In the Dark (The Rules 2)

Which makes sense because really, I should push her away. Demand an explanation for the shitty way she treated me. In fact, that sounds like a great idea.

But first, kissing.

I slide my arms around her waist and pull her into me. She whimpers against my lips, the sound almost breaking me and I deepen the kiss, if that’s even possible. Taking and taking from her until her chest is heaving with her heavy breaths and her fingers are clutching at the fabric of my T-shirt.

“Stop,” she chokes out as she tries to push me away. “Go back to your date, Gabe.”

Her words crash through my hazy brain, bringing me straight back into reality. I let her go and take a step backwards, trying to calm my breathing, ease my racing heart. I run a hand through my hair as we stare at each other silently and I can’t even begin to sort through the conflicting emotions warring inside of me.

But the biggest question running through my head is why the hell is she working? What’s the deal with that? She’s such a contradiction, a total mystery.

I want to know more. And I want her to trust me enough to open up and share all of those little details that make her who she is.

“What are you doing, Luce?” I ask, my voice raw and raspy. I clear my throat, never let my gaze leave her. I need an answer but of course, she dodges my question.

“You should go back inside,” she says quietly. “People are waiting for you.”

“Fuck that.” She flinches and I soften my tone. “Why’d you run when you saw me in class?”

She shakes her head, tearing her gaze from mine. “I, um, I panicked.”

“But why? You know I’d never hurt you or be mean to you.” I don’t get it. Beyond the sexual stuff, we were friends. At least, I thought we were. I like her. I thought she liked me too.

Lucy throws her hands up in the air, looking frustrated. “Because you cut me off. You stopped texting me and I figured you’d…moved on or whatever. Which clearly you have.” She waves a hand toward the building, her mouth twisted into a grim line.

“You’re not being fair,” I say. “Kelli’s just a friend.”

“With benefits?” Lucy lifts a brow. “You’ve told me more than once that you were a total player in college. Back to your playing ways then?”

Being brutally honest sucks when your words are thrown back at you. “Seriously, she’s Jade’s friend. And Jade is Shep’s girlfriend. It’s just a friend thing, you know? We’re hanging out. That’s it.”

Fuck me, I’m lying. Yeah, I’m here tonight to hang out with Kelli all right. And most likely end the evening with her naked beneath me. Not that I was confident I could actually make any moves on her but I was hoping some liquid courage would help out with that.

I’m a dick, right? A total emotionless dick.

But now that I have Lucy standing in front of me, just the thought of getting Kelli naked leaves me cold.

Leaves me disgusted with myself.

“So the guy with you inside—that’s your friend Shep?” She seems oddly fascinated with that fact. I told her all about my friends. About Shep’s girlfriend, too. Is she interested because she wants to be a part of my life?

Hey. A guy can dream.

“Yeah. But that doesn’t really matter.” I step toward her and grab her by the upper arm gently. “What are you doing later?”

“Going home and going to bed.” She tries to withdraw from my hold but I don’t let her go. I can’t. Not yet. “What do you want, Gabe?”

“To talk to you.” I drift my thumb across her skin, feel the rise of goose bumps from my touch and they give me hope. Her body still reacts to my touch. That has to mean something, right?

She sighs, the sound almost…hopeless. “There’s no point. What’s done is done. Can’t we just—let this go?”

Anger suffuses me and I try to tamp it down. But fuck, it’s hard. Her words fuel some untapped spot within me that causes a fire to roar in my belly. “Is that what you really want?”

She nods. Doesn’t say a word.

“Really?” I glare at her and she looks away.

I reach for her, my fingers curling around her chin and forcing her to look at me. She lifts those wide, dark eyes to mine, shining with vulnerability and confusion and hope and I give in to my urges, claiming her mouth for one swift, deep kiss.

When we part, she gasps, stumbling away from me when I let her go. “This isn’t over,” I murmur and she presses her lips together. “Not by a long shot.”

Without another word I turn on my heel and leave her standing there. My heart is thumping wildly and I swear to God it’s going to fly right out of my chest. We’re not going to end this. Not now. Not if I have anything to say about it.

I round the building and walk through the main entrance, smiling at the hostess Barb as I pass by her. I’ve come here many a time with Shep and Tristan. This is one of our favorite places to eat. So it’s pretty fucking unbelievable that the first girl I’m actually experiencing real feelings for works here.

“Where’d you go?” Kelli asks as I slide into the booth next to her.

“Saw someone I knew. Talked to them a little bit.” I offer her a smile, pleased that at least I’m not lying. I did see someone I know. Someone I kissed. Someone I want to keep on kissing.

“Who?” Shep asks and I send him a glare.

“Yeah, who?” Jade watches me with curiosity.

Shit.

“You both sound like a pair of owls sitting there,” I joke, trying to change the subject. “Did you know when my sister was little she used to love owls? Had owl wallpaper and everything.”