“What’s going on, pidge? You seem quiet,” Charlie commented once we left class.
I chewed my lip as memories of the Darke Games fluttered through my mind. I decided that this was something I couldn’t conceal— from Charlie, or my friends.
“I need to tell you something,” I began. “Kallie and Marcus should hear it, too.”
Charlie’s expression became muddled. “Okay. Where?”
“We’ll meet up after class is over for the day. We can think of a place then.”
“Just what kind of scheme are you working on now, pidge?”
I took his hand again, to distract him. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
I thought it might make him happy, but his fingers went a little stiff in mine. I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s not unusual for people to wonder what a woman is doing with the blind guy,” Charlie said sourly. “Trust me, I’ve heard it all before.”
“You’re notthe blind guy,” I said, irritated. “You’re Charlie.”
“Sure.” He didn’t sound too confident. “But when people catch on, I’m expecting backlash. It always happens when someone like me gets with a girl, particularly a hot one.”
“You think I’m hot?” I perked up.
Charlie smiled and pulled me closer. “Probably the hottest dame I’ve ever been with.”
That got my panties ready for some action. “So what’s the problem?” I asked.
“I’m worried about someone seeing us and getting us in trouble for it. A teacher, most likely. I don’t think I could keep my hands off you even if I was ordered to.”
I smirked. “Then let’s go somewhere no one can watch.”
I took Charlie’s hands and dragged him away. Oberi barked as I pulled Charlie into an empty classroom. I didn’t bother to lock the door, merely dragged Charlie toward an empty alcove behind the teacher’s desk at the head of the room.
“Oberi, stand guard,” I told him. Oberi barked again, then padded to the entryway to keep a lookout.
When Oberi was gone, I wasted no time putting my lips to Charlie’s. I kissed him, drawing out the kiss and making it long and sweet. Charlie kissed me back, and when he opened his mouth so I could roll my piercing over his tongue, he shuddered in pleasure.
His scent invaded my senses as I bit down on his bottom lip and slightly pulled. He put his arms around me and held me, playing with the strands of my hair as my fingers caressed his back. I eased into the kiss, changing focus and pressure from the top of his mouth to the bottom. As I increased the intensity, we fell into a rhythm where when I retracted my tongue, Charlie came in with his. I playfully nibbled at his mouth, turning my head from side to side to revel in the way he kissed me.
This was how every girlshouldbe kissed. It was the stuff of movies and fairy tales. Charlie made me feel more in one single kiss than I’d felt in an entire lifetime. The way he cradled my body so gently made me feel more than passion. It made me feelloved.
Charlie’s breaths were ragged and full of lust. He tore away. “We shouldn’t—”
I kissed him again. Once I did, he moaned and pulled me closer. A magnetic pull brought our bodies together, and I felt the bond flare and ignite, giving me a burst of pleasure behind my closed eyelids. My fingers trailed upward, to explore underneath his sweater. My fingertips graced the bare skin there, and Charlie gasped lightly. His light pants of desire totally made me want to melt. Who knew a prison could be heaven?
Charlie pulled away from my mouth and started kissing my neck. Ancestors, it felt amazing. Little jolts of electricity sparked up my skin at the touch of his lips. I shivered, and as I fell against him, his strong body held me up, preventing me from sinking into the floor. You could kill me now and I’d be a happy girl, because the slightest touch of Charlie’s lips was bliss.
Then Charlie’s mouth touched the wrong part. His mouth sucked on the edge of my collarbone, and that was all it took for everything to break in an instant.
I wasn’t aware of what I was doing until it happened. All I knew was that desire had mutated to fear in less than a few moments. Charlie’s touch felt like spiders crawling over my skin instead of soft and comforting. Alarm bells went off in my head, and at that moment, I couldn’tstandhim touching me.
“Stop!” I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away. He stumbled backward so violently he nearly fell over. I flinched and curled away, instinctively turning my back to him, though I didn’t mean to.
Charlie froze. Oberi’s nails clicked on the floor as he darted back to see what had happened. He stood between the two of us, looking anxious as I tried to catch my breath.
I wasn’t back in Kinpago, but I might as well have been, for the terror that was racing through me.It’s Charlie, I thought.Just Charlie.
Charlie didn’t approach, just stayed where he was. He waited for me to say something, as if worried if he spoke, he’d scare me off.
