Candy Ever After (Hot Candy 2)

Not that I want to leave. My senses are on fire. I pull him closer, I want him naked with me, I want him inside me—

A knocking sound breaks through the buzzing in my ears. And someone is calling my name. My surroundings come back in a rush—the stockroom, the shop, Jethro.

Oh God. I’m kissing Jethro, although I’d sworn not to.

Weakly I lower my hands from around his neck and push on his chest.

He pulls back, his eyes wide and dark, fixed on my mouth—and at the door I see Donna.

Donna. Oh shit. Both her brows are arched, but she looks shocked rather than angry. Shocked and concerned.

The shock is probably from seeing me shove my tongue all the way to Jethro’s tonsils. Who wouldn’t be shocked?

“Sorry,” I whisper.

I know, okay? Making out with my co-worker during work hours, where customers could have seen us. Kissing Jethro, and messing around with Joel.

Aware that neither boy knows my true desires.

Jethro finally turns, and his jaw clenches. He trails his hand over my side before stepping aside. His hands curl into fists, and he widens his stance, lifts his chin. “It’s not her fault.”

My throat closes up.

Strangely, a tiny smile tugs at Donna’s lips. “I see.” Then she turns toward me and her gaze grows hard. “She’s innocent.”

Jethro frowns. “Yeah.”

“You sure about that?”

Please, I beg her with my eyes. Please don’t say anything.

She only sighs and tugs on her wild red hair. “I came looking for Jethro, actually. I need a copy of your diploma for the records. Doesn’t have to be tomorrow, but the soonest you can, okay?”

She leaves the room before Jethro answers, though I notice his back tensing up more.

“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “If anyone gets into trouble, it’s going to be me.”

And rightly so.

“Not your fault.” He rubs his hands over his face. “When I’m around you, I can’t keep my hands to myself.”

My heart beats faster. I can’t, either, but I should.

He kicks at the table, and I flinch. He has every right to be angry. At me. For leading both him and Joel on—only that’s not what I’m trying to do.

I don’t know what I’m trying to do. What I want isn’t possible, and I’m hurting them because I’m not owning up to it.

Jesus, I need to come clean. Need to know for sure. I open my mouth to say something, confess to wanting them both, to my fantasy with them.

“What about Joel? Do you want him, too?”

I bow my head. Shit. There’s no answer that will fix this. “I do.”

And Jethro is already turning to go. “You should go with Joel,” he mutters. “I’m a fucking loser.”

“Jethro…”

“I’ve got some things to take care of. If Donna asks.”