She pushed herself between my legs, our heads now at the same height. “You took me by surprise.”
“I…” I frowned, not sure what she was saying, but then she slammed her lips onto mine. She wasn’t gentle like I was. She was forceful, demanding, and fuck if it didn’t turn me on.
Her hands drifted to either side of my face, trying to keep me in place, and I let her because, if I took over, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to stop. But then she swiped her tongue over my lips, and all bets were off. She’d woken the beast, and there was nothing I could do to stop him now.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and yanked her closer to me. Her chest pressed against mine as I dipped my tongue into her mouth and drew a moan from her. I could live the rest of my life off that moan alone, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to touch her. I needed to own every inch of her.
“Aria,” I murmured, pulling away slightly. My hands whispered up her back and to her neck as I stared into her eyes. “This is—”
“Don’t say wrong,” she pleaded and let her forehead drop against mine. “Please don’t say that.”
; I swallowed at the emotion in her voice. “Okay,” I croaked out. “Let’s start over.” I pressed my lips to hers, gentle again, and savored every soft touch. I didn’t need to rush, in fact, I wanted nothing more than to take my time.
Aria met each of my kisses with one of her own, and before I knew it, our tongues were twirling against each other, and I was standing. It took little effort to pull her up and hold her at my height, and I deposited her on the counter we’d just eaten at.
The tables were turned, and now I was in control.
“You’re making me lose my damn mind,” I told her, kissing her neck and going lower to her collarbone. She let her head drop back and gripped my waist with her small hands.
“Please,” she begged, but I wasn’t sure she even knew what she was begging for as I made my way back to her lips.
“You want this?” I asked, pressing my lips against hers and then pulling away.
“Yes.” She grabbed each side of my face, her chest heaving with her heavy breaths. “God, I need this so bad.”
I pulled in a stuttering breath and let it back out again. “I’m yours, baby.” I rubbed my thumb over the apple of her cheek, loving the blush rising.
“Say that again,” she demanded.
“Say what?” I asked, my voice a low whisper.
“Baby.” Her nostrils flared as I dipped my finger under the loose collar of my T-shirt covering her chest. “No one has ever called me that.”
“Good.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her flush with my body. She circled her legs around my waist and I groaned as my cock pressed between her legs. There was no way she couldn’t feel it, and from the way her eyes hooded, she liked it. “Only I get to call you that.”
“You’re so bossy.” She laughed, and I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the sound. She was one of a kind, and I wasn’t sure anyone would ever come close to the person she was.
“Don’t you forget it, baby.” I winked and pressed my lips against hers again, not able to resist for a second longer. I’d thought this was wrong, but it wasn’t.
Nothing this good could ever be wrong.
Chapter Eight
ARIA
I didn’t know what I was thinking when I entered the locker room. No, scratch that, I hadn’t been thinking at all.
For the last couple of weeks, I’d been coming in here for track practice, and I’d done it on automatic for today’s PE class. But it had been a mistake, one I couldn’t turn back on as voices rang out when people entered.
I left my bag on one of the benches and darted into the bathroom stalls so no one would see me. I’d hide until they were all gone and then be a few minutes late onto the field. If Hope were here, I wouldn’t have entered the room, but her sister had called the office telling them Hope was sick. Only I knew it was because they had to get on the road to drive to the next state over for another concert.
I kept my back against the stall door and steadied my breathing as the voices got louder and louder. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but a shout from the hallway had me jumping.
“Girls, get onto the field!” Cade demanded.
Goose bumps spread over my skin at the sound of his voice, and my breath stuttered out of me. I hadn’t even seen his face, and he was already affecting me. I knew this wasn’t a good thing, but I didn’t want to push the feelings aside. I’d felt…alive since last weekend, something I hadn’t felt in so long, and there was no way I was going to give it up.