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“Fun?” I said. Preston grunted as I took both his arms and dragged him off the street and over to one of the alcoves, desperation and frustration flooding my body. “You did not just say that to me.”
He couldn’t have. Not when this had beeneverythingto me.
“He’s the right fit. He’s?—”
“Not. You.” I slammed my mouth down on top of his before he could start up with any more of his asinine reasoning. Preston groaned and opened for me, which felt like a major victory when he’d practically just broken up with me.
I plunged my tongue in deep, staking claim over him the only way I could right now, and Preston dug his fingers into the sleeves of my jacket, pulling me closer. His tongue curled around mine as I muscled him back against the cold brick wall and flattened my body up against his.
God, how stupid had I been to think that I could go all night without touching and tasting him this way? I’d somehow convinced myself that I’d be able to keep control, that I’d be able to stay away from him and just be content watching from afar. But having him so close and not able to touch had been torture. Absolute fucking torture.
He was here with me now, though, caught up in this moment of insanity and passion, as he slipped his hands beneath my jacket and down to my ass, spreading his legs for me to get in between.
I shouldn’t. I knew better. Anyone from the Elysium could step outside. Any one of his friends could come looking for him. But not even the threat of discovery could stop me now.
“Preston.” I groaned and entwined my fingers through his hair. But before I could tell him there was no one else for me but him, his mouth was back on mine, silencing me.
The time for talking was done. I rocked my hips forward, and his desperate whimpers told me just how fucking good he felt. I dragged a hand down between us and popped open the button of his pants. As I unzipped the material and slipped my hand inside to stroke his thick, covered cock, Preston stiffened and ripped his mouth from mine.
“Stop.” He panted and buried his face in the shoulder of my jacket. “Please, you’ve got to stop.”
My hand froze where it was, my breathing matching pace with his. Then I turned to kiss his temple. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” Preston lifted his head, his eyes glazed over with arousal. “This… We… Not like this. Not when I’m leaving without you.”
“Preston, I can’t leave.”
“I know. But would you, if you could?”
I grazed my thumb across his kiss-swollen lips, never feeling more defeated and helpless in my life. “In a heartbeat.”
Preston swallowed and reached down to zip up his pants. “Then that will have to be enough.”
He slipped out of the alcove and back into the street, and I stepped off the sidewalk to watch him go. The snow began to fall a little harder, and the night air seemed all the more chilly, as our moment of passion and insanity came to a silent, bitter end.
THIRTY-FOUR
preston
FROM MY LIVING room window, I watched as snow flurries drifted across the city, coating the buildings below in a soft white blanket. It had started the moment I stepped out of the Elysium, and by the time I’d arrived at the Towers, my tuxedo was soaked through. I’d quickly stripped out of the restrictive clothing, leaving it discarded in a pile on my bathroom floor, and changed into a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt.
It wasn’t like I’d be going back out, and the Winter Ball wouldn’t be over for at least another couple of hours. I didn’t expect the guys anytime soon, not when they’d all been making plans to hit up an afterparty. Serena had already sent a text, checking on me, but I’d lied and told her I was fine and was just going to pass out.
Yeah, right. With the way my mind was reeling, I wouldn’t be sleeping at all.
I lifted the glass of whiskey and took a long sip. It wasn’t something I usually chose to drink, but it reminded me of Archer. He’d been drinking it tonight; I’d tasted it on his tongue when he kissed me, and somehow swallowing it now eased the ache in my chest a little.
Maybe that was just the effects of the alcohol, but I’d take it. The alternative was a little too painful.
The glass was cool as I rested my forehead against the window, looking at the cluster of buildings that surrounded the Elysium. I couldn’t see them clearly from my view, only the general area, but I could imagine what was happening inside at that very moment.
Archer smiling and laughing, entertaining the masses like he hadn’t just destroyed me outside. Would he be affected at all, or had I slipped from his mind the second he walked back inside? Would his date insist on going back to Archer’s place—and would Archer let him?
No,I thought. He wouldn’t do that. I needed to stop being so goddamn paranoid. Everyone always said how mature I was for my age, but that wasn’t the case now. I wasn’t used to feeling insecure, but then again, I also wasn’t used to wanting more with someone I was sneaking around with.
But he’d said he would’ve left with me in a heartbeat if he could’ve. That had to mean something. Or were they just empty words?
I’d turned away from the window, heading toward the kitchen for a refill, when someone began to bang on my door.
