“I’m sor—”
I don’t get to finish what I was about to say because he slams his mouth over mine. My lips widen in shock, and he takes advantage by sliding his tongue inside my mouth. My body softens, melting into his. His fingers glide into my hair, and his thumbs caressmy cheeks, holding my face so he can devour my mouth. My tongue meets his when he deepensthe kiss and I’m stunned. My mind can’t catch up with what is happening. A soft moan escapes my throat, and he pulls back, his forehead against mine.
“You taste so fucking good. You’re not only beautiful, but you’re also captivating. Give me your phone,hermosa.”
Breathless and not thinking clearly, I reach into my back pocket and hand him my phone. I’m afraid to open my mouth and say the wrong thing. The last person to kiss me was Mason more than a year ago, and I almost forgot how good it feels to be kissed so thoroughly. I’ve wanted a particular guy for so long that I forgot it’s possible for someone else to make me feel wanted.
I watch as he enters his number on my phone and quickly hands it back. “I’ll call you,preciosa. If you ever need me or want to hang out. Call me.”
“Okay, Smiley.”
He slides his thumb under my chin. “Call me Alex. When you see me, you address me always as Alex.”
“Okay, Alex.”I turn to go.
“Bye, Luciana. I’ll call youlater.”
Closing the door to the passenger side after telling Linda goodbye, I lay my head on the leather headrest of the passenger seat in a daze. “Did Smiley kiss you?” Khalani asks.
My cheeks heat while my mind tries to grasp what just happened. “Maybe.”
Khalani shakes her head. “Iknew it. Linda said it too. Alex was jealous that you smiled when Jose said you were beautiful. For Alex to take an order from a girl he practically just met and not make a big deal, that means he likes you.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. He doesn’t really know who I am. That’s why it was so much fun. I felt… normal.”
“Alex is anything but normal. But he is passionate and loyal. He tells you how it is, and he doesn’t lie. From what I hear from the girls that hang out here, he packs a punch in bed.”
“Um, I don’t think—”
“Did you get his number?” she interrupts. Khalani is more excited about this than I am.
“He entered it on my phone.” I wave my cell phone in the air.
She giggles. “He is smooth. I give him that.”
“I don’t know, Khalani. What if Aiden finds out?”
“No one has said whoyou couldn’t date. He doesn’t go to our school, and no one needs to know. But I think you need to tell Alex the truth about who you are.”
“No way, Khalani. He will back off.”
She snorts. “Alex will not back off unless it is a known fact that he can’t talk to you because ofAiden or the guys.Mason isn’t going to know because no one is going to tell him. And frankly, it’s none of his business who you date or fuck. He dates and fucks whoever he wants and I’m sorry, but he isn’t worried about how you feel about it.”
It hurts to have it laid out like that. She isn’t wrong, but I feel this can be dangerous. I know I need to move on and get over what happened with Mason. Alex is hot and so wrong, but he feels so right. I’m a grown adult and I can see or date whoever I want. So, what if he is a gang leader fromEastHillside?My father is a cartel leader.How bad could it be?
Chapter Five
Mason
Where is she? I’ve been pacing in Lucy’s house like a caged lion. Aiden is upstairs, probably getting ready so we can head out. We are supposed to go to the east and find out more about the Southside GuNz trying to run drugs through Hillside, but we are waiting for Khalani and Lucy to come home. They’ve been gone since we saw them at school.
“Yo, Mase,” Colton says. “You need to chill. They will be here. We will get theseputos.”
“Nah, homes,” Leo says and chortles. “He’s trippin’ because Lucy is with Khalani, and they’ve been gone all day.”
As I give Leo a scowl, I hear the garage door rise and the sound of the beep indicating a car has entered the garage. I stop mid-stride in the living room and look toward the side door leading from the garage. The marble floor reflects the shining of the lights as the door opens. Lucy is the first to enter. Khalani nods her head toward us in a silent greeting from behind her and heads upstairs.
“Where have you two been?” I ask, grinding my teeth. “We’ve been waiting two hours for you to show up.”