“It’s not him,” I said as I pulled out my phone. Amber’s number flashed as I slid my finger across the screen to answer her call. “Sup.”
“Hey, so I called Mr. Tomlinson to double-check on our homework and he picked up, like, right away.”
“Oh …” Her words hammered at me.
My dad looked at me curiously, listening closely. I got off the couch and waved goodbye quickly as I walked to my room. This conversation needed some alone time.
“He’s so nice and acted as if we didn’t see him at the frat party,” she continued. “I tried asking him what he did after we left, but he ignored my question and continued explaining the homework. But he did tell me not to bring up the party again before our call ended. So whatever.”
I lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.
“Hello? What are you doing?” she questioned. “Are you still there?”
“Oh, sorry. I’m listening to you.” And thinking about Connor..
“Well, anyway, did you do your homework yet?”
“I’ll start it after I talk to you.”
“Let’s do homework together?”
“Okay.” I smiled.
Doing homework together meant baking a cake as we gossiped about boys and makeup lessons. I wasn't sure if homework would get done tonight.
“Okay, see you in a few.”
We hung up and I rolled over to stare at my picture on the nightstand. Connor had tickled me before that photo, flooding us with my giggles.
I smiled.
I’ve missed you, Connor.
Chapter 4
I arrived early to school and headed to Connor’s class to see if he had arrived early as well. I tried the doorknob and it turned easily in my hands, so I pulled the door open and walked inside.
Connor was the only one in the classroom. He sat at his desk with his head down reading while eating his breakfast. I closed the door and turn the lock. He glanced up and blinked. I walked to him.
“I should tell you that I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here in class alone with me.”
“What’s stopping you?”
He scooted back in his chair and his brow drew together in sorrow. “This is all very dangerous, you and I. I know I won’t be able to stay away from you. The harder I push myself to leave you alone the more I would want you. What do we do?”
Then the moment came suddenly as Connor pulled me into his lap.
I gasped in surprised. This was exciting and frightening all at once. I wrapped my arms around him and he rested his head on my shoulder.
“This is wrong. All of this is wrong. But I don’t want to stay away from you anymore.”
I grabbed his chin and whispered staring at his lips, “I don’t want to stay away from you.”
He traced a finger along my freckles on my cheek as he stayed quiet, lost in his thoughts. “I’ll keep us safe. And I’ll protect you. I want you. Do you trust me?”
“I do,” I whispered.
He removed my hand from his chin and kissed it sweetly. “Before we go any further, you should know what happened after we left…We did move away, but we came back after a year. Vida, please believe me. I didn’t want to leave you, but we were kids. I had to go where my family went.” He paused and took a deep breath. “You’re still very much a kid.”
“I’m seventeen,” I whispered.
“You still have a lot of living to do, my beautiful ginger.”
“I’m not a kid.”
He chuckled. “Vida, I’m sorry. You’re right, you’re not a kid. You’re a breathtaking, gorgeous woman.” Connor grabbed my head with both hands and ran his fingers through my hair, pulling my head back. He kissed the tip of my chin and brought me back until our lips were inches apart. “Now, I’m going to kiss you like a woman should be kissed.”
His kiss was gentle and teasing, tongue delving in and rolling, rubbing along a sensitive part underneath my lips—a part I didn’t know existed. I moaned, wanting more.
Connor pulled back, staring into my eyes. “Are you ready for this?” he whispered.
“Yes. Kiss me, Connor. Kiss me,” I breathed.
He brought his lips back to me and kissed me again. His gentleness returned, but there was a hunger in his kiss, a possession—a silent, begging wish for me to be older.
I was his …
I kissed him harder and deeper, my hands running in his hair. I lifted my leg and straddled him, pressing myself against him.
Forget your promise and your rules…
Our kiss went on and on and on … tender and sweet, then rough and demanding. I didn’t want our kiss to end.
Connor pulled back and brought his lips close to my ear. “Vida, we should stop now, or I won’t be able to stop later.”