Until Harry(49)

She started off by giving me small compliments every day. She repeatedly told me I had lovely penmanship and that she wished her ears and lips were like mine. Silly things that most people would overlook. Her compliments were only the beginning; she brought me on new adventures too. She was a daredevil and believed most things should be tried once, and she took me along for the wild ride. She broadened my perception of the world and myself, and eventually I became content with who I was. I wasn’t freaky or a nerd because I loved reading, and I wasn’t fat or ugly because I didn’t measure up to society’s version of beauty. Lavender made me appreciate my own beauty.

I didn’t understand what Lavender saw in me because I felt I didn’t offer anything great to our friendship, but she told me the way I cared for her was enough. She said that she noticed when I cared about someone; I treated them like one of my favourite books. I treasured and loved them. She said that was what was special about me.

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m growing up.”

“This is you growing up?” Kale asked as he continued to stroke his thumb under my eye, his eyes getting more bloodshot by the minute.

I nodded. “This is me having some fun, Kale. I wanted to come to a party and see what the fuss was all about; I’m tired of just reading about them in my books. I wanted to experience what one was really like.”

He growled, and the sound caused me to jump and lick my own lips as a thunderbolt of excitement shot up my spine.

“Dressed like that you wanted to experience a party?” he asked, maddened.

I stood my ground. “I’m eighteen next month, I can dress like this – and be with lads if I want to be.”

Kale’s breath hitched and he dropped his hand from my face. “You haven’t been with someone . . . have you?”

I felt heat spread across my cheeks. “Why do you care?”

I gasped when my back was suddenly pressed against the wall behind me, and Kale was up against me, moulding his hard body to the front of mine.

My centre began to throb.

“Have. You. Had. Sex?” Kale asked me, his eyes narrowed and non-blinking.

I was so twisted for finding him incredibly sexy when he was angry.

“What will you do if I have?” I questioned.

He placed his hands on either side of my head and said, “Rip the bastard’s dick off.”

My eyelids fluttered, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “And if I haven’t, what will you do?”

He dropped his roaring red eyes to my lips, and my heart almost came to a complete stop.

“Answer my question and I’ll show you.”

Show me. Not tell me.

“No,” I squeaked. “I haven’t had sex with anyone.”

Kale lowered his face to mine until our lips were centimetres apart.

“I’ve had a fair bit to drink,” he hiccupped. “So kick me in the balls if kissing you isn’t okay.”

I bit down on my lower lip, and the action caused him to groan as I felt him harden against me. Fuck. Shit. It was happening.

Finally.

“I’ll kick you in the balls if you don’t kiss me.”

Kale pressed his forehead against mine and said, “I don’t want to do something that will ruin things.”

“It’s too late for that,” I replied, terrified he would change his mind. “You want to kiss me, and I really want to kiss you.”

“We can’t be friends after this,” he whispered, swaying into me. “We can’t ever be just friends anymore.”

I lifted my hands and gripped onto his T-shirt. “I don’t want to just be your friend.”

He blinked. “You really want me?”

“Hell. Yes.”

His eyes lit with fire then, and he applied more pressure against my body.

“Think carefully about this,” he said firmly, groaning when I moved, causing my hip to brush over his hardened length.

Yeah, he’s hard, I thought. For me.

I swallowed. “I’ve thought about this non-stop the last couple of years.”

Kale growled. “You’re making this very hard.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “I think that’s the point.”

He looked at me, his hooded eyes filled with lust. “Last chance for you to run away from me.”

Like hell.

“I’d never run away from you.”

Kale lowered his face dangerously close to mine. “Promise?”

“I promise,” I breathed, and fisting his shirt in my hands, I pulled him towards me.

He didn’t protest; in fact, he almost glided across the room with me, but he halted and said, “The door.”

I let go of him as he scurried over to the door, turning the lock. When he turned back to face me, I started to lose my cool and become nervous. Extremely nervous. I continued to back up until the back of my legs came into contact with the bed.