“It’s a long story,” he finally answered. “Maybe I’ll tell you someday.”
“Try me. I’m a good listener—”
“I’m not going to talk about it.”
The abrupt and harsh response made her flinch. Her breath caught, and she gave a jerky nod. Color rose in her cheeks from embarrassment.
Awkward. And if she admitted it, ouch, a little hurtful.
He doesn’t really know you all that well,she reminded herself. Stop prying.
“Of course. I didn’t mean to push.”
Was he an alcoholic? Had he gotten a DUI? Gotten drunk and cheated on his girlfriend? Every freaking scenario ran through her head.
“Damn.” He sighed. “I didn’t mean to yell.”
“You didn’t.”
“I raised my voice. Made things weird.”
“Just stop. You’re fine, I promise.” She relaxed again and gave him a small smile. Her pulse quickened as he gave her the perfect opening. “But I might, though. Make things weird.”
“How so?”
On a breath, she said, “I want to ask you a favor.”
“Go for it.”
“Will you make out with me?”
His head turned toward her ridiculously fast, his brows drawn tight with shock.
“But let me initiate it and lead,” she rushed on. “I don’t know how to do this. I feel every ounce the inexperienced virgin with these guys.”
“Kristen—”
“I know. I’m asking a lot.” Heat stole into her cheeks. “Clothes will stay on. We will absolutely not have sex. Because we both know that’s not an option.”
Though maybe it could be at some point. She still had hope.
That was, if he got to that point of no return and he stopped thinking with his head. Tori had practically given her step-by-step instructions and sworn it wouldn’t fail.
She just had to get him past that initial reluctance.
“Just pretend I’m anyone else, and we could just have a little fun.”
*
Fuck.
Blake’s teeth ground together as his blood started pounding fiercely.
One moment he’d been emotionally drowning in dark memories, and the next his dick was jumping to life.
The way Kristen watched him threatened to undo him. Those wide, dark eyes held a mix of need and innocence.
This is James’s sister.