Neighbor Dearest

“What are the fucking chances, seriously?”

“With my luck? Pretty good, apparently.”

He glared at them. “That’s her?”

“Yes.”

“She ain’t got nothing on you.”

Too nervous to appreciate those words, I said, “I don’t want him to see me.”

“Then I probably shouldn’t tell you he’s looking over in this direction.”

“Do you think he knows it’s me?”

“I can’t tell. Do you want to just leave?”

“I do. But I also don’t want to turn around.”

“You think he’ll say something?”

“I don’t know. But I guarantee you his mother will. She loves me.”

Damien glanced in their direction again before placing his hands on my shoulders. “Okay. Don’t freak out, but he’s definitely looking over here.”

“Shit.”

Damien looked like he was pondering something. “You trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Just go with it, okay?”

Not having a clue what he meant, I nodded. “Okay.”

Before I could question anything further, Damien’s hands were on my face, bringing me into him. He pressed his lips into mine and began to kiss me harder than I’d ever been kissed in my entire life.

My heart was pounding so fast, and I didn’t know whether it was because I knew Elec was watching or because of the sheer shock of it all or simply because I knew this was going to ruin me.

It’s all for show.

Even though I kept telling myself it wasn’t real, it sure as heck didn’t feel fake as Damien pushed his tongue in and out of my mouth. His hot, wet lips on mine were without a doubt the best I’d ever felt.

Upon the recognition of his taste, all of my senses weakened. My legs felt like they were ready to collapse, like the only thing holding me up were his hands still wrapped around my cheeks.

I opened my mouth wider taking in every one of his breaths as if they were my only oxygen. I kept expecting him to pull away, but instead he only kissed me harder, pressing his entire body into mine. I didn’t care where we were anymore or that we were still in a crowded line.

He moved his hands from my cheeks and began threading his fingers through my hair, slightly pulling it. We were making a scene. Even though putting on a performance for Elec was his initial intent, I wasn’t sure it was just for show anymore.

The low moan that escaped into my mouth was proof that he’d gotten carried away and lost in it, too. The kiss that started out calculated, calm and collected was no longer that as I felt his heart pound against mine. It was the most beautiful feeling because it was proof that I wasn’t crazy, that this chemistry I’d been experiencing wasn’t all in my head.

I was sure the people behind us in line were cutting right in front by now, but I was too immersed in the kiss to notice. I sure as hell wasn’t going to be the first to break it, because I knew once that happened, I would have to face the fact that my life would never be the same. Because I couldn’t erase this. I could never undo knowing how this felt.

He slowed the pace before reluctantly pulling away. I leaned in, trying to continue the kiss, but he turned his cheek and muttered, “Fuck” as if the realization of what he’d done finally hit him. He didn’t have to explain. I knew exactly why he was angry with himself. That was exactly how I felt.

Totally fucked.

Dazed and confused, I asked, “Are they still here?” I wasn’t sure I even cared anymore to be honest. I just needed to say something.

Damien looked behind me. “No. He’s gone.”

“Good.”

We’d totally lost our place in line. People were just bypassing us completely.

I no longer had an appetite, and the smell of fried ground beef was making me nauseous.

“Would it be okay if we didn’t go back in line? I’m suddenly really not in the mood for a burger.”

“Of course. Let’s get out of here.”

Once back in the truck, the ride was quiet and tense. Damien wouldn’t look at me as he kept his eyes straight ahead. My body was in a confused state. My nerves were shot, but at the same time, I was so painfully aroused. My panties were wet. My nipples were hard. My brain and my body wanted two different things.

My body wanted nothing more than for him to pull over and fuck me into oblivion on the side of the road.

But my brain wanted an explanation as to why he kept fighting his feelings for me, why he couldn’t just take a chance and see where things went. It kept wondering why I didn’t matter enough to him to take that risk, when he was all that mattered to me.

I wanted to cry for the sheer reason that my heart was still beating just as fast as it had when I first spotted Elec. Except now I knew that it had nothing to do with my ex. My heart was no longer hurting for Elec; it was hurting for Damien. I was afraid Damien was going to hurt me far worse than Elec ever did.