while, maybe never withJustin.
The heat of an intrusive body steps in close to the two of us. “Get the fuck off my girlfriend!” Justin riots over ourfaces.
But I do as I’m told and press my lips against Knox Toberman’s soft as a pillow mouth, and then I open for him like a flower before diving my tongue into foreign territory. His kisses taste warm and minty. He grips me as if he’s completely in control and a part of me loves this dominating side of Knox. My sweet spot, Sylvia, gives an unrelenting pinch of approval. Traditionally, I’ve been the aggressor when it comes to anything physical with Justin, so it’s nice to have a man who not only has his hands on the wheel, but knows how to steertheship.
The shuffle of feet, the gagging, the undercurrent of curse words floods my senses as both Justin and Jen seem to be having a difficult time taking their own medicine. But right now, all I’m interested in is the fact I’m being kissed in a way that I never thoughtpossible.
His hot mouth. This hot kiss.MyGod.
Knox rides his hands over my back in a heated rush. His penetrative kisses explore me thoroughly, setting off a tight band that shoots across my abdomen with a sweet, dull ache I have never felt before. I can’t get enough of his hot, hungry mouth. The scent of his spiced cologne is driving me wild and his greedy body doesn’t bother hiding the fact it loves the feel of mine as he rubs upagainstme.
The anger, the rise of voices, the storm of fury grows to our right, but neither of us is all that interested in the high-pitched screams, the guttural expletives being hurledaroundus.
Then just as I’m about to melt in the nirvana of the world’s most perfect kiss, a bath of ice and Diet Coke washes over the top of ourheads.
A gurgle-like scream works up my throat, but Knox just pulls mecloser.
Then as if to say the drinks were just for starters, something hot and cheesy is dumped over us as we jump apart for good. An entire platter of enchiladas, complete with rice and beans, drips off the two of us likevomit.
A fleet of waitresses comes at us, angry-faced and stern as they escort both Justin and Janelle towardtheexit.
Justin turns around, resisting his every step, and looks Knox in the eye. “You’re going to pay for this!” And just like that, they’re out the door, and as much as I’d like to have them out of our lives for good, deep down I know that wouldn’t be nearly half the fun as having them on thesidelines.
Knox and I head to the restrooms to clean up with dull laughter bucking from us. Lucky and Ava help get the rice out of my hair—which turns out to be nearly impossible. I say an awkward goodnight to Knox, not quite able to look him in the eye, as Ava, Lucky, and I head off to The Row as fast as our heels will let us. The two of them talk at once about how cruel, howbrilliantthat kiss was—describing in detail the looks on both Justin’s and Janelle’s stunned faces. But I’m not too interested in that at the moment. All I can think about is that kiss. I can still feel him there over my lips as if it’s stillhappening.
I touch my fingers over my mouth, trying to stop those ghost kisses from throbbing over me. But I don’t really want it to stop. In fact, I wouldn’t mind a reprisal of that mind-blowinglip-lock.
Knox Toberman knows how to dole out kisses as good as he chases a ball down thefield.
Gofigure.
* * *
Gwen jumpsto her feet as soon as we get in the door of Kappa G and lets me know my roommate has alreadysettledin.
“Try to be nice to her,” she fires the words off at me as if I’ve got a reputation for beinganythingbut.
“I’m always nice.” I sneer at Ava and Lucky as if daring them to contestthefact.
Lucky raises a brow. “I bet Knox thinks you’rereallynice.”
“Yeah”—Ava laughs it off—“very friendly. That’s quite a welcome you gave him toBriggs.”
“Please. That boy will have every skirt on campus chasing him come fall. All he has to do is don that jersey.” Or take it off. God, what would that kiss have been like without a stitch of clothing between us? As much as I find the thought naturally arousing, the three of us head off to my room to greet thenewgirl.
Sitting on my bed, crossed-legged and barefoot—I’m a bit abhorrent to the fact anyone would land their naked toes on my comforter—is a squatty brunette, pretty in a bullish way, her hair coiled up inabun.
“Hi, I’m Harper.” I extend my hand for a friendly shake just as I notice it’s not my comforter she’s squatting over, yet one similar in nature, and for a moment I’m stumped as to why she’d change my bedcover.
She looks up from her oversized book and gives the three of us a rather bored once-over. “I’m taking the bottom bunk.” She stares at my hand dangling in the air as if it were a rotten fish. “I also took the top two drawers. I’ve got slight scoliosis, so I can’t be expected to bend over.” Her tiny inset eyes narrow in on me as if somehow I were at fault for her spinalanomaly.
Crap. The top two drawers were all I was utilizing at the moment, as I too hate to stoop down like Quasimodo while digging for a clean sports bra to wear in themorning.
But instead of complaining and bitching, like a childlike part of me wants to, I simply force a grin to come and go. “That’s totally fine. I’m all up for accommodating you in whatever way necessary.” I can practically see the halo popping over my head. I’ve never had a roommate with disabilities before, and seeing that I have a brother with a very serious condition, I plan on being an ambassador of kindness to those in need whenever I can. It’s not like I’m consciously trying to be a saint—it’s just called not being anasshole.
“Good,” she grunts up at me. “Because that’s why I took thebottombunk.”
