“His parents must really hate you—you actually have a backbone.” She turned from me and started away.
My voice stopped her. “You really have feelings for him.”
She didn't look back at me when she answered, “Yes, always did, but I knew he didn't respond.” Glancing back at me, she added, “When I saw the look he gave you, the look I always secretly hoped he would give me, I knew you were it for him. What is it about you that pulls at him so?”
“I don't know, but I feel it for him too.”
Without another word, she turned and left the locker room.
***
After gym I went to art class in search of Ms. Whitney and found her at her desk.
“I want the scholarship,” I said in way of greeting.
“Excellent. I'll notify the committee this afternoon.”
“Thanks.”
“Lark, I'm sorry about what happened. I knew there was discord at home, but I didn't realize how bad it was.”
“How does everyone know about it?” I asked a bit miffed.
“Your uncle came into the school earlier. He wanted the administration to know what happened and to inform them that he stands behind your living arrangements one hundred percent.”
My annoyance instantly faded. Go, Uncle Eddie.
“I should have seen it and done something. I'm sorry I failed you.”
“You didn't fail me—you gave me art.”
“I'm glad you're taking advantage of this opportunity in Maine, you won't be sorry.” She said.
“No, I won't.”
***
After school I headed to my locker only to find Bastian waiting. We were heading home to our empty apartment and the idea of that had my body instantly warming. “We can just go home, there's no pressure,” Bastian said.
And with those thoughtful words, the nervousness fled. I lifted my head to his and knew my answer was stamped clearly on my face. He looked positively edible.
As soon as we got back to the apartment, I dropped my stuff on the sofa and turned to see that Bastian hadn't moved further than the door. As I studied his face, I realized something.
“Why areyounervous?”
He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and looked almost sheepish when he said, “I've never wanted anything more.”
He couldn't have said anything more perfect and with those simple words my shyness dissolved. I walked across the room and wrapped my arms around him before my mouth found his. He framed my face as he tilted my head and kissed me so deeply it caused my stomach to feel all jittery. His hands moved, to roam down my neck over my back until he was cupping my ass and pressing me hard against him. A slow tension started to build deep inside me and with it I felt achy, almost needy.
My hands moved over him, branding him, claiming him as they followed the corded muscles of his back. Bastian pulled his mouth from mine to find the delicate skin under my jaw, causing the ache in my stomach to spike. I reached for his tee and pulled it up over his head. Stepping back, I just devoured the sight of him until the need to taste him had me doing so, my lips brushing over his chest. When my shirt followed his, I might have whimpered, because the sensations coursing through me were so new and wildly exciting. He touched my bare stomach and I moaned in response.
Bastian looked like I felt, wild and barely in control, when he lifted me into his arms and carried me down the hall to the bedroom. I went boneless when he placed me down in the center of the bed. He stood there looking like some pagan god. He asked in a rough voice, “Are you sure?”
All I could think about was I was going to have sex for the first time and I was going to be doing so with this Adonis-like creature. I had given a great deal of thought to my first time, well, more so recently, in all honesty. So I expected the nerves, the excitement, even the fear, but what I was completely unprepared for was the boldness that came over me. I wanted this boy, wanted him in a way which was both foreign to me and so very strong.
Moving to the edge of the bed, I kneeled in front of him. He held himself completely still while I took the moment to really appreciate his ridiculously beautiful body. His arms were flexed making his tattoos seem almost animated and his dragon was positioned in such a way that my eyes were drawn to the individual muscles of his abs. I had always thought abs like his were airbrushed in magazines for effect, but, oh no, I was so wrong.
He had to be feeling the range of emotions I was, but instead of pouncing, he waited patiently, allowing me to grow more comfortable. Heat burned in his eyes and he fisted his hands to keep from reaching for me.