Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“About what?” he asked, though I was pretty sure he knew.
I could feel my hand quivering against his skin when I admitted, “Our kiss.”
“I have that effect on people,” he teased.
I laughed. “You ass.”
“Well…me too. Making out is fun, and so is hooking up.” Somehow his admission made jealousy burn hot in my gut. Not so much that he got to experience that, but the image in my head of him with other guys. Wow, I actually didn’t think I had that in me. I figured I was sort of dead inside. “And as much as I’d like to do it with you again, you know it’s not a good idea.”
“Tell me why again? It’s getting hard to remember.” My gaze trailed down from his throat to his feet, taking him in. “Your dance attire isn’t helping my brain.”
“You’re not playing fair. I have to go back in there like this.” He adjusted his crotch, trying to hide his arousal. It made my dick stir in response. This was definitely not one-sided, and that was comforting.
“Damn, I’m sorry.” I smirked and took a step back. “Too bad your tights are so thin.”
“Yeah, you really look sorry.” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re enjoying this a little too much.”
“Can you blame me? A hot guy just said he wouldn’t mind kissing me again.”
He squirmed as his eyes burned. “I get it. I really do. But you’re not out, and I’ve got grades to keep up.”
“Obviously, me too.” My heart was in my throat as I wondered if I was going to end up ruining a connection I desperately wanted to keep. “Either way, I’d still want to get to know you again. To be your friend.”
He stood perfectly still, watching me, as if contemplating my words. And then his hand was cupping my cheek, and I couldn’t breathe.
“God. Why are you so handsome…” He ran a thumb across my jaw. “And hot.”
I inhaled a lungful of air. I’d been complimented by plenty of people, but coming from him it felt way more authentic.
I groaned and stepped closer, pinning him against the locker.
“We…shouldn’t.” He looked wary. “We’ll only want more.”
“Is that really a bad thing?” I countered. “At least we know where we stand.”
How was it possible to want Lark so much that I would chance being found out? But this achy longing in my chest just wouldn’t go away.
My fingers reached up to twist a strand of hair near his temple. He was so…gorgeous. And tempting.
His voice was husky as his gaze moved from my eyes to my lips. “Maybe one last time.”
“You sure?” I angled my head closer, my fingers trembling against his waist from the sheer effort of holding back.
A whimper escaped his throat, and that was all the permission I needed as I slanted my mouth against his and inhaled that sugary watermelon scent. His breathing intensified as he gripped the back of my shirt, pulling me closer. I felt bad that he’d end up with a case of blue balls just like me—and in the middle of class. But in that moment, I felt I might die if I didn’t taste his tongue in my mouth again.
His lips pressed harder as our tongues met in a frenetic dance. We were all hands, lips, and tongues as we fit our mouths back together again and again, but I couldn’t seem to get enough of him. Thankfully, the locker was a solid anchor; otherwise it might’ve toppled over, given how firmly I had hemmed him against it.
When he drew away, his mouth was shiny and mine felt swollen.
“I really need to go,” he said, and I nodded.
He pecked my lips one last time, then fled the room.
I stayed there, trying to rein in my breathing, wondering how he was going to be able to compose himself. When I finally left the locker room, I headed in the opposite direction of his classroom, feeling guilty but also so fucking elated.
That night I made sure Spencer was already asleep before lifting my phone and scrolling to Lark’s number. Sorry about earlier…if I made it hard for you to return to class or got you in trouble.
I held my breath as he typed his response.
Hard being the operative word? Ugh.
Is it bad that I laughed?
Yes. Don’t ever do that before a dance class again!
Did that mean he’d be up for it again?
Guess I’ll consider my other options, I teased.
I have no doubt. Night, Henners.
I like when you call me that.
Oh, then I’ll make sure not to, he replied, then added a wink emoji.
I smiled as I set down my phone and turned over to get to sleep.
17
LARK
I’m terrible at this math stuff, I texted Henry Wednesday night.
I’d been staring at pre-calc on my computer for far too long. The professor had a weekly assignment we had to complete using a program that didn’t allow you to pass to the next question unless you got the previous answer right.