Page 48 of Birdy

“You owe me,” she cuts me off, pressing herself against me. “Like I said, we both know you want this. All I need you to do is bring me that phone and boom—all-access pass.”

The shit playing in my head right now isnothelpful—not helpful in the slightest. Not when it’s combined with our current positioning or the fact that her scent’s making me lightheaded like a motherfucker. She smells so good, deliciously sweet like I could toss her onto that bunk, eat her alive, and still be hungry.

“You know damn well we can’t,” I grit, gaze flicking down to her lips.

I can all but taste them, feel how pillowy soft they are. I just wanna run my thumb right along that seam, maybe dip it into her—

“I’ve never been good at choosing between right and wrong, obviously—that’s why I’m here. Iknowwe can’t, but that doesn’t make me not wanna do it any less.” Releasing my shirt, she reaches down for my hand and slides the note against my palm. “I’m down for whatever. Ball’s in your court. If you want me to be honest, I could use the distraction, and well, I haven’t had dick in years. Could use a good fucking.”

I’m not usually short on words, but goddamn, she’s left me speechless. She’s quite pleased about it, too, shamelessly holding my stare as a slow grin appears.

“Take the deal, Andrés...it’s a win/win for both of us.”

What’s funny is she said she’s never been good at choosing between right and wrong. Apparently, I’m not either because this has to be one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life. There’s so much at stake.

But how long can we really fight it?

?Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande

“You did what?”Lena hisses in amusement from her bunk.

It’s dark as fuck, only the tiniest sliver of moonlight peeking in from the small rectangular window. The lights went out hours ago, but I haven’t been able to fall asleep. I guess the loud rustle of my tossing and turning woke her up a little while ago, and when she asked me what was wrong, I finally unloaded. Literally word vomited every single detail of the last almost two weeks on her.

“I told him I’d suck his dick,” I repeat, biting my lip at the memory of his face when the words left my mouth yesterday. “Told him he could fuck me, too, if that’s what it would take to get him to agree.

“And? What did he say?” she presses excitedly.

“That I know we can’t.”

Selena scoffs a quiet laugh and drops her head over the edge of the bunk, curly locks spilling over in a wild veil. I can’t see her face in the obscurity, but I can feel her wicked smile. “He didn’t say no, though. Twenty bucks says you’ll be fucking him in a week.”

My. Pussy. Clenches.

Just imagining myself beneath Andrés, even if it’s up against one of these dirty-ass walls, is enough to ignite the heartbeat in my clit.

Down, girl.

“I’m more worried about the phone than fucking him, Lena.” And that’s not a lie.

Do I want him?Obviously.But I want the phone more. It’s not even a want; it’s aneed. Neither Ma nor I can afford for me to make daily calls, and now that I know she’s sick,I’ll lose my whole shit worrying about her the days between calls without one. My sanity is all I have left in this place.

Fuck the risk and the extra time they’d add to my sentence if they found it. She’s gonna die before I’m freed anyway. Might as well soak up what little time she has left however I can.

“Oh, he’ll get you the phone, watch, and then he’s gonna rearrange your insides.” Lena snickers, disappearing from my line of sight. “I want all the details like right after, you hear me? Not a million years later like this time. Why didn’t you tell me you’d been passing kites?”

She can’t see me, but I shrug, running my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know. I hadn’t planned to do it really. It was a spur of the moment decision after two heated days, which ended up backfiring.”

“I’m not surprised, honestly. It’s a lot to process in a short amount of time. If I got hot just watching the two of you look at each other, I can only imagine what it must feel like to be on the receiving end of that pointed stare. I guess the question now is, does it hit harder than what you felt with Ángel?”

The sound of his name sends my shoulders flying up to my ears. My heart could probably shatter into a million pieces again if I allow myself to think about him for too long. Four years later,y ese pendejocan still get me down.“No, but it hits a different way.”

“Good different or bad different?”

“Both.”

“Can’t be bothmujer.Pick one.” She laughs, the bunk shaking a bit as she shifts around to get comfortable.

I do the same, rolling onto my side, wringing the sheet in my fists. “Itisboth, though. It’s good because it’s nothing like what I felt with Ángel, but it’s bad, too, because I know I shouldn’t be feeling this at all. This isn’tThe Bachelor: Prison Edition.”

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