“It doesn’t make a damn bit of difference.” She pressed her lips together.
“I will make it up to you.”
“Blake, after graduation, I’m leaving here. I want to make a life and…”
“I get it. I don’t fit into your life but, Leah, I’m good for you. I can prove it.” He stepped up to her, cupping her cheek. “And I know deep down, you don’t want me to stop fighting this, and I won’t.”
Chapter Four
For the next few weeks, Leah didn’t try to avoid Blake. There was no reason to. He was everywhere. Even though she didn’t feel the need to be in his company, she decided to see what would happen.
The kisses were at a minimum. She hadn’t encouraged him to kiss her, nor did she have any plans for him to think it could go any further. It wouldn’t. She couldn’t help but be reminded of some of the horrible things he’d done, how he treated her when he kissed her. From the times he spread nasty rumors about her. Her personal favorite was saying she’d gotten some kind of weird rash. Then of course there were times he tried to make out she fancied people and would completely embarrass her.
Lunchtimes were now spent by his side with his arm constantly around her. Not to mention the fact he’d driven her home from school until her car came back from the shop. He still tried to pick her up and kept arriving earlier each day just to make sure she didn’t disappear that morning.
Halloween came and went, and he insisted she accompany him to the party they were having at the high school. She went, they danced, and she got him to take her home. Now as Thanksgiving approached, she was a little unprepared for her parents to spring the news that they’d invited his family over.
Again, all in the spirit of being grateful, she was the one to accept them into their home. She’d worn one of the cocktail dresses her mom had bought her, and upon opening the door, she found Blake was also dressed to impress in a suit.
His parents walked past them, going toward the dining room where food and wine waited. Not the main meal, just a few canapes. Her mother had gone all out this year.
“Hey,” she said.
He held his hands up. “I didn’t know until tonight that we were coming here. Mom usually hosts a party and there’s a whole big thing. I didn’t beg for this, but I’ve got no problem being here.” He stepped inside the door, his hand going to her waist. She looked up, wanting his kiss.
His lips brushed her cheek.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“So do you. I mean, you look great.”
“I clean up nicely, huh?”
“Yeah, and you know it.” She closed the door, leaning against it. Blake turned to look at her. “I … how have you been?”
“Thinking about you.”
“Blake, you need to stop this.”
“No, I don’t.” He stepped up close to her. “I fucked up. I know that, and I’m doing everything in my power to prove to you I’m right here with you.” His hands went to her face, tilting her head back as he stared into her eyes.
“My parents?”
“Are distracted by mine. I’ve missed you.”
“You saw me a couple of hours ago.” Her mom had asked her to run a quick errand and she’d bumped into Blake, who had also been running errands for his parents.
His thumb ran across her lips and she couldn’t quite contain her gasp.
“Have you thought about my kisses, Leah?” he asked.
Her gaze landed on his mouth. She had. She hadn’t wanted to, but she thought about his kisses all the time.
Slowly, his hand moved to sink into her hair.
“You know I can see what you’re thinking about from that one look. You want me to kiss you, but you don’t want me to ask, do you?”
“Blake.”
He slammed his lips down on hers, setting her whole body alight with need. It was intense, consuming, and filled with lust. She moaned his name, not wanting him to stop. Gripping his shoulders, she pulled him in close, plunging her tongue inside to dance with his. He growled her name, holding her tighter against him, and as he did, she let go. She didn’t fight the kiss. Instead, she reveled in it, loving every second as he slid his tongue across her lips before meeting with hers.
While one of his hands stayed in her hair, the other moved down her body, going toward her ass. She whimpered as he squeezed the flesh, and she felt the hardness of his cock press against her stomach.
“Leah, are you coming?” her mother asked, calling out to her.
They stopped kissing. Her lips felt swollen, but inside, she felt so good. So full and consumed with need.
“I’m sorry. I needed to do that,” he said.