Page 58 of Unbidden

I quickly take a drink and tear the paper in half before putting it up to my mouth. I turn and meet those same green eyes. Reed is staring at me as I begin to suck and lean toward him. I don’t know why, but I’m surprised when he leans in and meets me halfway.

They say one moment changes your life, and when you’re in that moment, time seems to slow. This feels like that. Him leaning in. The warmth of his lips through the paper as they meet mine. Watching hunger pass in his eyes. Feeling him suck in hard, stealing the paper from my lips.

Then the moment is over. He’s turning to Ingram, who’s seated on his other side. I snort as she drops it, acting like she didn’t mean to. Too bad for her, Reed had already pulled away. She glares my way but tears the paper in half, takes a drink, then continues the game.

Several laughs and drinks later, the game is becoming tense. Every time it gets to Tinsley, Reed glares until it passes her. The boys on either side look ready to jump out of their skin. Keaton acts as if nothing is bothering him, but I see the way he gives Victoria more attention when it’s his sister’s turn.

The paper itself is now the size of my lips, just barely covering them. Thankfully Keaton behaves after that first kiss, but it doesn’t stop the heat that’s been flowing through my veins each time I press my lips to Reed’s.

As the paper comes around again, Keaton presses his lips to mine, then blows. Before I pull away, he shoots me a wink. It unnerves me. I tense, ready for him to pull some shit. Instead, a hand grabs my face and turns it in the opposite direction. My eyes meet Reed’s, and the brief hunger from earlier is now blazing in his. I gasp as he pulls me closer, causing the paper to slip from my lips.

I expect him to stop, but he doesn’t. Instead he presses his lips to mine in a hard, fast kiss. Much like during our first kiss back at the public school party, my body tingles at the feel of Reed’s lips on mine. My blood heats and I lose all my thoughts. For one small moment, I’m lost in him.

Then reality crashes back in when Ingram’s voice breaks through. “Sterling wasn’t lying. They really are both banging her. How gross.”

I pull away from him and note a smirk playing on his lips. I slap his cheek. “You’re such an asshole.”

I jump up and run out of the room, making it to the front door when I hear footsteps following. I don’t hesitate, just take off running all the way down the fancy drive and right out the front gate. Instead of turning left toward our house, I turn right. Once I’m down the street and around the corner, I lean against a tree.

My fingers find my lips on their own accord. They’re still tingling.

What kind of game is he playing?

∞∞∞

“How long have you been sitting down here?” Victoria’s voice behind me startles me.

“What the fuck, V? You’re a fucking ninja.” I clutch my chest.

“I know.” She gives me a smug smile. “Now answer the question.”

I’m down by the lake behind the Yateses’ home that also backs up to Alice’s house. After calming down, I decided not to go back there. I wasn’t ready for the questions I knew would accompany my arrival. Instead, I wandered around the property until I found this tree facing the water. I don’t know why, but water has always calmed me.

“Not too long, I don’t think.” I shrug.

“Are you okay?” She slides down the tree and sits next to me, staring to the side instead of at the water.

“Fine, why?” Even I can hear the bite in my tone. I sigh. “Sorry, V. I didn’t mean to be a bitch.”

“It’s okay. You ran out of there awfully quick. Tinsley’s worried about you.”

I feel a pang of guilt.

“I’m fine. I’ll go back and talk to her in a minute. I just want a few more minutes of quiet.”

She doesn’t respond, instead sitting in silence with me. After a few moments, she speaks quietly.

“He came after you.”

“What?” I finally fix my gaze on her, but she’s looking away.

“Reed. After you ran out, he came after you. Ingram said some nasty things about you, but he stood up for you, then followed you out the door. We haven’t seen him since. I assumed I would find you two together.”

I refuse to let my mind wander to what she’s implying. “As you can see, I’m sitting here alone, or I was before you came down. I haven’t seen him. I didn’t even know he followed me.”

She finally turns to look at me. “Be careful, S. I don’t know much about Reed because he’s so closed off. No one does, but I do know he’s never stood up for a girl, and he most definitely has never chased after one. I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but whatever it is, please be careful.”

I snort. “That’s putting it lightly. He’s a prick. You want to know what he told me tonight?”

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