Page 13 of Rebellious

There’s no need to lie; what’s done is done.

Theo throws his hands up. “And you didn’t think to call us? What if we wanted to go?”

I shake my head, moving into the kitchen. I’m not surprised Theo wanted to go. Aspen gets her craziness from him. “No, sir. It was a last-minute decision.”

It wasn’t, really.

“I’m ashamed of you both.”

Shrugging, I answer Theo, “It was your daughter’s idea, sir.”

All Aspen’s idea. I would have never agreed to such a stunt, but last night… Well, last night was a fuck up of massive proportions—a memory I still can’t shake this morning.

“Are you pussying out, Bennett?”

“Don’t say that word.” My eyes are burning, but it’s nothing compared to the heavy weight of exhaustion pulling my eyelids low—so low, Aspen’s face has become a blurry blob.

Moving off the stool and encroaching on mine, she taunts me, “Why? Does me using the P-word offend you?”

Not really. It’s just… bad things happen when she uses foul language—things like me getting hard in the middle of a crowded pub. “Don’t play,” I warn. “Get back on your stool.” And out of my personal space. Bad things also happen when I’m drunk and desolate.

Aspen’s smile is lethal as she inches forward, swaying me to bend the rules when I know I shouldn’t. “I’m not even that close to you,” she whispers, her breath smelling of vodka and mint. It’s so tantalizing, I can already feel myself leaning forward just to get closer… for a smell, a taste; anything.

I groan. “You’re touching me. That’s breaking the rules.”

Leaning forward, she draws closer, golden wisps of hair fanning out over my shoulder. “Technically, I’m not touching you,” she argues.

Chills break out along the back of my neck as the whispered lie dances over my skin. “Aspen.” Her name sounds as if someone tortured it out of me. Honestly, with her being this close and not being able to touch her, the word torture is probably accurate. Being with Aspen and not beingwith heris the very definition of torture.

“Bennett.” My name is moaned from her lips.

We’re taking this too far. I knew coming to the bar was a mistake. What was I supposed to say, though? No?

It’s our last night alone. I couldn’t do that to her.

After having Aspen in my life for twenty-one years, I’m losing her to adulthood. Tomorrow evening she will graduate with her master’s degree. She tried to drag out her college experience, so we could stay together, but the end has come. Aspen Von Bremen, my childhood sweetheart, my best friend, is moving on without me.

She rakes her hands through my hair, and God help me, I let her. We can bend the rules for just a moment…

“Bennett,” she says again, moving closer between my legs. My cock aches as I try to remember to breathe. Years. For years, I’ve loved this woman. From the moment I had any cognitive recall, I’ve always loved her.

But I can’t.

Our lives aren’t that simple.

My hands find her hips, securing her body. She drags her cheek along mine. “Can’t we break the rules just this once?”

We’re already breaking the rules by touching in a non-platonic way. Her gripping my hair, me hard as stone, pressing her against my jeans… we’ve shattered several rules.

“We can’t,” I tell her, but really, I’m telling myself. There’s no doubt I want her. Hell, I’ve saved myself for her.

I’m a twenty-one-year-old virgin who saved himself for a woman he can never have. My brother calls it foolish. I call it not wanting anyone but her. No one can fill that need like Aspen would. Deep down, I know I would only be angry and utterly disappointed if it were anyone else.

Not that I’m not already an angry ass. Sleeping in the same bed next to the woman you want to fuck into a coma does that to you.

“We can,” she argues softly. “No one will ever know.”

I groan, pulling her in tight.

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