Текст книги "Fusion"

Автор книги: Tessa Teevan

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

At that moment, with Jeremy cupping my face, our gazes fused with searching eyes, our entire relationship shifted.

I could’ve said the same to him. He absolutely took my breath away, too. While staring at him, I held my breath and waited for what would come next. All too soon, however, a throat cleared, breaking the wonderful, magical spell we’d placed ourselves under. It was agonizing to tear my gaze from his, but when I did, I saw both sets of our parents watching us with curious expressions.

Our moms were beaming, both with tissues as they wiped their eyes and lamented on their babies having grown up. In hindsight, I’m sure they were already planning out our wedding. Jeremy’s dad looked like a proud papa, and I blushed when he gave Jeremy a thumbs-up and me a wink. My dad, however, was trying to scowl at my date, who didn’t even notice. In fact, when I returned my gaze to his, he was still staring at me as if he were trying to take it all in. Take me all in.

“You’d better breathe, Jer,” I teased. “I’d hate to have to give you CPR before we even make it to the dance.”

His left eyebrow rose. Then he leaned forward, his lips hovering just over my ear. “I’m not so sure that’d be a bad thing,” he whispered.

My mouth went dry. He winked at me before turning his attention to our parents. And what happened next was a flurry of photo-taking, curfew-giving, and Dad pulling Jeremy aside to give him, no doubt, a warning about messing with his little girl.

Mom took a picture of me and Lexi, and I gave her an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder when it was done.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Lexi?” I asked. “I can skip the beach party and just come home after the dance if you want.”

She gave me an appreciate smile but shook her head. “Absolutely not. I’m fine, Sierra. Go and have fun. Get your man,” she said, giving me a wink. “My time will come. I have no doubt. I just have to be patient, right?”

“Patient for what?” Jeremy asked, causing me to jump. I hadn’t realized he’d come up to us, and I hoped he hadn’t heard Lexi’s quip about my man.

“Oh, nothing. Just girl talk,” Lexi informed him.

He gave a faux grimace and held his hands up. “Say no more.” Then he held his arm out to me. “Time to go, my lady.

We said our goodbyes, and I giggled when Dad scowled at Jeremy yet again. He took it all in stride and gave him a mock salute then did some weird Boy Scout move.

By the time we got to his car, Chris and Jenna were already making out in the backseat.

Jeremy gave me a grin. “They did all of their pictures at my house. To speed up the process, she said, but I think now I know why they were so willing to let us do pictures alone.”

We watched them through the glass for a moment.

“When do you think they’ll come up for air?” I asked.

The truth was I was kind of jealous. There I was, a sophomore in high school, and I hadn’t even gotten my first kiss yet. Jenna, however, had been the queen of kissing since the seventh grade. And, from the looks of it, Chris was definitely reaping the benefits.

“These two? Probably never. We’ll be lucky if they even make it into the dance.” He grinned and opened the front passenger’s door. The two in the backseat didn’t even notice that we’d arrived. “Ready?” he asked.

Was that a loaded question or what? Still, I smiled in returned. “You know what, Jeremy? I think I’ve been ready for a really long time.”

WHEN I WAS EIGHT years old, I met the prettiest girl I’d ever seen. I instantly wanted her to be my best friend. No question about it. It wasn’t just about her looks. No, it was more than that. At the time, I didn’t know what it was, just that it was. We had this instant connection. The whole love-at-first-sight thing? It was like that, but in a friendship kinda way. Like, I took one look at that pretty little girl with the blonde ponytail, and Cupid’s friendly brother aimed his arrow in my direction and hit me straight in the gut with a friendship shot.

Now, over eight years later, that girl had blossomed into a woman. The most beautiful woman I’d ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. One second, I was laughing with my dad, who was trying to give me dancing tips—disco, no less—and Sierra’s dad, who was trying to enforce a three-foot rule for when she and I slow-danced. The next second, I expelled all the air in my lungs, leaving me unable to breathe.

The moment Sierra walked into the room, I was stunned speechless. Rendered breathless. Nearly knocked on my ass at the sight of her. Gone was the pretty little girl whose freckles I wanted to count. In her place was this gorgeous creature whose body I wanted to explore so I could kiss each freckle and then make my way down to discover where else they were hidden on her skin.

Simply being best friends with Sierra was no longer an option. I wanted more, and I’d wanted it for a really long time. And, that night, I was finally going to make it happen. No more playing it safe. No more wondering and worrying if she didn’t feel the same. No more pining away next door, wishing she were in my arms, her lips on mine, her hands fisted in my hair. Never again would I lie in her bed with her cuddled up against me as I wished we could be together.

I was determined to make it happen. I just had to wait for the perfect moment.

Even though a throat cleared and Sierra looked away from me, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was wearing a dark-green dress that perfectly matched my shirt. The color made her eyes pop, and her tan skin from lazy days at the beach seemed to glow. It fit her perfectly, showing off the curves that had appeared this summer. The memory of her in a bikini had my mouth watering, but that image had nothing on Sierra in this dress. Her hair was in loose curls, not stiff or rigid like Jenna’s was from overuse of hairspray. I loved it, and I’d be able to hold her close and run my fingers through her hair as we danced.

Finally, my trance was broken and I endured photo after photo before a lecture from her dad, once again, about the three-foot rule. Hello. Had he seen his daughter? If I had my way, we wouldn’t have three millimeters between us, let alone three feet.

When we finally made our way outside, I had half a mind to put an end to my misery and kiss her senseless on the front porch. But there was no way I was doing that. The first time I kissed Sierra was going to be special. It would be a kiss she’d remember for the rest of her life. It wouldn’t be with our moms peeking out the window, with Lexi giving me an encouraging thumbs-up.

The ride to the school was short, thankfully, because the sounds of Jenna and Chris’s make-out session were starting to grate on my nerves. After parking the car, I jumped out and rounded it, quick to open Sierra’s door before she could get out on her own. Chris and Jenna stopped sucking face long enough to get out of the car and walk across the parking lot and into the gym, where the dance was being held. No doubt, by the time we made it inside, they’d have found a dark corner to get back to it.

Before I could help her, Sierra stood, her gaze focused on the building they had disappeared into. Without thinking, I took her hand into mine. Her lips formed a soft O in surprise. I hoped she’d be doing that a lot tonight. Preferably in a good way.

I laced our fingers together, hoping she’d get that this wasn’t just a friendly handhold. That was phase one in making her mine. I was going to spend the night giving signals in hopes that, at the end of it, I could go in for the kill. Because, by the end of our sophomore homecoming, Sierra Sullivan was going to be my girl.

By the time we made it inside, my hand was sweaty, but I didn’t pull away. The music was blaring, and students were already dancing in the middle of the room. Sierra spotted Chris and Jenna, who were surprisingly getting down to Will Smith’s “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.”

“Let’s join them?” she asked.

I nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way.

For the next couple of hours, we were lost in the crowd. Song after song played without us coming up for air. Every so often, some douche would tap on my shoulder and try to squeeze in between me and Sierra. And, every time, I scowled and shook my head, sending the offending asshole scampering away. The first couple of times, Sierra lifted her eyebrows in surprise.

“Really?” she asked after I wouldn’t even let Chris dance with her.

“Yes, really,” I answered emphatically before twirling her around. “Tonight, you’re my date. All these other clowns had plenty of time to ask you out. They didn’t. I did. So I’m the only one who gets the pleasure of dancing with the beautiful Sierra Sullivan tonight.”

The truth was I knew what the guys were doing. I’d laid claim to Sierra way back in junior high when Ryan had tried asking her out. It had worked for a while, but as soon as she and Danny had started hanging out, everyone had known I wasn’t her keeper anymore. But they soon would. Not that I could begrudge them for wanting her. I knew what was happening. Everyone else was finally seeing what I was seeing. But they didn’t know how I felt. Hell, no one did—not even Sierra. By Monday morning, everyone would know.

Her laughter pulled me from my thoughts. “It’s not like you to be possessive, Jeremy,” she said, biting her lower lip. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I teased as I held her at arm’s length and slowly raked my gaze over her body. “A sexy little blonde in a green dress, maybe?”

Her cheeks flushed, and thank God the music changed or I would’ve kissed her right then and there.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, and my heart stopped as I wondered if I’d said too much.

I frowned. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded and waved me off. “Oh, I’m fine. Just a little warm. I’m going to go splash some water on my face.”

Before I could protest, she practically sprinted to the bathrooms.

“What’d you do this time?”

I turned to see Jenna eyeing me suspiciously. Her hand was placed firmly on her hip.

“Me? I didn’t do anything,” I protested. At least, I hoped I hadn’t.

“Are you finally going to tell her?” she asked.

My eyebrows drew together.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t play dumb with me, Jeremy Banks. You and Sierra have been sniffing around each other ever since she got back from Ohio. It’s time to shit or get off the pot. If you’re not going to date her, there are plenty of other boys here who will and who want to.”

“You think I don’t know that?” I hissed. “I’m telling her tonight!”

“I knew it!” A smile broke out on her face as she threw her arms around me. “It’s about freaking time! Chris and I will disappear so you won’t even have to worry about us at the after party,” she squealed. Then she clapped her hands and ran away before I could make her promise not to tell anyone until I had the chance to.

Just as I was about to follow and warn her, the DJ’s voice came over the speakers.

“All right, Raiders. We’ve had a special request tonight. This one comes from Sierra Sullivan to Jeremy Banks.”

My eyes widened as my heart hammered. I spun around, searching the room for her. I raised an eyebrow when I found her by the punch table, sipping innocently, and rimming the edge of the cup with her tongue. She shrugged her shoulders, struggling not to laugh.

What the hell?

As soon as the first notes played, I shook my head. Whoops and hollers sounded all around me, and a small clearing opened up. I beckoned for her to join me, but it was her turn to shake her head. Apparently, I was doing this one on my own.

“Hell yes! Let’s go, Banks!” Chris jumped in beside me.

I couldn’t say no. So I loosened my tie, rolled up my sleeves, and broke it down, Backstreet Boys style.

Was it original? Nah.

Was I the only one? Thank God no.

Was I sexual? Not at the moment, but after watching the way Sierra’s eyes were locked in on mine as I danced, I wanted to be.

Was I everything she needed to rock her body? I sure as shit wanted to be.

Thanks, Backstreet Boys. I was definitely glad you were back.

The moment the song was over, Sierra launched herself at me. “That. Was. Amazing.” She was breathless and giggling, which made the whole thing more than worth it. “Jenna told me she made you guys learn all the moves this summer while I was gone, and I didn’t believe it. But that was… God, that was so much more than I expected. Nick Carter who? He’s got nothing on you, Jeremy Banks. You’re the only boy-bander I’ll ever need,” She beamed at me for a moment before Chris whisked her away to do the Macarena.

I hoped she felt that way for the rest of her life. Then it hit me—I’d almost missed this chance. She’d been so close to coming to the dance with Danny. I’d almost lost her. I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—let that happen again.

Just as I was about to ask Sierra if she wanted to get out of there, the DJ announced it was time for the last dance. Talk about perfect timing.

Sierra was across the gym, and she looked up, searching for me. Our eyes instantly locked. My head cocked to the side, and she smiled hesitantly then beamed when I lifted my hand and beckoned to her. We both moved at the same time, meeting in the middle of the room just as Kenny Chesney’s “You Had Me From Hello” started playing.

I couldn’t have picked a more perfect song. Because it was true. Sierra had had me at hello, and she’d had me ever since. It had taken me a long damn time to realize it though. Which was why I was fixing that tonight. All I needed to do was get her out of there and alone. Because she deserved that. She deserved everything.

My arms slipped around Sierra’s slender frame, and my hands rested on the small of her back. She fit in my embrace perfectly, as if she were meant to be there. As her head rested against my chest, I wondered if she could feel my heart pounding.

This was it. I couldn’t wait any longer. The urge to lay it all out on the line for her was so powerful, I thought I'd burst if I didn't get it out soon. I just had to tell her how I felt and wish like hell she felt the same way. My lips brushed the top of her ear, lingering for a moment. She shivered underneath my touch. A good sign, I'd hoped.

“Sierra,” I whispered.

Her head lifted, her eyes wide with expectation. “Jeremy,” she breathed.

My name had never sounded sweeter. If I could record her saying it, I’d listen to it on repeat every night before I went to bed. Who needs the sound of a babbling brook when you have the girl of your dreams whispering your name with astounding affection?

I swallowed hard. “I have to tell you something.” I paused as her chest rose when she inhaled deeply. “I—”

Right when I was about to spill it, someone tapped on my shoulder. Once again, our moment was interrupted. My head fell to the crook of her shoulder, and her annoyed sigh filled my ear as she dropped her hands from my back. That made two of us.

When I looked back up, Danny Moyer was watching us curiously.

“Mind if I cut in?” he asked, a cocky grin forming on his face, which was begging to be punched.

I glanced from him to Sierra, whose eyes were pleading with mine. Pride because she didn’t want him swelled in me. If I had my way, she’d never want anyone else but me ever again.

“Yes,” I answered. “I do mind.” Without another word, I whirled her away from him.

“Thank you,” she said, flashing me a smile before wrinkling her nose in disgust. “He’s such an asshole. Now, you were saying?” she asked as she slid her hands up until she linked them around my neck.

I grinned down at her. “Yes, what was I saying?”

“Something about a sexy blonde in a super-hot, green dress?” she teased.

Just as I was about to respond, the last notes of the song played and the lights in the gym turned all the way up. Mr. Turoff was talking into the microphone, something about having a good night, being safe, blah blah blah. All I knew was I’d waited too long, and I couldn’t tell her at that moment.

I kissed her temple before pulling back and looking down at her. “We’ll talk later, okay?”

Her eyes searched mine. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

As I took her hand and led her out of the gym, I wished later was right then.

THE ENTIRE WAY TO Ryan’s beach house, I was on edge. Pins and needles. Jeremy had been moments away from telling me something that seemed so important, and right when he’d been about to say it, Danny had interrupted. I wished looks could kill, because I’d shot that jerk my most heated glare, hoping he’d spontaneously combust on the spot. And then Jeremy had told me that we’d talk later.

Later?

I had been two seconds away from freaking out and telling Jeremy that later was now and I couldn’t wait.

Really, Danny? You wanted to cut in? What an asshole. He’d dumped me before the dance and then expected me to save my last dance for him? No freaking way. If anything, I should’ve thanked him. His being a jerk had gotten Jeremy to ask me. A total win for me.

The house was pumping with music, and the sounds of partying echoed all around us as we walked inside. Jeremy’s firm grasp on my waist electrified all my senses. His lips found my ear, and I shivered at the sensation of his warm breath tickling my skin. I was so in love with that signature move.

“I promise, babe. We’ll talk later.”

Whoa.

Record. Scratch. Stop. Could we rewind? Or perhaps call “time” Zack Morris style? I needed to relive that moment all over again.

Babe.

It was a far cry from Sullivan, and I wanted to turn around and, in my best Meg Ryan move, tell him to take me to bed or lose me forever. Okay, so not quite that dramatic. We could start with maybe a kiss, but the sentiment was all the same. Instead, I nodded as disappointment filled me. I didn’t want to be around all of those people. I wanted to be alone with Jeremy.

Finally, someone—I’m pretty sure it was Chris—suggested Seven Minutes in Heaven. I rolled my eyes at the juvenile game. Weren’t we in high school? Still, I sat in the circle nonetheless. The pairings entered the closet then came back out with red cheeks. I never could tell if they were flushed with embarrassment or heat, but this game was pretty voyeuristic. The same could’ve been said for Spin the Bottle, but at least, in this one, you had some privacy.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard my name being called. My eyes widened as I shook my head. “Oh, no, I’m not—”

But then the next name was called and my protests were silenced.

“Jeremy. You’re up, too.”

My heart stopped. My eyes raced to meet his, but he was seemingly unaffected. He simply shrugged his shoulders, stood, and wiped his hands on his pants. Whoops, hollers, and catcalls all rang out as he helped me up and led me to the closet where Ryan had claimed all the magic was supposed to happen.

For the first minute or so, we didn’t even look at each other. We just sat on the floor, across from each other, our knees nearly—but not quite—touching. Then Jeremy cleared his throat, causing me to glance up. The seconds were ticking away, and the longer time passed in silence, the more worried I became. Why wasn’t he making a move? I mean, it wasn’t that I wanted our first kiss to be in a closet closed off from thirty other horny teenagers, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. And I was seriously close to begging.

“So,” he finally said, breaking the silence. His jaw was clenched and his brows were knitted together. “This is awkward.” His tone was teasing, and I knew I shouldn’t take offense, but I did.

My heart sank. The butterflies that had been flitting about in my belly since we’d first locked eyes in the living room suddenly ceased to move.

Awkward.

All night, I’d thought he was finally seeing me as more than Tod. More than Joey. More than his female best friend. Had I thought wrong? The idea of kissing me was awkward?

I laughed even though my heart was breaking. “Yeah, awkward.” I shoved off the floor. “Besides, who wants to have their first kiss in a closet with someone who doesn’t even like you?”

A sob was bubbling up. I had to get out of there.

“Sierra,” Jeremy whispered, but I couldn’t look at him. All I had to do was wait for the timer to go off and bolt from the closet, down the hall, and out the door. I’d sprint down the beach as fast as I could to get away from all of this…awkwardness.

Apparently, Jeremy had other plans.

He stood and crossed to me, placing his arms on the wall behind me, blocking me in. “I didn’t mean it’d be awkward kissing you. Just that it’d be awkward here in the closet…all those people listening on the other side.” He exhaled. “We don’t have to do this, you know. It’s just a game,” he told me, seemingly unaware of the way my heart was racing.

I wished he’d acknowledged, just once, the way things had been changing between us, especially since I’d gotten home from Ohio. I saw him differently. I had for a long time. Did he see me differently as well? Should I tell him how I felt? That my stomach always twisted into pretzel-like knots whenever he was around and how my heart missed him when he wasn’t?

“I want to,” I said abruptly.

His eyes widened slightly, and he nodded, bringing his head closer to mine. Suddenly, the space in the closet was restricting—as if the walls were closing in on us—but I didn’t dare try to move.

“I’ve never actually kissed a boy before,” I admitted as my heart hammered in my chest.

His breath tickled my lips as he exhaled a curse. Clearly, he was surprised at my admission. “Neither have I,” he responded, leaning in and closing the distance between us.

I’d like to say our mouths met with a fiery passion that had sparks flying all around us. That the air was electrified and swirling, locking us in a tornadic fury of lust and love.

But the truth is, when his lips met mine, I was laughing at his words, which caused our foreheads to bump together. Instead of slow, sweet, and achingly perfect, his lips kind of mashed against mine, drowning out my laughter. My body went rigid at the contact, and we just stood there, stock-still. The force of his kiss pressed my lips into my teeth, but I couldn’t move. Our eyes were locked in place, and while his kiss might not have been magical, the affectionate look in his eyes certainly was.

My palms turned sweaty. Those butterflies once again took flight. My knees went weaker than ever.

It might not have been Hollywood perfect, but Jeremy’s lips were fused to mine, and at that moment, I knew nothing would ever come between us again.

So, Hollywood perfect? No.

But who needs Hollywood? It was Sierra Sullivan perfect, and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Then, slowly, he gently pulled back until his lips were only a whisper on mine. A sudden surge of confidence burst within me, and as my eyes fluttered closed, I ran my hands up his chest and fisted his shirt. Then I leaned forward and kissed him back.

His arms wrapped around my waist as he drew me in close. I felt so small in his embrace, melting into his warmth and never wanting to leave it. He didn’t deepen the kiss. In fact, he gave me the reins. So I did exactly what I’d always wanted. I tasted him.

His lips were soft and sweet, with remnants of vanilla from the Pepsi he’d been drinking. A soft moan bubbled up from within me, causing my cheeks to heat with embarrassment. No. That wasn’t embarrassment. That was arousal.

“Jeremy,” left my lips in a whisper as I pulled back from him.

My eyes fluttered open to find him gazing down at me. His eyes were dancing with delight, which caused my heart to smile.

“Sierra,” he replied.

We both released simultaneous sighs and beamed at each other.

I’d thought our relationship had shifted earlier.

But that moment in the living room had nothing on this one.

Who would’ve thought that kissing my best friend would have felt so right?

And who would’ve thought that I couldn’t wait to do it again?

I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. A moment I felt like I’d been waiting all my life for. A moment that could’ve continued for the rest of my life. A moment, an amazing one, I would never, ever forget.

Kissing Sierra Sullivan was like a dream come true. If I could win the lottery, get Michael Jordan’s autograph, and kiss the girl of my dreams whenever I wanted to, that was what it would feel like. Hell, this felt even better than that. I didn’t need the lottery or the autograph. I already felt like I had everything thanks to the girl in my arms.

She was my best friend. She was my lifeline. She was everything to me, and now that I was holding her in my arms, I realized I wanted everything with her.

But how did I tell her? What if, for some reason, I’d read this all wrong and she didn’t feel the same?

Was that even possible?

All too soon, there was a knock on the door.

“Time’s up,” Chris called from just outside the door. His eyes lit up when we stepped out into a room with even more hoots and hollers than there had been before we’d gone into the closet.

No one but Chris knew how I felt about Sierra, but I was starting to wonder if it was written all over my face. As Chris gave me a pat on the back, he gave me a look. I knew that look. He was daring me.

As if that weren’t enough, he leaned in closer. “Come out of the closet, Banks. You’ll feel better. I promise.” He paused for effect. “I. Dare. Ya.”

See? I knew my male best friend.

But Sierra was frowning. “Does he mean…” she trailed off, shaking her head.

Chris folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow in my direction. I placed my hand on the small of Sierra’s back and pushed her forward, flipping him off in the process.

This was the first time he’d done this. Our dares usually kept girls off-limits, but he was apparently tired of me not-so-secretively pining for my best friend.

Hello. I was Jeremy Banks and there was not a dare I could turn down.

Which is how I found myself, moments later, taking Sierra’s hand and guiding her outside Ryan’s beach house and onto the sand. We walked in companionable silence until we were a good distance away.

“All joking aside…that was a first for me, too,” I admitted, pulling on the neck of my shirt. God, had that thing tightened up since the dance?

Her nose wrinkled in disbelief, and she playfully hit my shoulder with hers, rocking me to the side before she plopped down in the sand and pulled me beside her. “You’re a hot-shot baseball player. A star on the football field. I see the way all the girls look at you in the hallway at school, Jeremy. There’s no way,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re sixteen years old and never been kissed? I don’t buy it.”

I sighed and squeezed her hand while releasing an exaggerated sigh. “Just call me Josie Grossie,” I told her.

That made her to laugh. I knew she was remembering the day we’d watched that movie together. She’d lamented that she’d end up just like Drew Barrymore’s character. I’d wished I’d had the balls to change that for her, but I hadn’t. Now that I had, I wanted to keep kissing her over and over again.

“It’s true, Sierra. After all, these lips are sacred, and for as long as I can remember, there’s only been one girl I’ve ever wanted to kiss.”

Her jaw clenched tight and her eyes dulled with a pained expression, taking me aback. Her voice was small as her fingers played in the sand. “Who?”

Was she seriously asking me that? Who? It hadn’t dawned on me that she’d think there was someone else I wanted to be with, but I guess that was my fault. I needed to remedy that, and do it quick.

Now or never, Banks. Now or never. I tenderly lifted her chin until our eyes met.

“You.”

And that’s when I leaned in close, capturing her lips with mine. This time, the kiss was deeper, harder, and I gently coaxed her body down until she was flat on her back in the sand. My hand came to the hem of the shirt she’d changed into. Her skin was cool beneath my warm hand. I forced my lips from hers, my chest heaving as I panted. My eyes bored down into hers.

“That wasn’t a fluke back there, Sierra. I’ve wanted to kiss you for ages. I want to kiss you for ages. I want to start kissing you and I never want to stop.”

“Do you really mean it, Jeremy?” she asked, sounding a bit unsure.

“I don’t want to dance around this anymore. Kiss and then have everything be awkward while we try to make each other jealous when all we want is each other. I’ll pine for you if you make me. I’ll fight dirty if I have to. But, God…please don’t make me. You’re my best friend, Sierra. But my feelings for you run so much deeper than that. Tell me…tell me you feel this, too.”

She gulped. “Umm, yeah, Jeremy. I feel it, too,” she whispered, her hips arching up as my very hard erection pushed against her.

Instead of flushing with embarrassment, I did the only thing I could do. I smiled. Because, in so many words, she had just given me my answer.

“I thought so,” I responded and leaned down, taking her lips with mine, this time not stopping until I tasted her tongue.

Sierra Sullivan. My best friend. My first kiss. If I had my way, my first and last everything. And all that came between.