Page 110 of Rebel Romeo

I opened my eyes, blinking as the bottomless ocean of Kateherine’s eyes came into focus. With a lick of my bottom lip, I bridged the gap and dropped my lips to hers in a kiss so soft, our mouths barely grazed. Distantly, I hear a soft moan that I wasn’t sure was her or me.

Everything around us began to disappear, even as I heard the distant sound of Keith saying, “That’s better, you two.”

Then…

Keith disappeared.

Our snickering classmates disappeared.

Even Professor McCay vanished.

All that was left was Katherine and me. In bed together. Kissing. Thrusting. Panting.

I deepened the kiss, dragging my tongue along hers and sucking her bottom lip gently.

Her thin frame flexed beneath me, her mouth still on mine. A deep moan vibrated in her throat, the sound of approval rocking down my spine, aching in my balls.

She was so naturally sexy that it made my senses spin.

As she pulled back from the kiss, she pulsed her hips against me, tortuously slow. If not for the thin cotton separating us, I could have slid right into her.

The thought was both dizzying and sobering all at once. A two-headed monster warring inside of me.

Her blue eyes went wide, wet, twinkling with the smallest gold flecks I’d never noticed before.

Twinkling.

I’d never in my life used that word. But all of a sudden, shit was twinkling at me.

I wasn’t sure if it was the beautiful, serene expression she wore. Or the fact that I was done letting my parents run my life. Or that I felt like I could be a totally new version of myself—the real me—around her. But in this moment, I wanted her to be mine. Really mine. Not just for a few dates here or there. I wanted her. Only her. From now until forever. I wanted her at my football games, cheering me on. I wanted to perform by her side over and over again. And celebrate with her when she got every leading role she deserved.

I wanted Katherine.

Forever.

“Katherine,” I said, quiet enough that no one else could hear us over Bailey reciting her monologue. “I’m not seeing anyone else. I…” Shit. Why was this so hard? “I mean, you don’t seem the type to, but just so we’re clear… I’d like it if you didn’t either. I want it to be just you and me.”

“Holden,” she exhaled. Those eyes—the damn twinkling eyes—widened at me. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”

Girlfriend? It felt so trite compared to what I felt with her. Trite and terrifying all at once. I slid my mouth down her neck, hidden from view of the audience, and whispered, “Yes.”

I swallowed her gasp with a kiss just as Professor McCay called out, “That’s enough for today. Everyone go home. Get some rest. We’ll pick up here tomorrow.”

Keith met us next to the prop bed with robes to cover ourselves. I didn’t bother with mine, but I helped Kate into hers and waited as she knotted the sash at her hips.

From the back of the theater, clapping echoed.

One single person applauded and I rolled my eyes as I draped the robe over my arm. Some idiot in class thought it’d be cute to try to embarrass us? Well think again, asshole.

I stood up, squinting and shielding my eyes from the stage lights to see who that was.

A knot in my chest tightened as the applause grew louder, the culprit coming down the aisle.

“Brava, Holden!”

“Mom?” I croaked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Excuse me!” Professor McCay snapped, stepping into my mother’s path. “This is a closed rehearsal. How did you even get into this building?”

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