"I thought you'd be longer," he says, grinning as he picks up his gray pants to start sliding on.
Oh damn.
"Sorry," I say with burning cheeks while covering my eyes. "It's dangerous out there right now."
He laughs, and I hear the bed creak as he slides into place. I lower my hands, though I regret such a foolish action. My old bed looks so flashy with him half-naked. I need a cold shower - after I've bleached the hell out of it to rid it of my stepbrother's filthy exhibition.
"You can change in here... since it's dangerous. I'll head out," he says, sliding off the bed.
The second he opens the door and hears the nightmarish sounds decorating the hallway, he slams it back, letting his laughter roar free as I cover my humiliated face.
"Damn. They work quick."
"Don't talk about it. I'll puke."
He laughs harder while flopping down to the bed. "I'll close my eyes."
The second he shuts his eyes, I start tearing out of my clothes to hurriedly get ready for bed. Of course, the only thing I can think about with his eyes closed is h
ow badly I want to go straddle him and watch his reaction. He'd probably toss me to the ground. That's sobering.
I might be moving past our great divide, but he hasn't shown any interest in me yet. I doubt he ever will.
Chapter 9
Losing Boundaries
His hand cupping my ass has me throbbing. His lips have brushed mine all night long, and he doesn't even realize it. He grabbed my leg during the night and hauled it over his waist, but it was a subconscious action. He has no clue what he's done.
Without making a sound, I run my hand through the feather-soft strands of dark, almost black hair. Mmm. I could picture my hands staying here.
His hand on my ass gets tighter, and he pulls me closer, making my throbbing center beg for more. I'm almost in need right now. I remember the three times I had sex. They weren't anything spectacular, but I'd bet it would be better with Kade. I never wanted Jeremy as much as I want this incredible man wrapped around me.
"Raya," he murmurs softly, almost making it a whisper as he pulls me even closer.
Is he dreaming about me? Surely not.
His lips press against my collarbone, and my breath hitches as his hand slides up my waist to my breast. He picks that second to wake up, and his eyes widen in shock as he jerks back. One problem... My bed is smaller than his, so he runs out of room to leap back.
He thuds to the ground, taking my small nightstand and all its contents with him. Great. Touching me freaks him out every time.
"You okay?" I grumble, trying not to let him see how incredibly frustrated and teased he's left me.
"Yeah," he groans, cursing under his breath as a few things rattle around him. "I'll clean that up. I need... I need a smoke."
I rarely see him smoke. Usually school pushes him to grab a cigarette because he's stressed, but I rarely ever see him smoke at home.
He grabs his pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his bag, and then he darts out the door - barefoot and shirtless. I drop back and pull the cover over my head. I'm stupid to have thought the two of us could be more than friends. If we're even that.
The day drags on, but fortunately, Kade seems to have pushed aside our morning fiasco. He's back to touching me for no reason, since all Sterling Shore people love to touch.
After my mother broke out the old pictures of me, I decided to take Kade to town. Most of the people have avoided me - nothing new. I'm the spawn of the conman, after all. The biggest scandal to ever hit this small town is still talked about.
"People like to stare," Kade says as he threads his fingers with mine, igniting a beastly desire he has no clue exists within me.
I stare at the connection as he studies all the eyes on us. "You're new in town," I lie, praying no one has the audacity to actually clue him in.
"I guess I get what they say about small towns now."