Page 70 of Puck Lust

And I melt into it because I know those lips.

I’ve dreamed about those lips and how they feel tasting every inch of my body.

“I missed you last night,” he murmurs against my mouth. He wraps his arms tight around me, hugging me close, his greedy mouth devouring me like I’m dinner. His fingers dig into my spine and fist my jersey as his tongue plunders and explores, coiling eagerly with mine.

The blissful kiss finally breaks and a long minute passes before my brain clears of the lusty cobwebs. My heart screeches to a stop.

Wait…

Someone could have seen us.

Holy shit, did they?

My eyes widen and I jump back, my head jerking left and right but the corridor is clear.

Jack furrows his brow. “What’s wrong?”

“I, ah, I just wanted to make sure we were alone.”

“What difference would it make?” He lifts an eyebrow. “I thought you were sure about this.”

“I am.” I swallow hard.

“But?”

Jack drops his hands from me and leans back against the wall, his jaw tensing.

“I thought…I mean, yeah. Of course I am. But the reality of coming out scares the crap out of me, and I guess I just need some time to figure out, you know, how to do it. I have to tell Coach, the team, my family. I can’t just blurt it out. It has to be handled…carefully.”

Jack nods without saying a word.

I roll my eyes. “Come on, when you came out, was it that easy? Really? Because I find that hard to believe, especially years ago.”

His green eyes cool as he levels me with a heavy stare. “You have no idea how hard it was for me.”

“So tell me why it should be so much simpler for me.” I throw my hands in the air. “You know how I feel about you. Is it really so horrible that I want to take my time with letting people know about me? About us?”

“Look, Carter, I get that you’re scared. Fuck knows, I understand that. But I need to know that this is real, not some lapse in judgment you had because you were curious or because you had some crush on me back in the day that you needed to get out of your system.”

My jaw drops. “How could you say that? After everything that’s happened between us? And I’m not even talking about the sex.”

Jack shrugs. “Because you might get cold feet. It happens all the time. And I don’t wanna waste my time if you’re gonna have second thoughts.”

He starts to edge past me but I grab him by the arm. “No,you’re not walking away. You don’t get to check out of this conversation.”

“Why should I stay?” he says, his eyes flashing.

“Because I told you I’d never leave you alone.”

“I don’t need a therapist, Carter,” he says, his voice edged with annoyance. “That’s not what this is about.”

“I’m not trying to be your therapist. But I know you’re going through a rough time and I want to be here for you. Whatever you need. I know talking’s not really your thing, but maybe just knowing someone cares and will come running even when you don’t call…maybe that’s how I can help.”

“I don’t want your help. There is nothing you can do to help me.” His nostrils flare.

“It’s okay to need people.” I reach for him and he stares at my hand on his arm.

“Peoplehave let me down before.” He raises his eyes, sadness swirling in the turbulent green pools.

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