Page 102 of The Cheerleader

When we get to my room, I close the door behind us, and she immediately pulls away from me, standing as far away as she can get in the small room.

Darting her eyes around the space, only lit by moonlight and stars because I purposely didn’t put the light on, she finally meets my eyes.

“You don’t believe in furniture much, do you?”

“I have what I need.” I can’t afford any more even if I needed it, but I don’t taunt her with that information. I have a better idea of what I want to taunt her with.

Closing the distance between us, I pull her in close to me and wrap my arms around her, resting my palms on her world-class rear. Her eyes go wide, and I notice a tremor in her mouth, but it has nothing to do with fear. I know that for certain as I hold her gaze.

“I’m going to kiss you, not a quick taste or a sample like before, but a real, deep all-in kiss the way I’ve wanted to kiss you since I saw you on the football field for the first time since we were kids.”

Her eyes flutter closed as I lower my mouth to hers and brush my lips over them, then press, tasting, nibbling the tender, moist underside of her lower lip and licking my tongue over it, feeling the vulnerability, sucking it into my mouth.

A moan escapes her, and her hands slide up my chest and wrap around the back of my neck as she opens up, plunging her tongue inside my mouth to mingle with mine, tasting sweet and like whiskey, dangerous and forbidden.

I’m hard as granite against her, my mind spinning with the kind of pleasure I’ve never felt before, the kind of anticipation I’ve only felt in my dreams. Of her. Pulling her with me, my mouth taking control, ravaging hers, drinking her in like I’m about to die of thirst if I don’t. With an uncontrollable need, I back up to my bed and drag her down on top of me.

As she falls against me, the satisfying give of her body against mine sends me to another level of need, a very dangerous place I don’t remember ever being. My hands shake as I roll us onto our sides.

She pushes her hands against my chest, separating us and ending the kiss. Her breath is quick, and her lips are plump and juicy, ravaged-looking. I stare at them, wanting more. My breathing is ragged and blood is raging as I reach for her, needing to keep her with me.

“What are you doing, Bryan?” Her words are breathless, and her eyes are pleading and wanton. “I mean, what are we doing—I can’t blame this entirely on you.”

“We’re kissing⁠—”

“But we can’t.”

“Yes, we can. We’re adults and we’re attracted⁠—”

“You know it’s not that simple.”

She stops, and I don’t ask her to explain. I just wait.

She drags in a deep breath as if the air is too thick. Maybe it is because all I can feel or breathe or smell is the sensual tension surrounding us. We’re submerged in it, and I don’t know if I could escape if I wanted to.

The idea of being so out of control should scare me, but I might be far enough gone that I don’t care.

“You’re too…” She licks her lips. “Dangerous.”

The accusation doesn’t bother me. It might even flatter me. I loosen my hold on her and put more space between us, waiting for more as I concentrate on slowing my raging blood and heat in my veins, telling myself I need to be patient. She’s worth whatever price she wants to extract.

“We need to talk, Bryan.”

“Then talk to me, Susie.” I listen as I lean back in and nibble at her earlobe until she makes a half-hearted effort to stop me.

“You taste like sin,” I say. “Maybe that makes us a matched pair.”

“No.” She pushes her hands, and I back off, not because she’s strong enough to stop me, but because I’m sane enough to know better, and still in control even underneath all the layers of pent-up need pushing me for release.

“Maybe you’re not who I thought you were.” There’s a hint of anger in her voice, and that takes me aback as much as her words.

“Who did you think I was?” I already know.

“Someone who needed me, who appreciated and understood me. Someone with heart-breaking self-discipline and loyalty and selflessness⁠—”

“Don’t go breaking your heart. There’s nothing about me that’s worth that.”

Her eyes soften immediately, and I feel the tug of a whole different need pulling at me now, overwhelming the sensual pull, making my carnal cravings seem small by comparison.