Page 31 of Twisted Hunger

She hesitates, and I see Bain shake his head at her. "No, it's fine," my mother tells him and then turns back to me. "Bain has an issue with having phones at the dinner table. He feels that meals should be where we spend time together…"

"Oh! I am so sorry," I tell him. "I didn't know."

"It's okay, Ryan, really." He smiles softly. "This isn't my home, and I need to get over my little issue, it's fine."

He says this, but I can tell by his body language and expression that this is really bothering him, so I take my phone, put it on silent, and tuck it back into my pocket. I don't know why I have this need to want to please him, but I do. It's only a phone, after all. I can go an hour without looking at it.

"There, all gone." I grin across the table at him, and the smile he gives me touches me deep…a little too deep if you ask me.

"You didn't have to, but I appreciate it, thank you." He winks at me, and it only adds fuel to the tingles that have already started.

What is wrong with me? This is Mom’s boyfriend…her fiancé! Finishing up my last slice, I bid them goodbye and rush back upstairs. I gave them the impression that I wanted to give them some alone time, but really, I needed my own alone time. Time to make heads or tails of these feelings I keep getting whenever Bain is around. Not only are they wrong because he's my mother's fiancé, but he will be my stepfather, which is strictly forbidden in my book!

Twelve

It's been two days since my mother had Bain over, and I have been trying to sort out these feelings that keep stirring inside of me whenever he's around. Maybe I do need to find myself a man of my own.Yeah, that's got to be it. So, with this being determined, I've decided to try and take my relationship with Beau further. After all, he brings out the same sensations in me as Bain does, and he's better suited for me…andnot engaged to my mom.

"Hey, you." I smile at Beau as he walks up to my locker after our last class. "Are you busy this afternoon?"

I'm nervous as fuck because I've never initiated anything with this guy. He's the one always telling me he's coming over and whatever plans he comes up with for us. He smiles, though, and it puts me better at ease. His green eyes sparkle as his pearly whites gleam at me.

"No, I'm not. What do you have in mind?" His tongue darts out and glides over his bottom lip, mesmerizing me as I watch.

Beau chuckles, drawing my attention. I clear my throat, embarrassed that I let him catch me staring. "Um, my mother is working a double, and I just thought you would like to hang out."

I'm not sure, but I kind of sense a bit of hurt when I see his smile falter just a bit, but he hurries and puts it back in place. "Yeah…"

I hurry and continue, cutting him off in the process. I don't want to lose my nerve, so I step into him a little more and place my palm on his chest. "I want to talk about…us."

His brows raise. "Really?"

I can see the hope shining in his eyes, and I nod. "Yes, really."

"Fuck." His eyes burn into mine. "I want to kiss you so bad right now."

I glance around to see if we are being watched, but the halls are pretty much cleared now. Returning my eyes to Beau's, I bite my lower lip. "Then do it," I whisper.

I don't need to tell him twice as his hand comes up to cup the back of my neck, and he pulls me into him. There is no hesitation on my end, and I open for him as soon as our mouths collide. His groan as his tongue tangles with mine sends electricity straight to my core.

My fist closes against his chest, capturing the fabric inside. Everything around me disappears, leaving just the two of us here. He's kissed me before, but this one feels different. A more profound emotion is attached to it, or maybe I just never noticed it before.

Suddenly, an angry voice has us parting and looking over at a seething Ashlyn. "This is why you turned me down? You are choosing to be with a drugged-out skank over me? I thought you hated her?"

I've had enough of her shit and go to move toward her, but Beau pulls me back against him. "Yes."

One simple word from Beau has the bitch glaring at me like she wants to tear my eyes out. "I thought we were together, Beau! You can't just toss me aside like this..."

"We were never an item, Ashlyn." Beau keeps his voice low and calm, as he explains, "We kissed a few times, and if you remember, it was always when Ryan was close by to see."

"So, what? You used me?" Ashlyn's eyes widen as if she can't believe it.

"I told you that we were never going to be athing. It's not my fault you didn't listen. Besides—" Beau glances down at me briefly before finishing his sentence. "You touched what I considered was mine without permission, and you needed to be taught a lesson."

"B-But…" Ashlyn stammers.

"No buts! Ryan has been off limits to others for three years because I had already claimed her as mine. You had no right to knock her books out of her arms that day or lock her in that room."

I gasp, "You knew?"

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