One-Eighty (Westover Prep 1)

“That’s been purposeful on my part,” I admit.

“You don’t want to be alone with me?”

“I want nothing more.”

“But you’ve purposely kept that from happening?”

Her head tilts in confusion, but the saucy look in her eyes makes me wonder if she’s merely playing coy.

“I don’t want to take things any further than what you’re comfortable with.”

“And you think if I’m alone with you, I won’t be able to resist you?” She bites her damn lip again, and the sight of that flesh between her teeth makes my body come alive with need.

“I think you may want things in the moment, but I couldn’t live with myself if you regretted something you did with me. I know you still struggle with trusting me.”

She sobers with my words, the playful look on her face melting away until she’s frowning in my direction.

“I’m trying,” she whispers.

“I know. That’s why I’ve wanted to keep things light with no pressure. Your pace, remember?”

“We can do things other than having sex.”

Oh, God. This woman is going to kill me.

“We could go to the mall,” I offer, “or grab some ice cream?”

Lord knows I need something to cool me down. I’m pretty sure I’ve had sex before, but since I can’t remember it, I’m a ball of horny energy. My mind is always on sex. Always. And even though in my head I want to take things slowly, I know my body will be able to change my mind if I’m in the position to make it happen.

“Or,” her tone changes back from cautious Piper to the vixen I love more and more each day, “we could go make out at the park.”

“The park?” That seems like a semi-private, yet very public place. We could be mostly safe from my overactive libido there.

“You want to go for a walk?”

She smiles, the wicked thoughts in her head displayed blatantly on her pretty face. “I don’t want to walk.”

I swallow thickly, both hating and loving that a simple conversation has set my body on fire. If I thought she was ready, and it was her suggestion, I’d take her right here in this breakroom; consequences be damned.

But we’re not there yet.

“You want to make out,” I clarify, “in the park.”

“Yes,” she answers. “And if you’re a good boy, I may even let you get to second base.”

My eyes dart to her chest, watching it rise and fall rapidly with her elevated breathing.

“You like that idea,” she says with a chuckle.

“I love any idea that involves touching you or spending time with you. I’d be almost as happy just hanging out with you watching a movie.”

It’s mostly the truth, but the laughter that emits from Piper tells me that she knows it’s not one-hundred-percent honesty.

“Let’s drop this,” she holds the Clifford costume up, “at the dry cleaners, and we’ll go from there.”Chapter 30Piper“Why are you whispering the alphabet?” I laugh at the sight of Dalton with his eyes squeezed closed. His lips have been repeating letters rather than kissing mine like I want them to be doing.

“Your hand,” he mutters between M and N.

“This one?” I flex my fingers on his thigh.

“Y-yeah. Every time you do that, it makes my jeans tighter. Well, my—” He clears his throat. “Let’s go for that walk.”

“I think that bulge is the problem, not your jeans.”

His lips work faster, already back to XYZ for the second time since he last spoke.

“Dalton?” I remove my hand from his leg and cup his face. “Are you freaking out?”

His head shakes back and forth. “I’m trying not to nut in my jeans.”

A bark of laughter escapes my lips. “Seriously?”

“Are you making fun of me? That’s really mean, Piper.”

I can’t tell if he’s joking or if he's serious.

“I’m not making fun of you.” I sit back in my seat since I was practically on top of him and pout. “I just didn’t think I affected you that much.”

He shakes his head, eyes still closed, but at least he’s no longer repeating the dang alphabet. “You just don’t understand.”

“Is this the part where you make fun of me for being a virgin and not knowing anything about guys?”

His eyes snap to mine. “I love that you don’t have any experience, but what you’re not understanding is that I don’t remember anything from my past. I might as well be a virgin, too.”

He huffs, and I don’t know if he’s irritated with himself or me.

“So, you’re keyed up?” I hedge. He nods, tongue sneaking out to lick his lips. The action shoots straight between my thighs, and it’s my turn to swallow the lump forming in my throat. “Well, I am, too.”

His eyelids lower, heat filling his gaze as he watches my mouth. “And I’m ecstatic about that, but you can hide your reaction to me. I can’t do that.”

He motions to the erection straining in his jeans.