Page 11 of Hot Summer Nights

“Gavin,” I breathe, gripping his shirt as the world starts to move under my feet.

At least that’s how it feels anyway.

His hands tighten on my chin, the other slipping around the back of my neck, and I give him complete control of me. He tastes like coffee and apples, and I moan as his tongue tangles with mine.

He moves closer, his body pressing firmly against me as he conquers my mouth. His teeth nip at my bottom lip and my breath hitches at the sensation. My body is screaming for me to do more, to feel more of him against me.

He nips at my bottom lip again, his tongue coming out to soothe the sting, and I whimper with need.

I’m so close.

I don’t even know what that thought means, but as Gavin presses against me, a coil tightens even further in my body, low in my belly.

“Record,” he breathes out and I sigh.

I want to hear him say my name like over and over again.

“Record,” he moans again and I blink my eyes open.

Record, all you do is hurt people.

That thought hits me and I jerk away from Gavin and he blinks at me. His fingers are still holding a lock of my hair and I reach up to pull it away from him so that I can get out of here but he tightens his grip.

“Record,” he says.

I shake my head. “Don’t.”

“Yes,” he says back firmly and I suck in a shaky breath.

I know that that voice, those words, are my family. I’ve heard my mother and father tell me that a million times over the years.

I hurt people and I really like Gavin. I can’t hurt him too.

“I like you,” I start and he takes a step closer.

“I like you too. That’s why I kissed you.”

He’s so blunt and it has my lips curling but I stop when I remember what I’m about to tell him.

“Do you believe in curses?”

“What?”

“Do you believe in curses?”

“No, there’s no such thing.”

“Yes, there is. I’m cursed,” I whisper and he stares at me for a beat before he throws his head back and laughs.

“I am!” I insist and he only laughs harder.

I glare at him, taking a step back when I realize that he’s no longer holding on to my hair, and then I turn and bolt for the door.

The laughter cuts off immediately and a second later, I’m being lifted off the ground.

“Nope. You’re not walking home. It’s dark out and I know that you walked here,” he growls in my ear as I squirm to get out of his hold.

“I’m not getting in the car with you,” I snap, and he chuckles.

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