Page 18 of Sunrise

I push against him.

On purpose.

Knox arches his slitted eyebrow. “I kissed you.”

“I kissed you back.” I solve for x and y.X is 3. Y is z-2.I circle both. When I look up at him afterwards, I’m dizzy as if I just chugged another bottle of Wild Turkey.

“I can’t stop thinking about it.” He cringes. “Are youmad?”

“Why would I be mad?”

“Because I kissed you.”

“And… I kissed you back.” There’s no inflection in my tone, but I’m not a robot right now. I’m me. Scramble headed, heart pounding, sweaty palms me. The kid that’s had a crush on my best friend for way longer than I’ll say. The asshole that is willing to risk anything to have another kiss from him.

And I don’t think I want to stop there.

“You pushed me back.”

“I needed to breathe.” Not a lie. The fucker took my breath away when he pressed his mouth to mine.

Knox whispers, “What if I want to do it again?”

I drop back into my head and solve the next equation.X equals 7.My breathing turns rapid, and my cheeks burn. I keep my leg pressed against his. Then I balls-up and reach over to touch his thigh.

Hit my hand away.

Stop me before I ruin our friendship.

Knox grabs my hand and by the way his palm is damp like mine, I know he’s nervous too. Chest heaving as he tries to level out his breathing, there’s no denying that he’s turned on. His basketball shorts hide nothing. Neither do the khakis of my school uniform.

I lick my lips.

He watches.

We slowly move in and kiss. The instant we do, a fire consumes me that has my ass off the stool and on him in a blink. He grips the back of my head and shoves his tongue in my mouth. I’m floating. Flying. Exploding. Racing my hands up his back makes him kiss me harder.

Jesus, hegroans.

I must be doing it right then, huh? It fucking feels good. His grip on my hair tightens, and I stroke his dickthrough his thin shorts next. He’s hard like me. Kissing like me. Why didn’t I do this sooner?

Oh my god. Fear slams into me and I pull back. “My parents are going to be home any minute.”

“Okay.” He smashes his mouth to mine again and reaches for my dick this time.

“Fuck, Vault.”

The front door suddenly opens, and I jump away, barely sitting on the stool while Knox staggers backwards, nearly tipping his over.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, honey!” She carries in groceries. “How was school?”

“Good,” we both say together.

“Alex, do you mind grabbing the rest of the bags for me?”

“Yeah. Sure.” I hop down and hurry outside for fresh air, fixing myself while I’m out of sight. In a rush, I hook every stupid bag left in the trunk onto my arms and get back inside to Knox.

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