The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“So what? This a pity talk? Pick me up, make sure people see you talking to me?” I had had enough with this bullshit. I didn’t need anyone’s help, or their pity.

“It’s not—God—you’re a bitch.”

“And we both know it makes you hot.”

Tray narrowed his eyes at that, not in shock, but lust…his eyes were amber. Raking his eyes over my body, he murmured softly, “So what are you going to do about it?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. I hadn’t fully expected that, but he leaned closer and whispered, “Because I know it makes you hot too.”

“Get off.”

“I’d love too.”

I shrugged him away. “You know what I mean.”

He must have had enough because he grabbed my arm and yanked me into a hidden alcove at the corner of the parking lot.

“What are you doing?” I made it sound like I was bored. I was anything but.

Crowding me towards the back, until I couldn’t go any further without falling inside the foliage surrounding us, he said smoothly, “You lied.”

“What are you talking about?” I already knew, I had seen the condemnation in his eyes that night on the patio.

He stood so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. Oh, God. I noticed I was holding my breath.

“You said you don’t want to steal anymore, but you lied. You get an adrenalin rush every time you take something—you’re addicted to it. It’s like a dare…isn’t it? And you always win.”

“So?” I shoved him back. “I’m not a criminal anymore; I don’t want that life anymore.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“Right.”

“I’m not…I’m asking you to take one thing. One thing, Taryn.”

“What is it? What is so goddamn righteous that it’ll screw Pedlam?”

“They have some tight security. We need you to get the master. All the codes and everything are kept on this device, it’s called a PRS-500. It’s top of the line. You get that for us, and you don’t have to do anything else, swear to God.”

“You just want me to hand over the keys to the school, and probably the security codes for all the other schools and buildings in Pedlam?”

“We only want to get in and do some damage the night before our game. That’s all.”

And I was pure and innocent.

I snorted in disbelief. “I’m not stupid.”

I was blinded by Tray’s smile. Oh, whoa. I was suddenly burning up and, judging from the look in his eyes, he noticed my reaction because the amber was back in his eyes. Oh God…

“Oh…no, I know you’re not,” he said huskily, moving closer to wrap a hand around my neck. He bent forward slightly, his mouth just to the side of mine. I could feel his breath kissing my skin. Without thinking, I closed my eyes and leaned into him, bringing our bodies in contact. His other hand slid from my arm and down my back, ending just on the small of my back as he applied just enough pressure, tipping my hips against his.

Without realizing it, I had slipped my arm around his shoulder, curving it around his neck as I moved my head towards his, our lips touching tenderly; just resting against each other’s. Neither of us moved, we were at a standstill. Both of were breathing deeply now. I slipped a finger inside the front loop of his pants and pulled, then Tray’s mouth opened roughly over mine.

Opening my mouth, I dipped my head back, granting him better access. As his tongue swept inside, I moved mine against his, my hands now clenched in fists on the front of his shirt. Groaning, I slid my foot around his leg and he immediately grasped it, raising it and pulling my body almost on top of his.

Whipping away, both of us were silent, breathing heavily for a moment. I shook my head, clearing the cloud of lust.

“Just think about it. Alright?” he suggested, his voice husky.