Текст книги "Hate Me"

Автор книги: Jillian Dodd

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Jake drops down on one knee in front of Annie. He takes her hand and says, “Will you go to Winter Formal with me?”

Annie’s eyes are the size of saucers. Whitney nudges her shoulder and whispers, “Stand up.”

But Annie doesn’t. She just stares into Jake’s eyes and nods.

Jake stands up, pulling Annie with him and addresses the crowd, “She said yes!”

Everyone claps and cheers.

Jake holds out his elbow for her, like a proper prince would, leading her back through our human walkway. As they walk by, we toss glitter into the air.

The pep rally resumes, with Dawson and the coach speaking. I hadn’t realized he was the basketball team captain, too. The cheerleaders do another cheer. I glance off to the side of the gym and spy Jake and Annie kissing.

I’m so happy for her. Especially after the way Ace treated her.

When the rally is over, I bound over and hug her.

“Can you believe he did that?” she asks me, not letting go of Jake.

“Yes, I can believe it. He’s a real life prince.”

Jake laughs. “So not true. I just wanted her to feel like a princess. And this is just the beginning. We’re talking five-star restaurant, limo, dance, hotel suite. Only the best for my girl. And before you ask, Monroe, you and Aiden are invited to join us. I got reservations for all of us and a party bus for before the dance.”

“That sounds really fun,” I say.

“But after the dance, you’re on your own.”

“The night is sounding better and better,” Aiden says, walking up behind me.

I give Annie a quick hug and then follow Aiden to his room.

“Wasn’t that so cool?” I ask him, once we’re in his dorm.

He makes a little frown. “Do you wish I did something more public when I asked you?”

I pull him onto his bed with me. “Absolutely not. Just because I think it was awesome for Annie, doesn’t mean I wish it was me. The way you asked me—the way you do everything—is so incredibly perfect and thoughtful. I would never change a thing.”

I get a blazing smile, then a deep kiss, which turns into a hot make-out session that almost makes him miss his bus to the basketball game.

The Rock Star. 

6pm

It’s another long dance practice.

We get a break for dinner, but then have to come right back to practice until ten.

“You’re going to kill me before the competition,” I tell Peyton.

“Oh, stop being such a baby. You know as well as I do that we need the extra practice.”

“I know, but I’ve had cramps for the last two days. I may die.”

She laughs. “I’d suggest some ibuprofen.”

“You’re heartless,” I say with a laugh. “So, will the competition be fun?”

“It’s fun. Stressful. Particularly the team competitions. The small group ones are better. You don’t have as many people to worry about screwing up. Do you have a minute? I have something I want you to listen to.”

She’s starting to blush and giggle and I know it probably has to do with Damian. “Sure.”

“It’s from my favorite person in California.”

“Your dad?” I tease.

She gets her phone out of her locker and hands me an earbud. We each put one in our ear.

I hear Damian being interviewed on a radio show.

He answers a few questions about the band.

His famous dad.

Then:

 “We hear you’ve been doing a lot of writing lately. How do you find your inspiration?”

“Well, there's this girl I met recently, and she fills my heart with music.”

“So, tell us about this girl. She must be pretty special.”

“Oh, no, Ryan. I’m keeping her all to myself.”

“Would you like to give her a shout-out, then?”

“Yeah, she’d love that. Pepper, you inspire me, baby. I love you.”

Peyton’s eyes are glistening with tears but she has the kind of beaming smile her brother gets when he’s really happy.

“This is crazy,” she says. “And the fact that he wants to keep it a secret is crazy too.”

“He’s just trying to protect you.”

“Oh, I know. And I’m happy about that. At first, my head kept telling me that guys only want to keep relationships a secret when they have other girlfriends or aren’t really that into you. But when I listen to my heart, I know it’s in my best interest. His life is getting more and more crazy as their songs keep climbing up the charts. They have two songs on the Billboard Top 100 this week.”

“I know. I’m so proud of him. I think once you get out of high school and go to California then you can go public with it.”

“I’m thinking about doing something crazy.”

“Like what?”

“Transferring out there to finish school. I only need one more class to graduate.”

“What does Damian think about that?”

“He thinks I should finish here,” she says with a pout.

“Well, having a diploma from Eastbrooke is more impressive than getting a GED. And Damian didn’t get to go through a senior year or graduate. I’m sure he doesn’t want you to miss out on all that.”

“He can’t come to Winter Formal with me, but he did promise to come to Prom.”

“When is Prom?”

“Late April.”

I close my eyes for a second to block out the vision I just had of Aiden taking someone else to Prom.

“So, I’m assuming you’re Pepper?”

“Yeah.”

“Why Pepper?”

“You know when we went to town and shopped? There was a store that had all these ceramic figurines, but when you picked them up they split apart—they were salt and pepper shakers. Damian joked that it looked like salt and pepper were having sex. Then he said, I’m salt and you’re pepper and pushed them back together. He was being silly. But then after we did it, he laughed and started calling me Pepper.”

“That’s cute. Do you call him Salt?”

“No,” she says, blushing.

“You’re blushing. What do you call him?”

She rolls her eyes and smiles. “It’s silly, but when we had sex, it was so unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was hot perfection. And so different than it’s been with anyone else. When you do it with someone you’re in love with you have both the emotional and physical connection.” She smiles again and then laughs as she says, “I was teasing him, telling him that he might not be a rock star yet, but that his– you know what—was. So I guess I named his penis. Now even he refers to it as The Rock Star.”

“Oh my gosh. What is it with guys and their penises? You’d swear it was bigger than them.”

“They are pretty proud of them!” she laughs.

“He said he loves you.”

“He told me that before we left the island.”

“Didn’t that seem a little soon?”

“Not really, considering that we’re getting married in a few weeks.”

My eyes get huge. “You're what?!”

She laughs out loud. “Ha. Gotcha!”

“Ohmigawd. You about gave me a heart attack.”

“What's wrong? You don't want me to marry him?”

“I’m fine with you marrying him. Just not yet.”

Not until I’ve dealt with Vincent.

I’d die if something happened to either Damian or Peyton because of me.

The secret party. 

10pm

Same routine as last night.

Katie and I immediately drop onto our beds, exhausted.

“Hey, did you get texted the name of your dorm Secret Santa?” she asks, looking up from her phone.

“Let me look.” I check my phone. “I did. I know it’s supposed to be a secret, but who did you get?”

“I got Sabrina.”

“Cool. I got Molly.”

“When we get a break, we’ll have to go buy candy and stuff for them while we’re in New York.”

“Yeah. So, we need something for every day next week and then we give them their bigger gift at Winter Formal, right?”

She nods. “Don’t you think that will be fun?”

“I think it will be very—”

She interrupts me. “Did you get the text about a secret party tonight?”

I scroll to a text from Dallas.

Dallas:  Stockton’s. 12:30. We’re going to party and say screw this secret Santa bullshit. Like any of us guys want to hide candy for other dudes. We’re doing Naughty Santas. Drawing’s tonight.

I look up at Katie. “Yeah, I did. That sounds fun, huh?”

“Naughty Santa sounds like something the guys thought up.”

I laugh with her. “It does.”

We take quick showers, set our alarms, and get a little sleep.

At 12:30, we go to the meet-up place Katie’s message indicated. Aiden greets me with a kiss, then throws pillowcases over most people’s heads and leads them to the party room.

Once they all get over the shock of the room and do shots, Riley and Dallas share the Naughty Secret Santa rules.

“So, the rules are: you will draw a member of the opposite sex. You will buy them fun, sexy, smutty gifts that they would be ashamed to show their mothers. One gift a day. Sometime during Winter Formal, you will give your last gift in person and reveal who you are,” Dallas explains.

“And you’re not to tell anyone who you get,” Riley emphasizes. “We want it to be a complete surprise.”

“All right. I’m writing down the girls’ names,” Dallas says. “We’ve got Maggie, Keatyn, Annie, Kassidy, Ariela, and Katie.” He tears each name apart, folds it in half, and drops it into the stocking hat Riley holds out.

He takes it around the room, letting the guys draw.

Then they do the same with the boys.

I smile when I draw Riley. He’ll be fun to shop for.

Dallas hands out shots then says seriously, “Memorize your names. Down your shots. Put the names back into the hat.”

We all sit on the beanbags, smoke a little, and I ask Aiden to tell me more about his game. He texted me some, but was busy studying for French.

“They were a really good team. Won state last year. But I don’t want to talk about that. I think you owe me a whole bunch of dances.”

He pops his phone into a speaker, hits a dance mix, pulls me close, and grinds against me.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7TH

Eager to sell.

9am

The dance team is up early once again, only this time we’re taking the train into the city for our competition.

I check my email, finding a message from Grandpa.

-All is well. We have representatives meeting with two of the investors this week. Both seem eager to sell. 

I write back:

-That’s so awesome! I hope they do! Thank you, Grandpa. You’re amazing!

Then I email Tommy, giving him the idea that I’ve been kicking around for his proposal.

He replies immediately.

-That’s perfect. She’ll love it! Love having the girls involved. Hey, any chance you could do a screen test this Friday in NYC at 2:30?

-I’m headed to NYC right now for a dance competition. I absolutely will be there. Text me the address on Friday.

-Will do. 

Naughty puppy. 

Noon

My mom calls me as I’m getting settled in my hotel room. Maggie went to get downstairs to get some snacks, so she couldn’t have called at a better time.

“Mom! Hi! How are you? Are you all settled?”

“We are. Besides Malibu, this is my favorite place in the world. Plenty of room for the girls to play and no cameras anywhere. We've been to the beach, the market, everywhere, and no one even notices us. And the food is to die for. I've had croissants and coffee every morning and not once thought about the calories.”

I want to cry, I’m so happy.

“I’m so glad, Mom.”

“How are you?”

“I’m good.”

“Remember that game we used to play at dinner after your dad died. We were both so sad, but we tried to find something good that happened each day?”

“The sweet and the suck?”

“Yeah. If I was there with you now, what would you tell me?”

“The sweet is that Aiden asked me to Winter Formal. The suck is that I’m lying to him, and I feel bad about it.”

“Sweetie, you can’t help it.”

“I trust him. I would tell him in a heartbeat. I’m just afraid of putting him in danger. Did you hear about what B got?”

“Yes. It sounds just like the photo I got of Tommy. It was horrific.”

“Mom, when you met Tommy, how was your personal life?”

“Hmm. My career was great. You and I were doing well. But . . . I missed being with someone. Having someone take care of me sometimes. Being a single parent isn’t easy.”

“I was kind of a brat, wasn’t I?”

“You were never a brat. You’ve just always known exactly what you want.”

“What happened to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I think it was high school. I got sucked into fitting in.”

“When you were used to standing out.”

“Yeah. I’m doing better with all that. I feel like I’m me again, if that makes sense. Oh, and guess what? Grandpa is helping me with the hostile takeover.”

“He told me. He’s pretty excited about it.”

“Me too. I can’t wait to walk into Vincent’s board room and fire him.”

“You're not going to do that, Keatyn Elizabeth.”

“Oooh, pulling out the middle name,” I laugh. “I don’t mean me. I just can’t wait for someone to do it.” Actually, that’s I lie. I totally want to be the one to do it.

I hear Gracie yell, “Mommy!”

Mom says, “Gracie, do you want to talk to Kiki?”

Gracie screams, “Yes!”

She does a little cough then says, “Ruff ruff. Has Kiki been a naughty puppy for Daddy?”

“Gracie, it’s Keatyn, not Bad Kiki.”

“Oh! Good Kiki! We got a tree for Santa and made cookies! Is Kiki going to open presents with us?”

“I can’t. I have to stay at school.”

“School dumb. I hate school.”

“I’m going to send you a lot of presents.”

“Can Kiki open presents on the ’puter?”

“That’s a great idea, Gracie. We’ll open presents together over the computer. Can I talk to Mommy now?”

“No! My Kiki!”

Mom says to Gracie, “Give Mommy her phone if you want to go to the beach tomorrow.” That must have worked because then she says to me. “I think you should come to France for Christmas. We have a lot of security.”

“I’ll have to think about it. I don’t want to put you at risk.”

“You can fly from New York with Tommy.”

“That sounds good, Mom. I’ll talk to Garrett about it,” I lie again. I’m not going anywhere near them. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH

Are you afraid?

2pm

After the dance competition is over, I grab a cab to the screen test.

Once inside, I quickly recognize Knox Daniel. Not because I know him, but because I loved the sweet roles he played in some of my favorite teen movies. I’ll even admit to having a teensy crush on him back then. From what I’ve seen in Annie’s tabloids, he’s recently single after a lengthy-for-him two-month relationship with a pop star.

He used to play the good guy. The pretty boy. Now, his hair is a little darker and it's way sexy on him.

The casting of him in this role is great. He’s the hot bad guy. The guy who you wouldn’t mind kidnapping you.

I close my eyes.

I can’t believe I just thought that.

I’ve been going back and forth about how this character should be. Based on the lines I memorized, I know they want her to be weak, crying, and wrecked about being kidnapped, but with a little bit of my-dad-will-make-you-pay spunkiness.

And if I’d tried out for the part when Tommy wanted me to last spring, I would have acted just that way.

But not any more.

Knox struts up to me and gives me a once-over. “Who are you?”

“I’m Keatyn. Nice to meet you,” I say with a big smile, wanting to make a good first impression.

He scowls at me. “Why did they make me come in for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought they were bringing in someone famous. You look sorta familiar, though. What have you been in?”

“This is actually my first screen test. First audition, really. I mean, unless you count my school play.”

“What the hell? Whose dick did you suck?”

I narrow my eyes at him, totally ready to blast this idiot when I hear a loud female voice.

“All right, let's get started.”

He turns to me. “Don't screw up—actually, do screw up so I can get the hell out of here.”

Other than the girl who brought me in here, no one’s really said anything to me.

And I’m disappointed that neither Tommy or Matt are here.

Oh well.

They can see it on tape later, I guess.

I walk out onto the well-lit set. There are people behind the cameras but the off-set area is dark, so I can’t make anyone out.

And if I look too hard at the lights I’ll end up seeing spots.

I get tied to a chair in what’s supposed to be the middle of an old warehouse. As Knox takes his position, a guy says, “Test one. We’re rolling.”

Knox struts toward me and allows me to drink from a glass of water he’s holding.

I drink it greedily, as if I haven’t gotten any in a while.

“What happened to your arm?” I ask him, leaning my cheek toward it, since my hands are tied.

Right now it’s a perfectly muscled arm, but it will have a large scar of some kind on it during the actual filming.

He leans down in front of me. “This is the reason why you’re here.”

“You kidnapped me because of a scar?”

“It’s more than just this. There are some on my chest too. I wouldn’t look like this if it weren’t for your dad.” At this point the viewers will be thinking, I don’t care at all about some little scar because Knox is smoking hot.

“What did my dad do?”

“I work for Reginald Ramsey,” he says proudly. “When your dad took out one of his factories, I happened to be in it. Barely escaped alive. So you should be nice to me because this isn’t just a job. It’s retribution.”

“Will you please untie me?”

Knox whispers to me, “Wrong line.”

“You should untie me,” I say, deviating from the script again. “Or are you afraid to?”

“I’m not afraid of some girl.”

“Then untie me. My wrists are sore.”

“Aren't you supposed to beg?” he says, referring to what my lines are supposed to be.

“I’d never beg for anything.”

He gets close to my face—either because he's mad at me or because he’s improvising.

“Just wait,” he says with a bad guy sneer. “As soon as I kill your father, you and I are gonna have some fun.” He runs his hand across my collarbone, suggesting exactly what kind of fun we’ll have.

“Did it hurt?”

He flinches, pulling away from me. “It did, yes.”

“Why were you working for a guy like Ramsey?”

“My younger brother, he got in with a bad group. Starting dealing and using,” he says sadly, staring into space.

It makes me want to hug him. He’s a good actor.

He continues. “I got involved so he could get out.”

“So this isn’t the kind of life you wanted?”

He shakes his head, and the bad boy is back. “It doesn’t matter. When this is over, I’ll be rich and powerful.”

I shake my head right back at him. “No, You're nothing more than a pawn. A babysitter.”

“Bullshit. When we take over the country, I get New York. When anarchy reigns, I will be a king.” He gets in my face. “Ramsey told me not to hurt you, but he didn't say I couldn't scuff you up a little. Maybe we’ll have some of that fun now.” He kisses my neck obscenely.

This is where the scene is supposed to stop. To make the audience think that if Tommy doesn’t find me soon, I’ll get raped.

But fuck that. Tommy Stevens’ movie daughter wouldn't allow herself to be the victim.

“So, you really don't want to make the world a better place? Face it. All you are is Ramsey’s little bitch.”

He keeps going too, improvising his lines. “Bullshit.”

“Fight me then.”

“What?” he asks, his face screwed up.

“Untie me, and if you can pin me, then I’ll go for whatever kinda fun you want, willingly.”

He shrugs, unties me, then says, “Interesting. Let's see what you've got.”

I stand up and massage my wrists for a second, while he takes off his shirt.

I touch his muscular chest. “It’s really too bad you wanna play bad guy because of a few scars. I mean, they’re kinda sexy. Besides, if they really bother you, find a good plastic surgeon. Don’t destroy the world.”

“I thought you wanted to fight me?”

I take a step back then throw a jab to his face, careful not to connect.

This surprises him, so he takes a defensive stance. “Interesting,” he says again, studying me carefully. Then he goes all cocky. “So, you like what you see?” He points to his real chest and, somehow, even though he’s staying in character, I’m pretty sure he’s talking to me.

He throws a punch back at me, which I easily block with my forearm, returning a quick jab to the chest.

“You hit like a girl.”

“I am a girl,” I say, stripping off my own shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Just evening the playing field.”

“Sorry, I’m not twelve. You can’t distract me with a pair of boobs.”

I throw another punch at him, this one landing on his shoulder harder than I meant it to. “Last chance. Turn good guy and let me go.”

“No,” he says, throwing a kick at me, which I block with my forearm. Then I punch him in the stomach.

Which I’m pretty sure pisses him off a little. He flings himself at me, pulling me into a tight hold.

“It’s gonna suck when you die at the end,” I say, totally myself now.

“You’ll save me.”

“I’m going to change the end of the movie. Let you get shot in the knee. Then, when you’re writhing in pain, I’ll knock you off that cliff myself.”

“But I’ll grab you and both of us will roll down the hill. You’ll land conveniently on top of me. Then you’ll kiss me,” he says with a grin, moving his lips closer to my face.

“No. You’ll kiss me.”

“That’s what this is all about.” Knox is talking to the whole room. “She doesn’t even have the part and she’s already demanding a rewrite. You know, sweetheart, all you have to do is ask.”

“The last thing I’d want to do is kiss you.”

“Cut,” a voice says.

Knox says to the guy who seems to be in charge, “Where'd you find this girl?”

“We all know where he found you. Under a rock,” I quip.

“Everyone knows I was a model well before I started acting. And what’s your name? Besides one that no one knows?”

“It’s Keatyn.”

“Well, Keatyn, you need to learn a thing or two about this business. You don't stray from the script like that, especially at a screen test. You're lucky I'm such a professional and went with it.”

“The screen test was just to see if we have chemistry. Which, clearly, we don't. Which means they'll probably kill you off even earlier. Heck, maybe they'll let me kill you off.”

“You just wanted to kiss me.”

“If they make me kiss you in the movie, I'm requesting a stunt double.”

“You know I'm a movie star, right?”

“How could I forget? Your picture is splashed on every magazine. You with a different girl. Your mother must be so proud. You should take a tip from Tommy Stevens. You know what happened to him after he met Abby?” I make a rocket with my finger. “‘From the atmosphere to the stratosphere,’ he always says. And what’s with you playing the bad guy lately, anyway?”

“Just trying to break the mold.”

“You want the big romance action stuff, you need a leading lady.”

“Let me guess. You want to volunteer? No one knows you, sweetheart. You just want me to help you get famous.”

“I hope you got all that,” I hear a familiar voice say. I turn around, but can’t see him in the lights.

“Oh, you’re in trouble now,” Knox whispers to me. “That’s the director. Hope you enjoyed your two seconds of fame.”

“At least I’m not going to die in the movie,” I tell him. Then I turn around and scream, “Uncle Matty!”

I hear Knox say to the casting director, “Uncle Matty? Just who the fuck is she?”

“This, my boy,” Matt says, putting an arm around each of us, “Is the girl who not only just saved your character’s life, but is also going to make you a very rich man.”

Matt turns us back toward the lights, which have dimmed, and addresses his crew. “Meeting in ten minutes. And someone order in dinner. We’re going to be here all night doing re-writes.”

Then he leans toward me and says, “Go check on Tommy back there. He said he needed a minute.”

I walk in the direction Matt pointed, suddenly worried.

Did I embarrass Tommy by going off-script?

This is why I never wanted to audition before.

But Matt didn’t seem mad. He’s even changing the script.

Writing the daughter out of it and giving Knox a bigger role, most likely.

I walk off the set defeatedly and find Tommy sitting in a director’s chair with his head down.

“Tommy, I’m sorry I went off-script. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

His head pops up and his eyes are shiny. “Embarrass me?” He stands up and pulls me into a hug. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of you.”

I’m not ready for that.

5pm

“Hey.” I let myself into my loft and find Aiden in the kitchen putting away groceries. “I sort of lied to you,” I say abruptly, standing in front of him.

“About what?”

“Remember when I told you that I didn’t want to act?”

He squints, remembering, I think. “Uh huh.”

“Until I did the play, I was really afraid I wouldn’t be good enough. And that thing Annie told me about . . .”

“The nationwide search?”

“Yeah. It was for a lead role. I’m not ready for that.”

“Trying to be like Abby Johnston would be a lot of pressure for your first role.”

“Exactly. So, today, I didn’t really have a hair appointment. I had a screen test. It’s for a really small part.” I’m practically bursting with excitement. “I did good.”

“Of course you did.”

“Aiden, just because I did well in a little play, doesn't mean I have what it takes.”

He shrugs. “Whatever. I know what I saw.”

I smirk at him. “And the fact that you maybe had a little crush on me didn't affect your opinion?”

“You're wrong. It was a big crush.”

“Oh . . .” I say as his lips crash into mine, giving me such a hot kiss that it makes me want to tell him a secret every day.

Even after weeks of kissing him, I still feel that same crazy flutter in my stomach the second our lips meet. I still feel the god-like power of his lips. I still feel like I should be showered in glitter as a fairy godmother grants me my wish.

But this kiss could not go in a fairy tale. It’s way too deep.

Way too passionate.

Like, I’m pretty sure my thong just caught fire.

When his lips trail down my neck, I say, “I think I need to celebrate.”

He kisses just under my earlobe and whispers sexily, “I think what you need is a good screwing.”

Ohmigawd!

I do.

I so do.

And what a way to celebrate!

He takes my hand and places it on his zipper. “This is for you. What do you feel?”

“Hardness,” I practically whimper.

“Maybe you should unzip my pants. Get a better feel.”

Jeez, this is sudden. I mean, I want to do it, but my hair’s probably a mess from the wind and drizzle outside. And I'm not wearing the new bra and panties I’d hoped to seduce him in.

Stop scripting, Keatyn.

He wants to screw.

You want to screw.

Sorta.

Except, I don’t. I don’t want just that.

I want him to tell me he loves me.

But what the hell?

I give him a sexy grin, slide my hand down into his pants, and wrap my hand around . . . a box.

“What the heck is this?” I ask, pulling it out.

“Open it.”

I take the lid off and find a pair of earrings. Beautiful gold earrings, each with an amber stone. Hanging from each stone is a golden screw.

The construction kind.

“I did a little shopping today. Saw them. Couldn’t resist.”

“Very cute,” I say, removing my earrings and putting on the dangling screws. “Just for you, I'm going to wear them every day. So while we’re in class, you’re gonna see them and think of us hammering, nailing, and screwing.”

“I already think about that every day in class. And don’t forget drilling.”

“So, what do you imagine? Me, naked, right there on my desk?”

I notice that there is new hardness where the box used to be.

“Can you imagine it?” I whisper in his ear. “I’m lying naked across my desk, waiting for you to get done with your French test.” I slide my hands down the front of his shirt. “But you're having a hard time concentrating, because je suis tellement excitée que je me touchais.”

“Touching yourself?” he gulps.

“I said, I’m so horny, I’m touching myself.”

He lets out a big breath, and I can tell I’m not the only one feeling excitée.

“That’s really hot.”

I smile at him, deciding that I want to make him even hotter. I want to do something to him that I’ve yet to do. At least, not like this. I slowly sink to my knees, diving my hands into the sides of his unzipped pants and pushing them down along with his sliders, until I am face to face with the Titan.

I take a moment to admire it.

And then to tease it a bit with my tongue, and then my mouth.

He seems fine with it at first, but then his hips start rolling toward me.

“You're teasing me,” he groans.

I want to make him feel as good as he always makes me feel.

Or better.

I want him to know how much I want him.

And adore him.

And, well, love him.

I pick up the pace and soon feel his weight shift.

He touches my head and says raggedly, “I’m about to . . .”

I nod and keep going, noting that it was really sweet of him to give me the option to pull away.

He shudders and groans, then stays perfectly still for a few seconds.

Then he grabs my hands to help me up and squeezes me to him tightly.

Putting his lips on my neck, he says, “Wow.”

“When you talk on my neck it makes me excitée.”

“Oh really?” he says, doing it again while he stifles a laugh.

“Did you like it?” I pray he did. I’m hoping he thought it was good. No, I’m hoping he thought it was so fucking good that he never wants another girl to touch it. Never wants to have another mouth within a 500-foot radius of it.

He says seriously, “Every kiss. Every touch. Every single thing we do feels a hundred times better than anything I've ever done before. Because it's with you.”

I practically want to cry. “But what do you like? Is there anything that really turns you on?”

“Yeah,” he says, kissing my nose. “You.”

“That's not what I meant.”

“I’ve realized that even though it's hard to wait—pun intended,” he laughs. “It's causing us to focus on other ways to please each other. To explore each other's bodies. This weekend, I intend to do just that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, starting now.” He leans me up against the counter, then gets down on his knees and kisses my stomach. Tiny little kisses just under my bra line.

Then he stops at my side and goes back to where he started, following the same path a few inches lower, over and over until he's kissing across the top of my thong.

I will him to go down farther, my hips jutting toward him of their own accord.

He pulls my thong down, letting it drop around my boots, and continues his slow, methodical kissing.

I feel like I'm bursting at the seams. My body is begging for him.

When his kisses move lower, I start praying to the gods.

Who is the god of the underworld? Was it Hades?

Or is Hades the name of the underworld?

Although, as wet as I am now, I should probably be begging for Poseidon to give me his Triton.

Aiden's fingers find their way between my legs and feel what he’s doing to me. He smiles against my stomach, obviously taking pleasure in the knowledge that he turns me on.

Immensely.

His finger glides across the edges of my thong, and I’m about to start begging.

He stands up quickly and says, “Turn around” in the hottest voice ever. Then he roughly bends me over the counter.

He’s acting like a guy out of one of Mom’s romance novels. That hot, hard, burning Alpha male. All he needs is a black leather jacket and a motorcycle.