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I waved my hand with a breathless laugh. “Some girl was getting all teary eyed over a boy in the bathroom. Girl code. Couldn’t leave her with mascara running down her cheeks.”
“Ugh, that’s the worst. Unless it's for a good reason,” she winked and cracked up. Jessa joined her, and I tried. But Jessa shot me heryeah, right bitchlook.
Busted.
“Anyway, I am so ready for bed. I ordered an Uber while I wiped her tears and bad mouthed her ex, so,” I drawled, trying to lie but doing a shitty job. My bracelets jingled as I smoothed my hair again when Jessa’s eyes darted to it. She gave a shit-eating grin. “I'm going to call it a night.”
“Sounds like you thought of everything, nice planning out so no one has to worry about leaving before the pom guac is gone.” She raised her eyebrows. “Do you want me to drop off your to-go on the way home?”
I shook my head frantically, and she cackled. Reid moaned again as she swallowed a huge bite. “No, you can just bring it tomorrow. Or keep it. Whatever.”
“Oh, I think I’ll keep it.” Her eyes danced. She knew she had me, and was taking full advantage of the situation. “Now, go and get all the rest you need tonight.”
Reid looked back and forth between us. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing. We did have a long day, and it’s not like Mads is walking homealone.She’ll be just fine. Let’s eat all of her pom guac. Cause I’m famished.”
The North Carolinanight air was unusually cool for this time of year. August typically was still hot and humid, but tonight there was a breeze that tickled my hair as I stepped out of The Prickly Pear’s front door.
A black SUV pulled up before I got any further, and Sebastian got out of the driver's side. I didn’t even get close to the passenger door, and he was there, opening it for me. His hand held out. I took it and climbed in. He leaned in and kissed me, hard and without mercy. “Buckle up, Ember.”
Even though a part of me felt guilty for lying to Reid, another, bigger part thrilled at the thought of doing something daring. For far too long, I let the actions of others dictate how I lived my life. Who I talked to, where I worked, what I wore.
If AJ had seen me wearing the outfit I had on, he would have made me change. But since he was no longer an issue, I made my love of vintage and whimsy into something totally me. And my short, light denim cutoffs, tank, flowing vest with ankle boots and all the funky jewelry made me feel…like me.
And my new position at the Magpie meant finding local artisans who made things like the earrings I was obsessed with. I finally felt comfortable in my own skin.
Right now, though, I wanted Sebastian’s hands all over my skin. Maybe even his teeth. His hand ran up my thigh, softly and dangerously close to the hem of my shorts. I shivered from the simple touch.
“Does anyone know where you are?”
My eyes shot to his face. “That’s a serial killer question there, don’t you think?” The words held little effect, my voice breathless and needy from all the thoughts running through my head.
His chuckle was dark, but his eyes glittered. “Text your friend the address I’m going to tell you. You can confirm it when we pull up.”
I let out a long breath. “See? Not such a big, bad wolf.”
“Oh, baby girl, you haven’t seen all of it yet.”
He gave the address, and I typed out text. When he pulled into a parking spot not too far from where I lived, my brows drew together. “Did we just drive past Magpie on the way here?” He nodded, shutting off the engine and getting out. The door made not a sound as he opened it for me as I unbuckled, then sent the address to Jessa with a devil face. “How many times have you driven by when I’m working?”
He didn’t say a word or answer me, just took my hand, and led me up the steps to a townhouse. Once we were inside, he took my face in his hands, kissing me until my head spun in a million different directions. The door clicked when it closed, then I was scooped up in his arms. Tasting, biting, fervent kisses that promised things that I never knew existed. My body was on fire, my earlier buzz long gone. My head buzzed from his kisses, his arms, his scent. The way he changed his technique, depending on how I responded.
It was a heady mix. My nerves sung with awareness, my pussy begged for attention after so long. Never had anyone treated me like he wanted to learn what I liked, let alone from a simple kiss.
But this kiss wasn’t simple. It was a promise, tinged with the darkness of the night sky when the world shifted off its axis.
“Oh, Ember, I’m going to fucking love getting you off.” He set me down on my feet, and I looked around, realizing we were in a bedroom. Faux fur brown blankets laid on the bed. The air chilly inside despite the season. There were just enough pillows on the bed, in shades of browns and navy. A book on the nightstand next to a watch and wireless speaker. A chair next to a door that had to be a closet, his gym bag carelessly left next to it. The same dark hardwood floors from downstairs.
“Did you carry me all the way upstairs?”
“There’s no way I’m fucking you for the first time on a kitchen counter or my couch. My bed. So I can spread you out, watch your face while I lick and tease you until you can’t take it anymore.” He whipped off his shirt, and I almost swooned.
I knew he would be fit, because, hello, quarterback, but his body was like the kind of thing girls imagined in a romance novel. Ridges and lines and all muscle. Just enough hair, leading to the waistband of his shorts. My mouth watered as I stood in front of him, the bulge enough to be intimidating yet, God, I wanted him.
Now.
My hands reached for a button, but he grabbed my wrists. I looked up, confused. He laid a gentle kiss on my lips, licking along the seam. “Oh no, Ember. I’m doing whatever I want. And what I want?” He chuckled darkly. Eyes hooded and taking me in from head to toe. I flushed under his scrutiny, squirming because I had never been so turned on in my life.
