He held his hand out to me, and I lifted my eyes to his.
My last real interaction with him had been months ago, on that stormy night. Since then, he’d given me a wide berth in the hallways.
The first month, I feared he had something horrible planned for me. But as days wore on, I grew comfortable. Even his goons left me alone. I’d stopped searching for them when turning a corner or entering the cafeteria. And before long, I’d even caught myself letting my eyes wander to Sawyer in class, curious about him.
Sometimes I caught his eyes wandering back. More often, they were already on me, causing my stomach to do those flips I was getting so used to.
The aversion I’d felt about Sawyer being my first crush dissolved. It didn’t matter if I was averse to it, it was happening.
It had happened.
Still, I didn’t take his hand when he offered it now.
He must have sensed my hesitation, because Sawyer’s deep voice, low enough for just me to hear, said, “Will you dance with me, Brie?”
This was different from the lingering glances at school. There were people around, they’d see everything. Alarm bells sounded in the back of my mind, but they were faint compared to the colorful confetti scattering in my chest.
With bated breath, I slipped my hand in his. My heart pounded as he drew me closer, his gaze on me the whole time.
I didn’t think this was what Gia meant when she said everyone would be staring at me, but she was right all the same. I felt everyone’s eyes as Sawyer guided my hands upto his neck before placing his own on my hips, a foot of space between our bodies.
Whispers had me wishing I could hide. I shifted closer to Sawyer. I felt him let out a shuddering breath as he drew me into his body.
Again, I was reminded of that night in the rain. His hand around mine, larger than mine, protective.
Now it was his larger body shielding me from the rest of the dancers.
With my cheek pressed to his chest, the sound of his heartbeat drowned out the whispers, or maybe they’d stopped. I relaxed into him more. Beneath the expensive cologne, chlorine still clung to him along with that particular shade ofboyI knew was Sawyer’s unique scent.
The letterman jacket beneath my bed still smelled of him. The most illicit thing I ever did was bury my face in it every so often, thinking about Sawyer at night. My dirtiest guilty pleasure.
Without meaning to, I sunk further into his embrace and inhaled deeply.
Sawyer’s hands clenched around my hips, pulling me more firmly into him. He felt so good, so solid.
“You’re so pretty.” I felt more than heard the murmured words against my temple.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. I couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe those words were meant for me.From him.
Without even realizing I was doing it, my hands ran up his neck. My fingertips played with his soft hair, and he shivered against me.
I did that.
Pulling back, I looked into his eyes. They were dark, but not in the way I’d seen in the past. Not mean. There was something like supplication there. And desire.
For the first time, I felt wanted. And I was eager to give it to him, whatever it was.
I ran my fingernails lightly over the back of his neck. A rumble vibrated through his chest as he let out what sounded like a groan. Everything inside me tightened.
My breath caught when his hands started to move, too, gently caressing up and down my bare back, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.
In a shaky whisper, I said, “That feels good,” and pressed closer, wanting more.
Suddenly, Sawyer’s body went stiff. His hands jerked to my hips, and he shoved me back.
I looked up at him, dazed.What just happened?
The whispers were audible again, even louder than before.
