Page 17 of Obligation
Bradley laughed. “You can’t be right all the time.” He gave a lazy one-shoulder shrug.
“That’s what you think,” she said and followed him into the living room. She eased the beer bottles onto the coffee table, reclaimed her seat, then snatched a bottle for herself.
“Feel free to prove me wrong anytime you want, sweetheart.” He propped his feet on the coffee table again.
“I’m not your sweetheart,” she said.
“You didn’t seem to mind me calling you that last night.”
In a moment of panic, she jerked around to make sure no one had heard him, but everyone was still vying for their turn in the bathroom. She eased back around. “You said you wouldn’t say anything about that,” she reminded him.
“I don’t remember agreeing to that.” He shook his head. “Though, my silence can be bought. For the right price, of course.”
Her head fell back against the couch, and she groaned. “I know I’m going to regret this, but… how much?”
His smile was slow to form but devastating to her senses. “Information,” he said, pinning her with a heated stare.
Chapter Seven
Carissa couldn’t even begin to imagine what sort of information Bradley wanted in exchange for keeping his mouth shut about last night. Probably information about her and Danny, and that was the very last thing she wanted to talk about. With anyone. Not even her closest friends knew the entire truth of what transpired last year.
Unfortunately—or maybe luckily—Bradley never got the chance to question her because everyone crowded back into the living room, and Garrett restarted the movie. Carissa once again snuggled up next to Danny, though she couldn’t deny she’d much rather be curled up in Bradley’s arms.
She mentally smacked herself. What was wrong with her? She barely knew the guy, and she’d been in a relationship with Danny for almost a full year. She loved Danny. Yeah, they’d had their issues, but what couple didn’t? Being able to overcome those issues was what mattered. Of course, lying to the man she claimed to love wasn’t really helping the situation.
The last half of the movie was a lot of death, stupid choices, and we’re-all-going-to-die-so-let’s-get-naked sex. By the time the end credits rolled across the screen, Carissa was well past drunk. Good thing she didn’t have to drive back to campus tonight.
She sat up straight and stretched; then she nudged Tiffany with her foot. “Hey, you crashing here tonight?”
Wouldn’t be the first time they’d both had an impromptu sleepover with Garrett, and she knew he didn’t care. He was cool like that.
“Yeah.” Tiffany yawned. “I’m tired and drunk.”
“You can crash in my room,” Garrett offered. “I have a bed and a futon, so take your pick.”
“Thanks.” Tiffany smiled at him. “What about you, Cory?”
Carissa turned to look at her brother. He’d been drinking just as much as the rest of them, so he better not say he was driving anywhere. She wouldn’t hesitate to call Mom and Dad and tattle on him.
“I’ll take the couch if it’s free,” Cory said.
“Sure.” Garrett stood and carried his empty beer bottles to the sink.
One by one, everyone else followed his lead. When the living room was picked up, Garrett led Tiffany up to his room. Jeremy disappeared into his bedroom without so much as a good night.
Danny took Carissa’s hand and tugged her toward the stairs, and she followed without argument. Though she did glance over her shoulder to get one final look at Bradley. He’d moved to sit in the armchair, and Cory was stretched out on the couch. They were talking sports again.
Danny opened his bedroom door and motioned for her to go in first. The sound of the door latching and the lock clicking into place made her heart jump in her chest. Six months ago, she would’ve been excited for this moment. Hell, she would’ve found any reason, no matter how lame, to get some time alone with Danny. But now… She rubbed her hands over her face and yawned.
“I’ve missed you so much.” Danny wrapped her in a hug, and she halfheartedly returned the gesture, her head resting on his shoulder.
He gathered her hair away from her neck and nuzzled his nose against the soft spot right behind her ear. Then, he peppered her neck with tiny, heated kisses. Goose bumps erupted on her arms, and she sighed softly. At least being with Danny was familiar. She knew what to expect, and that took a lot of pressure off her.
Dragging his lips up the column of her neck, he gently lifted her head and captured her mouth in a deep, dominant kiss. His breath was hot and tasted like cheap beer. His moan was low and grumbly.
Her heart fluttered, but not nearly as fast as it had when she’d kissed Bradley. His kiss had left her gasping, like he’d singlehandedly sucked all the air from her lungs and then breathed it back into her. His kiss had left her dizzy and craving more.
Danny’s kiss, while comfortable and heated, only left her feeling lukewarm. Was that because she’d had a taste of what kissing another man was like? Or because she’d emotionally distanced herself from the hurt Danny had caused her?
