Broken Compass

Just as ridiculous as lusting after him.

“So… what are your plans for summer?” he asks, arching his back, and I’m staring again.

“No plans.”

“Nothing at all?”

I don’t want to think about summer. It makes me feel stabby.

No school. More empty hours to fill. And somehow the stretch of hot weeks ahead reminds me of the one thing I try not to think about:

Time passing.

“I think I’m gonna go home,” I hear myself say, although it’s the last thing I want. “Catch up on some homework.”

“Don’t go.”

I stay still, surprised. “But…”

“We don’t have to play anymore, if you don’t want to. Just stay? If you go…” His hand clenches on his control until the plastic creaks. He looks down at it, his forehead creasing. “I should go talk to Nate, but if you go, I’ll start cleaning and won’t stop. I…” He grimaces. “Dammit.”

Carefully, I put down the control and take his from his hand. “I’ll stay. West, look at me.” I wait until his blue gaze swings back to me. “I’ll stay.”

Chapter Fourteen

West

Sydney is quiet. We’re sitting together on the sofa, watching something on TV, some documentary about polar bears.

I think.

She has her hand in mine, and that’s all I can think of. The polar bears can go drown themselves.

She stayed. I asked, and she stayed.

My brain stops past that. Can’t compute. I mean, she’s my friend. I know that, have known it for months now, but my body doesn’t wanna listen to the voice of reason.

Doesn’t want to be just friends, and no matter how fucking hard I try to keep away, I can’t.

I can’t, not with her scent wrapping around me, making my body clench with desire.

She glances at me, and I don’t even care that I’m caught looking at her, at the freckles on her nose, her long lashes, her mouth. “Hey.

” She touches her fingertips to her mouth, and I groan. “West?”

I lick my lips, swallow. “Hm?”

“You’re a million miles away. What are you thinking about?”

“Syd…” Then I’m kissing her, pushing her back against the couch cushions, my arms coming around her, holding her close.

My thoughts fade to white. My body trembles. She tastes better than I’ve ever dreamed. So damn good.

She tastes like happiness and pleasure.

Does she want this? Am I taking it by force?

But then her hands slide up my neck, leaving trails of shivers behind, her fingers burying themselves in my short hair, and her mouth opens under mine.