Finn shrugs, but holds up what he’s found, an iPod and a tablet. “One was tucked in her shoe. The other under her winter coat.”
I put the book back, but hold onto the card, slipping it into my back pocket. The name East Point Suites rings a bell, although I’m not sure why.
Finn looks at the row of books and shakes his head. “God, I remember when you guys were obsessed with those books.”
“They were great—and crazy.” I laugh. “We felt like very bad girls reading them.”
He raises his eyebrow. “Why?”
“They were filled with taboo stuff. Murder, stolen children, forbidden romance.” I feel the heat in my cheeks. “That’s where I read my first sex scene, which was disturbingly hot.”
“Why disturbingly?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Because Eden falls in love with her uncle. Very taboo.”
Finn watches me for a moment, his forehead creased. “So the whole time you guys were sitting next to me at lunch or at the pool, or wherever, you were basically reading porn?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “I guess so.”
There’s a flicker in his eye, something akin to hunger. “I always knew you were hiding something a li
ttle dark underneath all the good girl.”
“I never said I was a good girl.”
In a blink, something happens. A change. A switch flipped. It’s not just Finn. It’s me. Standing in Rose’s room. Looking at those forbidden books. Remembering what it was like to want something so badly, that it was okay to break all the rules.
Finn doesn’t move—he’s already made his move—confessing his feelings. I’m the one that’s tired of holding back, doing the right thing, being the good girl.
I reach for his jacket and pull him to me, then run my hand behind his neck. He bends and we’re close, so very close, his breath warm against my mouth.
“Are you sure you want this?” he asks.
“I’ve been sure about this since we were four years old.”
That’s all the answer he needs and his mouth crashes into mine, hard, desperate, needy. It’s everything, everything, I ever thought it would be.
Finn pushes at my jacket and it falls to the ground in a near silent heap. His fingers run along my arms, igniting a current that zings across my skin. He tastes like mint, he feels like carved marble. I push his jacket off his shoulders, then fist his shirt in my hands down at the small of his back.
He pushes me backwards until the back of my thighs hit the edge of the bed. I fall, landing flat on my back, looking up at the face of an angel.
I’ve waited so fucking long for this. So goddamned long. I reach for him and pull him on top of me. His mouth, his tongue, his hands, his weight, it’s all on top of me, and even that’s not enough.
I thread my hands into his hair and he clamps one of his around my waist as his hips grind into me, pushing his very hard—
Shit.
“Stop!” I jerk up, my forehead smashing into his teeth.
“Fuck!” he cries, “Ow.”
He stands, one hand on his mouth, the other shifting the front of his jeans. I jump up and see the wrinkled white comforter. The teddy bear leaning against Rose’s pillow. What the hell have I done?
“I’m sorry,” I say, straightening the bed. The teddy bear topples over. I straighten it back, while his black, beady eyes glare accusingly. “That was—”
“Fucked up. I know.” He runs both hands through his hair. His eyes shift guiltily. “What the hell is wrong with us?”
“I don’t know.” My heart is still hammering, and I can see that he’s still excited; chest heaving, pants tight. I glance away, cheeks burning.