Cross the Line

We looked at one another silently for a moment, then the questions that had been rolling around in my head came out in a rush. “What happens next? What is this thing between us?”

He rubbed at his face, then rolled onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow. “First off, I like you. I want to see where this thing goes.” His hand traced a pattern over my chest. “I’ve never been with a guy before, but I…I’ve been interested. Everything that we’ve done—it feels right. Like it was meant to be. I never had that with a girl before.”

I reached up and pushed his hair out of his eyes as he continued speaking, his voice going quiet. “I don’t even think it’s because you’re a guy. I think it’s because it’s you.”

Swallowing hard around the lump in my throat, I stared at him. “I want this. What about school?”

His gaze turned serious. “Fuck, I don’t know. Can we take it slow, see what happens? I don’t want to hide, but I want…time, I guess.”

“Time. I can give you that.”

“You sure you want to be with a delinquent? I might be a bad influence on you.” He smirked, and I pulled him down to me.

“You sure you want to be with an American who can kick your ass on the soccer field?”

“You calling football ‘soccer’ might be a deal breaker.” I growled at that, biting at his bottom lip, and he laughed in response. “Wait ‘til I’m back from my suspension. You and me, we’re gonna be unstoppable. The dream team.”

“Only if you don’t try and hog the limelight.”

“Never.”

“Have you looked in the mirror today?” Kian asked me around a mouthful of toast.

“No, why?” I stared at him over my mug of coffee.

He finished chewing, then grinned at me. “You might wanna check out your neck.”

I picked up my phone and turned on the selfie camera. “What the fuck, man?” My neck was covered in purple hickeys. “I can’t leave the house looking like this.”

“Wear a scarf,” he suggested with a laugh, picking up his coffee and taking a large gulp, before placing it back on the kitchen island. The bastard was enjoying this. “I like my marks on you.”

“Yeah? What if I leave one on you?”

“Go ahead.” He shrugged, tilting his head to the side, his eyes sparking with amusement.

I slid off my bar stool and crossed the island to him. My arm snaked around his waist, and I put my mouth to his neck, licking across his skin.

“Come here.” His voice lowered, and he tugged me between his legs. Breakfast forgotten, he gripped my jaw and kissed me.

Hot, heady kisses, his tongue against mine, his hands gripping me tightly…I couldn’t get enough of this guy. He broke the kiss, panting, and I went for his throat, sucking at the skin while he groaned, his hand going down between us to my sweatpants.

“So fucking hard already,” he husked. “I want—” His phone suddenly blared loudly, vibrating against the wooden surface of the island.

“Shit. It’s my dad.”

I went to pull away from him, but he held me in place while he answered the call. I could only hear his side of it, but the voice on the other end sounded angry.

“Yeah?… Fine… Whatever, it’s not like you care… You’re not coming home?” His shoulders slumped, and my arms tightened around him. He listened intently to the voice, his jaw clenched, his eyes darkening.

Then he was speaking, low and furious. “You didn’t appreciate seeing me holding hands with a man? Guess fucking what?” He took a harsh breath, then snarled the words that left me reeling. “That’s my boyfriend, so get fucking used to it.” With that, he ended the call, throwing his phone down on the island. His head dropped to my shoulder, and I held on to him tightly until his breathing slowed and his arms loosened.

He drew back to look at me. “Sorry you had to hear that.” His voice was raw and defeated. “My dad…he’s a fucking asshole. Both my parents are. I don’t know why I keep trying. They couldn’t even be bothered to show up for my eighteenth birthday.”

“What?” I couldn’t keep the shock from my tone.

“Yeah. They said we’d go out, make the most of my status as a legal adult at some amazing Michelin-starred restaurant, but neither of them bothered to show.” His voice cracked, and it fucking broke me.

“You have me, now.” I inclined my head to kiss him. “You know, I only got to celebrate my eighteenth with my parents. It wasn’t long after we’d moved here, and I didn’t know anyone yet. What do you say we plan an epic party? Celebrate both our birthdays, or whatever other excuse you want. Make up for it?”