Page 57 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
“You invited me here. You tell me.”
His lips twitch and he scoots closer, putting his hand on my back and rubbing up and down gently.
“Relax. You’re sitting so stiff. You can leave at any time, and we won’t do anything you don’t want to do, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Do you want a drink, or to smoke?”
“Um, probably no to both.”
I do have some sense. And honestly, if this is going to happen, I want to remember it. He doesn’t try to convince me, which I appreciate, but he pulls out that silver cigarette case again. He’s lighting a joint when there’s a knock on the door. Torren shoutscome in, and Beau enters with the scent of kabobs wafting from a stack of takeout containers, causing my stomach to rumble so loudly that I blush.
“Alright, we’ll feed you,” Torren says with a laugh.
He takes the containers, tells Beau thanks, then sits back down. He pushes a button, and a small table pops up from the couch. He sets the food out, then hands me a packet of plastic silverware.
“Eat.”
“Thanks,” I say, and we eat in silence.
Well, more likeIeat. Torren sits, smokes, and watches me. I try to ignore it at first, but after about ten minutes, the quiet grows suffocating, and his unrelenting eyes make me feel like prey being stalked by a predator.
In a way, I guess I kind of am.
“You’re making me nervous.”
“I am? Why’s that?”
“You’re staring.”
He laughs. “Do you want me to stop? I can if you want, but I really don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
He takes a pull from his joint and blows the smoke out slowly before answering.
“I like the view.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to tame my smile. I can’t fight the flush of heat I feel kissing my skin, though. Downfall of having such a pale complexion. I’ll blush as red as my hair, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“You’ve got sexy freckles.”
I snort out an unattractive laugh that fills me with immediate embarrassment, deepening my blush, and his grin grows.
“What? What’s funny?”
I roll my eyes. “Sexyfreckles? Who says that?”
He shrugs. “I do. I think they’re sexy. The freckles on your nose are sexy. The freckle on your left earlobe is sexy. The freckles on your shoulders and chest are sexy.” He gives me a devious grin. “I’ll confess to imagining where else you had them last night. I wanted to take all your clothes off and explore.”
I shake my head and close my eyes, overwhelmed and unable to process everything I’m feeling, and the couch cushion dips as he scoots closer.
“I like making you blush, too.” His knuckle runs over my chin, making goose bumps erupt all over my body. “I like affecting you.”
Then his knuckle is replaced with his soft lips, and I gasp.
“Is this okay?” I feel him speak the words over my skin. He doesn’t break contact as he asks. He just drags his lips up and down my jaw, pressing soft kisses.
