Page 10 of Only for Love

“You can’t hide from me. You have no idea…” He blinks. “Promise me.”

I nod.

“Good.”

“Are you sure… about us?” Because I can’t believe it. Wrapping my head around him and me, it’s almost impossible. Very Cinderella—just a fairy tale come to life.

He grabs my hand and presses it to the bulge in his pants. I want to jerk away. I know my mouth’s hanging open. That’s so… so, oh my God. It’s an asshole move, but it’s not. It’s… I don’t know what it is. But it’s forward, beyond anything I know how to comprehend.

“Emma.” He lets my hand go. “You’re adorable. And cute. Sweet. Better to me than anyone’s ever been.”

What does any of that have to do with us? “So is everybody else.”

“Pretty doesn’t begin to describe you, Ems. You’re…”

“Awkward with a camera stuck to my face.”

“The one I dream about.”

My heart freezes. “Grayson…”I love you.

“You have no idea when it comes to what I think about you.”

The sun has set. My room’s light is turning a deep purple, and there’s an urge to hug and hold him that has nothing to do with the kiss that just happened.

He leans over to kiss me. This time it’s slow. He tastes like mint, and I’m mesmerized by the lazy roll of his mouth. Grayson holds my hip. His fingers flex, and his thumb scores back and forth over the slip of bare skin under my shirt. We could stay here for hours. Maybe we will.

His teeth tug my bottom lip. “I gotta run.”

My chest is tight, and I crave his hands, his mouth everywhere. But everyone will be home soon, and my total inexperience is going to put me into a position where I want more than I know what to do about. “Okay.”

One more kiss, and he leaves me on my back. “Bye, Ems.”

“Bye.” I kick my feet to the wall and wish Cherry was on the other side. Instead, I text her, expecting her to reply with something like,go find that boy and jump him.Maybe someday soon, I will.