breath equally fast and shallow. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, fighting against the memory.
Marcus pulls away and searches my face. “It’s okay, Kitten. I swear I’m not going to hurt you.” His fingers brush against my cheek. “You’re safe.”
I can tell from his expression he wants to ask who the hell hurt me. I don’t want to tell him. This is my secret.
My secret. I almost laugh at the irony. The truth was on the evening news for several days after it happened. Amber Alerts were issued. My name was splashed across newspapers and the news channels. The girl who for months had been the victim of a terrifying stalker before she was kidnapped.
But once I was found and details of my kidnapping were made public, my name magically disappeared from the news reports. I became a nameless seventeen-year-old girl, a victim of horrific acts of violence. But everyone in my town knew the news reports referred to me, even if the rest of world no longer did.
People from Crossfields may know what happened, but Marcus doesn’t. And I want it to stay that way.
“I’m fine,” I say as an idea plays out in my head. Paul was the last man who kissed me. I’ve got my life back, but I need more. Marcus is my chance for more, in a safe way. Besides, I can’t think of a better candidate for the position. He’s got to be a great kisser. Girls tend not to get all hot over guys with a reputation of being a bad kisser, right? And if I’m going to take back what Paul stole from me, what better place than to do it here, with Marcus? I mean, isn’t that what I’m paying him for? Kind of.
“You’re right,” I say. “If we’re gonna do this right, you need to kiss me.”
Eyes narrowed, Marcus studies my face for a second, as if trying to read my mind, then his lips touch mine, again, as his arms wrap around my waist. He doesn’t push me further and I’m able to relax into him.
Gaining a little more confidence from not flashing back to Paul this time, I run the tip of my tongue against Marcus’s lower lip. He parts his lips and lets me tentatively explore the inside of his mouth. I focus on his spicy scent and on his strong body against mine. A body that’s nothing like Paul’s.
A kiss that’s nothing like Paul’s.
Unlike Paul’s kisses, Marcus’s kiss is hot, but I can tell, like me, he’s just going through the motions. He’s not really present in the moment. A side effect of being a man-whore, I guess.
I continue kissing him and feel something stir deep. I quickly stamp it down as I pull away. A subtle taste of victory courses through me. My experiment, a success.
“You wanna dance?” Marcus asks, arms still around my waist. Jordan and Chase are on the dance floor, laughing and dancing to the fast beat. Both are tall and can be easily seen over most people, which is just as well since the floor’s packed.
“Okay.” Crowds don’t bother me. It’s being alone that scares me.
We squeeze our way through the mass of bodies until we reach our friends. Jordan grins and hugs me then goes back to dancing with Chase. Marcus wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. My arms instinctively go around his neck. Our bodies press together.
I don’t dare look at Jordan. I can sense she’s watching me. I can also tell she’s reading way too much into what’s happening. And for the second time since I came up with my plan, I wonder if I made a mistake. Now she’ll be excited for me, especially since I’m not going home with Marcus, which makes me different from most girls he knows. Especially because he’s my tutor, so it’s not like this is the last time I’ll see him. Especially because she wants something to happen between Marcus and me, since she figures that will make my life complete.
Practically yelling to be heard over the pulsating beat, I ask, “Why do I get the feeling this isn’t your kind of music?” Chase seems to fit in with the place. Marcus doesn’t.
“I prefer rock
Marcus pulls away and searches my face. “It’s okay, Kitten. I swear I’m not going to hurt you.” His fingers brush against my cheek. “You’re safe.”
I can tell from his expression he wants to ask who the hell hurt me. I don’t want to tell him. This is my secret.
My secret. I almost laugh at the irony. The truth was on the evening news for several days after it happened. Amber Alerts were issued. My name was splashed across newspapers and the news channels. The girl who for months had been the victim of a terrifying stalker before she was kidnapped.
But once I was found and details of my kidnapping were made public, my name magically disappeared from the news reports. I became a nameless seventeen-year-old girl, a victim of horrific acts of violence. But everyone in my town knew the news reports referred to me, even if the rest of world no longer did.
People from Crossfields may know what happened, but Marcus doesn’t. And I want it to stay that way.
“I’m fine,” I say as an idea plays out in my head. Paul was the last man who kissed me. I’ve got my life back, but I need more. Marcus is my chance for more, in a safe way. Besides, I can’t think of a better candidate for the position. He’s got to be a great kisser. Girls tend not to get all hot over guys with a reputation of being a bad kisser, right? And if I’m going to take back what Paul stole from me, what better place than to do it here, with Marcus? I mean, isn’t that what I’m paying him for? Kind of.
“You’re right,” I say. “If we’re gonna do this right, you need to kiss me.”
Eyes narrowed, Marcus studies my face for a second, as if trying to read my mind, then his lips touch mine, again, as his arms wrap around my waist. He doesn’t push me further and I’m able to relax into him.
Gaining a little more confidence from not flashing back to Paul this time, I run the tip of my tongue against Marcus’s lower lip. He parts his lips and lets me tentatively explore the inside of his mouth. I focus on his spicy scent and on his strong body against mine. A body that’s nothing like Paul’s.
A kiss that’s nothing like Paul’s.
Unlike Paul’s kisses, Marcus’s kiss is hot, but I can tell, like me, he’s just going through the motions. He’s not really present in the moment. A side effect of being a man-whore, I guess.
I continue kissing him and feel something stir deep. I quickly stamp it down as I pull away. A subtle taste of victory courses through me. My experiment, a success.
“You wanna dance?” Marcus asks, arms still around my waist. Jordan and Chase are on the dance floor, laughing and dancing to the fast beat. Both are tall and can be easily seen over most people, which is just as well since the floor’s packed.
“Okay.” Crowds don’t bother me. It’s being alone that scares me.
We squeeze our way through the mass of bodies until we reach our friends. Jordan grins and hugs me then goes back to dancing with Chase. Marcus wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. My arms instinctively go around his neck. Our bodies press together.
I don’t dare look at Jordan. I can sense she’s watching me. I can also tell she’s reading way too much into what’s happening. And for the second time since I came up with my plan, I wonder if I made a mistake. Now she’ll be excited for me, especially since I’m not going home with Marcus, which makes me different from most girls he knows. Especially because he’s my tutor, so it’s not like this is the last time I’ll see him. Especially because she wants something to happen between Marcus and me, since she figures that will make my life complete.
Practically yelling to be heard over the pulsating beat, I ask, “Why do I get the feeling this isn’t your kind of music?” Chase seems to fit in with the place. Marcus doesn’t.
“I prefer rock
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