“Well, you’re really too kind. For carrying me. For thinking you need to apologize, for still wanting to talk to me after what my father did,” she finished. She dried her hands on a towel and finally took a good look at me.
I didn’t say anything, just moved in her direction until I was right up on her, within distance of touching.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey,” I smiled.
“Thanks for saving me again,” she said and her whole demeanor softened.
With one hand extended to her shoulder, I slipped the other around her waist and yanked her to me. I was running on instinct without even knowing what had truly come over me. I’d never made moves on a woman before, but I was on autopilot and I wasn’t sure who’s driving anymore. When she crashed into my chest, she let out a little yelp. Her body flush with mine was the place where dreams came true. I’d always wanted to do this, but I never had anyone I wanted to do it to.
I found myself kissing her without any thought at all to what the hell I was doing, or even what she wanted from me.
I couldn’t fucking help myself.
Chapter 8
ELLISON
Calvin’s kiss took me completely by surprise. Well, almost completely, it was either a kiss or he was going to bite me.
It’s the first time since we moved that I didn’t worry about anything, my brain zeroed in and only focused on the boy with the beautiful green eyes kissing me senseless.
I didn’t push him away, no, instead, I became a vacuum for his attention. I pulled him in, willingly, tightly, almost desperate for his affection.
I didn’t worry about school for the first time in weeks, where I’d fit in, or how I was supposed to make new friends. Before, I wondered what I would wear on the first day. Now, I just wanted to wear Calvin. Everyday. Always.
The only thing that mattered was the guy right in front of me, who clung to me so snugly that his possessive grip on my hips stole the breath right out of me. His lips burned hot as his tongue explored mine, he tasted like peppermint and Cola, a taste that felt rare and intoxicating to my virgin lips.
I’d never kissed a boy, Cal was my first. I’d never even really had a boy look at me the way Calvin did. Not until this mysterious guy walked into my life looking like he slipped from an album cover or escaped the pages of a magazine.
Something about the way he looked at me made me feel larger than life, powerful, untouchable in his strong arms. One hand roamed down my back as he placed the other firmly behind my head, his fingers weaved into my hair and deepened the kiss until it became too much and stole my train of thought right out of my mind. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t function, all I could do was kiss him back.
When he finally slowed to a stop, I wanted to yank him right back again.
“You are the very best thing,” he whispered. He stared at my lips when he pulled away and I smiled in embarrassment.
“I’ve never done that before!” I put my hand to my mouth, unable to believe what I’d just admitted.
Of all the stupid things I could say.
“I mean—I can’t believe I said that out loud.”
My face burned red, and I was terrified I’d blown my chance, once again. This boy could laugh at me and tell the school what a baby I was before I ever even set foot in the door. So much for first impressions. First, I had an episode, and then I acted like a fifth-grader. But instead of laughing, Calvin stepped back and just stared at me. His lips curved into a smile and my whole body started to shake because I was so scared that he’s mocking me. What if I was a horrible kisser? Not only would that cement my reputation as a loser, it would make me date and boyfriend-free for the remainder of my high school career. High five, Ellison. You really know how to fuck shit up before you even get started! Not even the first day of school yet and you’re already unpopular.
What if that kiss was the worst he’d ever experienced because a boy who looked like him had surely kissed a thousand girls. For all I knew, he could be the most popular kid in South Vale. His kiss certainly felt like one from a boy who’d had tons of practice. I lifted my hand to my burning lips and hid them.
“Was that bad? Did I do it right?” I asked not being able to contain my insecurity.
Dammit! Maybe I could stop talking and save us both the humiliation of listening to me. Before Calvin walked into my kitchen, boys never looked at me like he was looking at me now. Again, I felt the surge of power, like heat rising through the center of the earth and pouring into my body, heating me in a way that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Maybe this was precisely what my dad meant when he talked about teenagers and raging hormones. Maybe this was confidence. Self-actualization. Maybe this was me finally coming into myself after the loss of my brother.