Page 97 of Fractured Fates
“Shit it’s one thirty. I’d better go.”
“You don’t have to,” Andrew says. “You can stay a bit longer.”
“I think I should call it quits while I’m ahead. Besides, I’m starting to go cross-eyed.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Andrew exits the game and switches off the machine, the screen fading from bright white to a dull gray and then a midnight black.
I lift my arms above my head, stretching and uncurling and edging towards the side of the mattress.
“Thank you for the piz–”
Andrew grabs my wrist and tugs me backwards.
“Don’t go yet,” he whispers.
“Oh but I–”
I don’t finish my words because before I know what’s happening he is leaning towards me, lowering his mouth to mine. I smell his breath. Cheese and oregano.
He’s going to kiss me.
I’ve only been kissed once before.
I’m curious. I want to know if that kiss with the man in black was special or if all kisses are like that.
But do I want my second kiss to be with Andrew? Do I want him to kiss me at all?
I mean, I like the guy. He’s my friend. I don’t, however, like him in that way.
I turn my head. His wet mouth lands on my ear with a smack.
“Sorry,” I mumble, as heat crawls up my neck.
“It’s okay,” he whispers, cupping my chin and attempting to move my mouth towards his.
“No,” I say, leaning away and pushing my palm against his chest. “I like you.” Andrew grins, his mouth dropping to my neck, where he sucks my skin sloppily. Quickly, I hasten to add, “But not in that way.”
He lifts his head to look at me. His grin drops to a frown.
“You don’t like me inthatway,” he says with a light petulant hiss to his tone. He’s still pressed over me, making no effort to move.
I cringe. “No, not in that way.”
“Are you kidding me? Is this some ploy to play hard to get because–”
I frown too. “No, I’m not playing at anything.”
“But no one else is interested in you.”
I frown harder. “So what?”
“Are you frigid or something?” I push at him, my fingers crackle with magic. “Come on, don’t be such a prude. It’s just a bit of fun.”
I push him off me with all my force and slide off the bed. Am I a prude? I have no idea. More heat crawls up my neck.
I grab my jacket from the floor, but he’s there blocking my path to the door.
