“This is Bibiana,” Allie says. “Play nice.”
“Bibiana. Hmm…” Emilio says my name as though testing its flavor. The corners of his mouth curl on either side, his expression almost savage as he finally deigns to look at me.
His chocolate brown eyes lock on mine and I freeze like a deer caught in headlights, unable to tear my gaze away as he rakes his bottom lip through his teeth, electricity crackling between us. Was it always like this? I think back to the night we met. The chemistry between us. I swallow hard because yeah, it felt just like this. An imaginary cord stretched taut between us.
Dominique drops his tray beside me, claiming the seat to my left while Kasey claims the seat to my right, pulling my attention away from Emilio and effectively shattering the moment.
Emilio turns to Dominique, ignoring me now as the two dive into a conversation about the upcoming game. Listening in, I learn the Devils made it to the playoffs. No surprise there. They finished their season undefeated, so making it all the way and going to state is their next objective.
Roman joins the conversation, leaving Allie, Kasey, Aaron, and I to talk amongst ourselves. I try to push Emilio from my mind, but every few minutes I can feel his eyes boring into me. His gaze like a physical caress, only when I turn to look at him, he jerks his attention away.
“Hello, Earth to Bibi,” Allie calls, and I force my gaze away from him.
“What’d you say? Sorry, I got a little lost in my head.”
She smiles. “Right. I was saying, what do you want to do this weekend? We’re dragging Aaron along, too.” My eyes flick to his as I consider her question.
“Uh…” Crap. Now isn’t the time to tell them I have a son, but I can’t very well go out on weekends with him either. I’m a mom, and yes, my mom watches him while I’m at school, but I don’t like the idea of dumping Luis on her just so I can hang out with friends. I’m his mom. I’m the one who should be taking care of him. He’s my responsibility.
I don’t want to lose more time with him either, especially when I’m already not seeing him during the day most of the week. It’s made him clingier then usual, and he’s only going to be my baby a little while longer. Soon, he’ll be a toddler. Then a little boy. The thought alone makes my chest ache. He’s growing up too fast.
“Why don’t we do something at my place?” I suggest. “Movies, junk food. Something casual?” I’ll come up with a way to let them know about Luis between then and now. Hopefully it’s not a deal breaker for our friendship. Monique loves Luis and Allie seems nice. With any luck, she’ll love him too.
Allie’s eyes brighten at my suggestion. “Yes! I love that idea. You guys in?” She looks between Kasey and Aaron.
“I’m in. What do you think, little sis?” Aaron asks, ruffling his sister’s hair.
“Urgh, don’t do that,” she whines, smacking his hand away as if she’s annoyed, but I don’t miss her affectionate smile. “Yes. I’m in. I could use a low-drama night and some junk food.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you guys the address. Let’s plan on, I don’t know, seven-ish?”
Everyone nods just as the lunch bell rings and we all rise to drop our trays in the waste bin as we head to our next class. I lose track of the others in the crowd, not really worried since I’ll see them again—save for Kasey—fourth period, when a hand wraps around my arm and pushes me into an open classroom door. I stumble forward before whirling around, hands fisted at my sides and ready, only to find Emilio behind me.
He closes the door, pressing the lock and leaning against it as he folds his arms over his chest and gives me a once-over before quirking a brow. “Pretending we don’t know each other?” he asks, a sinful expression on his face. The bell rings again and I grit my teeth together. I’m already behind. I shouldn’t miss any of my classes without a damn good reason, but Emilio doesn’t look like he’s going to just let me brush past him. He looks like someone who has something they need to get off their chest, though I can’t imagine what it is—I’m supposed to be the one with something to share.
I swallow hard and take a few steps back, managing to put some much-needed distance between us. My heart is racing in my chest, my palms suddenly sweaty. “I’m not pretending,” I tell him. “I just didn’t know if I should mention—”
“That we fucked.” The gravely quality of his voice grates along my senses. “That I buried my dick inside of you three times before you vanished. Poof. Like a ghost.”
My brows furrow and I take another involuntary step back. He sounds angry, almost. But that can’t be right. He has nothing to be angry about. At least, not yet.
Emilio pushes off the door and stalks toward me, that’s the only way I can describe it. His eyes are bright, practically glowing, as he closes the distance between us, a predatory glint in his eyes.
“You running from me, mariposa?”
I swallow hard and manage to shake my head, that nickname eliciting a strange sort of emotion in my chest. Emilio leans into me, his breath fanning across my neck. My hands fly up on their own to clutch at the fabric of his shirt.I don’t know if I plan to draw him in or push him away, but the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palms grounds me.
“Good. Because if you run,” he trails his nose down the side of my neck and nips at my shoulder with his teeth. “I’ll have to give chase.”
I shudder, my entire body responding to him, but I force myself to take a deep breath. This…isn’t what I expected.
“I remember the way you taste,” he whispers, tugging the neckline of my zip-up hoodie to the side and trailing kisses across my skin. “The way your pussy squeezed my cock when I buried myself inside you.”
His vulgar words make my thighs tighten, even as a shiver of apprehension races down my spine. He draws back, a savage curl to his lips. “Do you remember?”
My stomach tangles in knots. Of course I remember. I remember every single moment of that night in vivid detail. Every kiss. Every touch. But I don’t tell him any of that. I’m stuck standing here, words frozen in my mouth as he looks at me like he wants to devour me, but there’s a cruel edge to his smile. One I don’t know how to interpret. The boy I met eighteen months ago was wild. He had a devil-may-care attitude. And sure, I don’t really know him, but first impressions do mean something. Emilio acted like he didn’t have a care in the world. He was the kind of guy always looking to have a good time. Searching for his next thrill.
This Emilio is different.
