Page 12 of Nerdelicious
His voice fills the air, laced with fury. “You aren’t worth the effort!”
Even through the haze of my buzz, the zinger hits home.
That’s exactly what Jack thought. I wasn’t worth his effort either. Apparently, I’m not worth anyone’s effort.
Beast stands in front of me, a silent giant. The sounds of the party throb in the humid air between us.
“Thank you.”
His face is a blank slate of deep grey in the dim light.
And of course he says nothing, but his gaze is like a spotlight traveling over my face. My nerves jangle. He’s probably judging me.
Shame wiggles through me like an insidious snake, hissing louder than his silence.
“I know I shouldn’t have come over here alone with some rando, since I barely know him and we were both drinking, but I wanted to feel something other than worthless, which clearly didn’t work out for me since he just threw that same phrase right in my face.” I should shut up. I need to stop talking but the words bubble up like a geyser ready to blow. “I’m sure you know I’m only here because Granny faked being sick to give me something to focus on other than the fact that my long-time boyfriend dumped me like a box of rocks, because clearly, I am worthless to everyone, including the people who know me the best.”
I clamp my lips together to slow the verbal sewage.
He doesn’t acknowledge my statements at all. He stands there, staring at me with shadowed eyes while I’m burning with embarrassment.
He can’t even nod or something? He might not be able to talk, but he hears just fine and he knows how to move.
His head tilts. Wait. Did those thoughts come out of my mouth?
He shifts again and part of his face appears in the glow from the window behind me.
“I wanted to kiss someone other than Jack. I know, it’s completely lame. But I couldn’t stand that the last person I kissed didn’t even like me. Now I’ve kissed two guys, and they both think I’m a piece of garbage. I thought it was bad when Jack was my first and last memory of affection but now it’s... that guy.” I shudder, jerking my thumb toward the fence.
He moves, taking one step toward me. We’re only a foot apart, his stride long enough to bring him close enough to touch.
I swallow, gazing up at his dark countenance. Dark both literally and figuratively.
A thought flashes through me like an epiphany. If this were a comic, a light bulb would go on above my head.What if...
“You know it’s only fair.” I step closer, shrugging nonchalantly. Or trying to, anyway. I probably look like I’m having a seizure. “Since you chased off my amorous suitor.” I reach up, rising on my toes while wrapping one hand around his neck and tugging him down.
He doesn’t resist, dropping down into me with ease, like it’s the most natural move in the world, us bringing our heads toward each other. That has to count for something.
I close my eyes.
At the last minute his head jerks up and my mouth connects with the underside of his chin.
Maybe I should have kept my eyes open.
He sucks in an audible breath when my lips hit his skin, but other than that, neither of us moves.
So we stand there, him hunched over, while I kiss his jawline. Kiss is a generous word. I’m mashing my lips on him.
Oh no.Embarrassment wraps around me like Mystique changing her skin. And yet I don’t move. His face is scruffy, his five-o’clock shadow sharp against the softness of my lips. He smells like fresh soap and a hint of aftershave and it’s rather... nice. So is being pressed up against him. He’s warm and big and there’s something inherently comforting about his hulking presence. Like, I know he could throw me over the fence with ease, but he would never.
I should step away. But I don’t. And neither does he.
We are a still-life art piece of awkward.
My mouth opens against his skin and the movement startles him to life.
He steps back. His heavy breathing falters. His arms are blocks of tension.
