She's My Everything (Crave and Claimed 1)

“You do?”

“Yes. My parents, even though they don’t know the first thing about sports, are always there at the games. I’ve been cheering you on for years, Blue.”

“Then I’m going to look for you and when I win, I’m going to come and find you to give me a celebratory kiss.”

“This is all…”

“Awesome. Amazing. The best kind of news you’ve heard.”

“I was going to say surreal.”

“Well, I can live with surreal.” He cupped her cheek. “And I’m hoping you can as well.”

She nodded. “We need to get to school. I don’t need my mom already being anti-Blue when she finds out you made me late to class.”

“And here I was going to suggest we cut school entirely. You can spend the day with me. Get to know the real me and not just the crap I’ve told you about.”

“I think I need school to deal with everything. That will be a nice distraction. Just out of curiosity, I’m not going to get someone claiming to be your girlfriend and threatening to beat my ass, am I?”

“I’ve got no one, Laylah. I never promised anyone anything. You’re the first person I have.”

She chuckled. “So, there you go, I am a first of something. I’m the first girl you’re going to be serious about.”

“You’ve got that right.” He turned back to start driving.

Blue didn’t know how else to tell her that he was falling for her. It was so fucking crazy, even to him.

They’d been school friends for years but he’d never felt this way before. She consumed his every waking thought. He’d been so confused by his feelings, he’d talked to his dad, who happened to be happily married, and told him straight, he was falling in love. It was the Jones way. They loved with their whole hearts. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was how they were, even his grandfather.

Laylah was nowhere near ready to learn that he was completely and totally in love with her.

****

“You know he could be doing it to fuck you,” Becky said later that same day in their biology class.

“Ignore her. We all know he’s not the kind of guy to try to use wanting a date to get a girl to fall into his bed,” John said.

“You think he’s being serious about his feelings?”

“He hasn’t given you a single reason to doubt him, has he?”

“No.”

“Then I’d trust him. There’s nothing wrong with allowing yourself to enjoy this, Laylah. When was the last time you just enjoyed yourself?”

“There’s school and a lot of stuff.”

“You’ve forgotten what it means to have fun, and we haven’t been much help.” John playfully slapped Becky’s arm.

“Ouch, why is it our fault?”

“I’m interested in my girlfriend, and you’re more interested in peaceful protest.”

“Don’t,” Laylah said. “You do not under any circumstances need to blame yourselves at all.”

There was a knock at the door. Someone from the main reception came in with a note and left immediately.

The teacher opened it up and looked across the classroom. “Laylah, you’re needed in reception.”

She frowned. Grabbing her bag, she stuffed her closed books into the bag and left the classroom.

Walking down the hallway, she wondered what she’d done. She’d always been an exemplary student, so being called to the office was just … strange. She was a damn good person.

All of sudden, her hand was tugged. In the next second, she was pulled into the boys’ bathroom.

“Blue,” she said, laughing.

He pressed her up against the door.

“I need to go to the office.”

“No, you don’t. That was all me.” He slammed his lips down on hers and she moaned. Dropping her bag, she cupped his face and kissed him back with a fiery passion.

Breaking from the kiss, she put her hands on his chest. “Wait a minute? How did you do that?”

“I was owed a favor, and I couldn’t stand not seeing you.”

“We saw each other less than an hour ago.”

“Yeah, and it felt like too much. I’m thinking of transferring biology classes. My grades have been impressive of late, and I can convince the teacher to transfer me.”

“Blue, please.”

“Too much?”

“Just a little.”

“You’re going to have to get used to it.” He kissed her harder, pressing his body against her. “Do you want to skip class?”

“What part of my mom hating you don’t you get?”

“She won’t hate me for long.”

“She will if you keep on encouraging her only daughter to skip class.”

“Oh, that, I’m a good influence, I promise.” He kissed her again and she lost herself in the pleasure of his kiss.

The way he touched her, the feel of his lips, it was all fighting against her strength to deny him. In all of her years, she’d never once skipped class. What would it be like to do it just once?

Licking her lips, she smiled at him. “Let’s go.”

“What?”

“I’ve never skipped class before.”

He groaned. “Another first?”