“But you wish you were more, don’t you?”
His eyes flared, as if he saw my words as a threat. He had no idea of the thoughts running rampant through my brain, egging me on, daring me to try.
“What if I do?” Straightening, he lifted his chin. “Are you going to beat me up now, too? Tell me to stay away from your girl?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not going to do that.”
After a brief moment of confusion, he seemed to deflate before me. “Of course not, what would be the point?” he murmured. “I’m literally the boy next door. She doesn’t think of me that way.”
“She could.” She had, but that wasn’t my secret to share. “Sometimes, what starts as friendship grows, becomes more. Sometimes it takes you by surprise, because you never expected to have those feelings.” I took a chance, stepped closer to him. “Do you know what I mean, Connor?”
He turned his head to the side, refusing to look at me. “Why are you saying this? She’syourgirlfriend.”
“Because I get it. How someone could fall for you, without meaning to.”
Jaw clenched tight, he swallowed before speaking again. “I don’t understand.”
“I think you do.” I was so close now, he had to feel my breath on his cheek. Still, he didn’t move away. “You want to know, don’t you? What her kiss tastes like.” His gaze snapped to mine, but otherwise he remained frozen. “Tell me you want it.”
The tip of his tongue appeared, swiping across his lips in an unconscious sign of arousal. “I-I want it.”
“I’ll give it to you.” His eyes closed for a second and his breathing picked up. Parting my lips, I tilted my head to one side. I was going too far, too fast. I knew it, but I couldn’t seem to stop. “Drink her kiss from my lips, Connor.” The urgency of my whisper rushed between us. “I want to share it with you.”
I didn’t close the gap between us. I needed to know he wanted this as much as I did, that I wasn’t alone in my madness.
He touched his lips to mine. It was a barely-there contact. Hesitant, testing. I kept perfectly still, not letting my control slip for fear I would take too much. With a soft sigh, he added more pressure, and his mouth began to move against mine. Our kisses were soft as we explored the contact. His hands cupped my cheeks, giving more, taking more. Unable to hold my need at bay any longer, I slid my arms around his waist, pulling his body against mine. The hard heat of him ignited every desire I’d ever had, and I took over.
“Tell me you want me,” I demanded between kisses.
“I want you. I do.” His tongue reached out, found mine, and he released a soft moan. “I know it’s wrong,” he whispered hoarsely against my lips, “but I want this.”
Joy coursed through me and I smiled against his mouth. “Now, tell me you want Gabi.”
Connor’s brow lowered into a frown. He didn’t understand why I would say such a thing. Why I wanted him to say it when we’d only just gotten a taste of each other. Nevertheless, he nodded in the end, and when he spoke his voice trembled, with confusion, yes, but also with need. “I want her, too. I want both of you.”
“Yes.” I must have looked feral. That’s how I felt. Like an animal about to enjoy a feast. I gripped him tighter and, as I devoured his mouth and stroked his body, all I could think was that we were halfway there. All we needed now was Gabi.
The door pushed open, as if my will alone had summoned her. “Law? Are you in here?”
The scene of a few minutes ago replayed in reverse. This time it was Connor I held in my arms; it was Gabi’s gaze clashing with mine as I kissed him. It was the same—except it wasn’t.
Gabi’s smile froze. Her eyes widened in horror. “What are you…?” The words were barely a whisper and I almost missed them over the sound of the music coming from down the hallway. “Why?”
In the space of a single heartbeat, I knew I’d gotten it all wrong.
FIVE
______
GABI
I pushed my way through the crowd, oblivious to the people around me. The buzzing in my ears drowned out the upbeat music and the laughter of friends. Ducking through the kitchen, I managed to make it out the back door without drawing my parents’ attention. If I had to face them now, if they asked me what was wrong, I’d start to scream, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop.
When I finally burst out onto the back porch, the cool night air made goose bumps break out on my bare arms. Swiping at the tears tracking down my face, I hoped like hell my mascara wasn’t running. I didn’t need to wear my heartache all over my face for everyone to see.
Alone in the darkness, I scrambled to find some logical explanation for the sight that had confronted me when I’d opened my bedroom door. But the image, burned into my brain, was blatantly clear. Law’s arms had been wrapped around Connor’s waist. Connor’s body had strained to get closer. Their mouths had been fused together as they kissed, and when they adjusted the angle, I was sure I’d caught a glimpse of tongue.
Pain crashed over me, choking the breath from my lungs. I was going to be sick. Law had been kissing me only a few minutes ago. His tongue had been inmymouth. The things he’d made me feel. The things I’d wanted to do with him. Now the thought of him touching me turned my stomach.
