Page 20 of Grace

“The transformation has already begun. The makeup. The dates…”

“That’s just life. I’m growing up, and—”

“—you lose your innocence,” he finished for me.

“All we did was kiss,” I said, making excuses, though I didn’t understand why.

Maybe I wanted him to see me as unlike anyone else.

“Then the next step is touching…” he continued, placing the tips of his fingers on the pulsing vein at my temple, then slowly tracing them lower. My body froze. Still, he didn’t do anything indecent—he only pulled me into that dark whirlpool, the very thing I hated him for. I was groggy with the heat, my head felt heavy, swimming, buzzing. My heart began to pound harder, and my lungs seemed to crumple in on themselves. Tiny, salty droplets gathered above my upper lip.

His fingers slowly traced a line along the side of my face, my chin, and down my neck, making the area between my legs tighten painfully. I also felt a pleasant warmth and heaviness in my lower belly. I fell into Chase’s deep brown eyes. His lips were getting alarmingly close as he kept caressing me. Goosebumps broke out along my arms while his fingers moved up and down my bare shoulder. My body reacted to every one of his touches.

His fingers slowly traced a line along the side of my face, my chin, and down my neck, making the area between my legs tighten painfully. I also felt a pleasant warmth and heaviness in my lower belly. I fell into Chase’s deep brown eyes. His lips were getting alarmingly close as he kept caressing me. Goosebumps broke out along my arms while his fingers moved up and down my bare shoulder. My body reacted to every one of his touches.

His fingers slowly traced a line along the side of my face, my chin, and down my neck, making the area between my legs tighten painfully. I also felt a pleasant warmth and heaviness in my lower belly. I fell into Chase’s deep brown eyes. His lips were getting alarmingly close as he kept caressing me. Goosebumps broke out along my arms while his fingers moved up and down my bare shoulder. My body reacted to every one of his touches.

His gaze slipped down to my lap. Emotions clashed inside me, sending a chill down my spine. I wanted him to kiss me, to touch me—more than anything—and I also wanted him far away from me.

“He’s going to take away your virtue,” he said in his dark, resonant voice.

“As I said, Chase, that’s life,” I replied, his name rolling off my tongue like a silent prayer.

“He doesn’t deserve you. Neither does Mr. Miller. They can’t take pleasure in such an innocent creature.”

“Take me home. Or let me out!”

I put my hand on his bicep. His skin was hot, his muscles tightening into cords beneath my touch. I could feel my heartbeat in my fingertips. I wanted to pull him against my body—but I pushed him away before his lips could reach mine.

My rejection didn’t hurt him. His lopsided smile told me that this was exactly what he’d been expecting.

Someone started banging on the van door. I winced.

“Open it, Baker!” a familiar voice barked.

At the same time, I realized that by now I definitely wouldn’t make it home by the time I’d promised my parents. Our date with Billy the next day was off.

Chase opened the doors. Oxygen-rich air filled my lungs, and a soft breeze brushed my overheated skin sensually.

Mr. Miller stared at us, anger and confusion mixing in his eyes.

“Get out, Grace!” he ordered.

I pushed myself up on my elbows and drew my knee in, fighting through the unbearable pain—but Chase motioned for me to stay still. He leaned against the open door now, smoking a freshly lit cigarette. He blew the smoke straight into my Math teacher’s face, nearly sending him into a coughing fit.

“She’s not going anywhere. I’m taking her home.”

His voice was light and smooth, yet there was an undertone only I could hear. He is protecting me.

“The hell you are,” Mr. Miller snapped, raising his voice as if trying to overpower Chase’s calm, calculated arrogance. His face puffed up like the gum bubbles Nikky used to blow.

“You are a… a—”

“A teacher at a loss for words? How funny.”

I had to suppress a smile, because seeing him humiliated by Chase felt good. At the same time, I was a bit angry—this whole thing would eventually backfire on me. He was my teacher.

“Chase…” I cleared my dry throat, but Mr. Miller’s sharp, dark glare made me swallow the rest. Sweat soaked through my clothes, my skin visible beneath them—even my bra.