Page 106 of Consume Me

“But you’re hard.”

“Ignore my damn dick. He can wait.”

And he says he’s a bad guy. I could believe the idiocy that the earth was flat before that.

Instead, we kiss and cuddle. Lying in his arms feels so intimate, brimming with familiarity, as if this is exactly where I belong—like we were made for each other. We’re custom-tailored to fit each other, and that eases and soothes everything in me.

“We should go back,” I say.

“I know, but I am so tempted to kidnap you, take you far away from here, and have you all to myself.”

I giggle, but when I look at him, he’s wearing a serious expression, and a flutter erupts in my belly.

“You would, huh?”

He nods. “And have zero regrets because I am crazy like that, but you make me even worse.”

“No guilt here. Let’s walk for a bit. I want to see more of this place.”

After we dress, he stretches out his hand, and I take it. Hand in hand, we walk outside, strolling through the thick forest before returning to sit by the pond. I close my eyes, savoring the peaceful moment as ducks glide across the smooth surface. In the distance, I spot a family of deer.

For the first time, I feel like I belong. That asshole won’t steal my happiness. Caleb wants to come after me, let him. What Blake doesn’t know—but is bound to find out—is I don’t have any boundaries when it comes to the people I love either. I’d kill Caleb with my bare hands.

I lean my head on Blake’s shoulder. “Once this is over, kidnap me and bring me here.”

He chuckles. “Noted.”

I don’t want to leave, but our friends must be getting fidgety, and we promised not to separate. Who knows when we can enjoy our togetherness like this, but I have faith that we will—soon.

When we reach Blake’s car, he opens the door for me, but not before backing me against the side of the car and kissing me with such intensity my legs go weak.

I am still dazed as I buckle myself in.

The reality of us is better than any dream I could have conjured or any fantasy I could have imagined.

As I watch him drive, I can’t help but wonder if whatever he didn’t say is the reason he kept away from me. We’ve lost enough time, so I swat that thought away.

This weekend showed me Blake feels more for me than the need to protect me. I won’t ask or pressure him, but I hope with everything in me that my love will finally be reciprocated.

I was never in love. I was never loved, so I’ve never believed in it or thought I’d ever experience it. Yet, I doubt that what I feel for Mia is just love. It’s so uncontrollable and intense that I feel my brain chemistry being altered, my damn heartbeats pumping her name, and my body is addicted to having her near.

When did it happen? No idea because I have kept burying and stomping out whatever she ignited in me since the beginning. I’ve been struggling to stay away and failing, trying to keep her from getting involved in my clusterfuck of a life. Even after my confessions, she is still here, but she doesn’t know what I did. That’s why I will never understand why Cassandra brought me back, but I no longer care. Only Mia will have the power to chase me away. And while I hope she doesn’t, it wouldn’t matter. Without her, I don’t care much about my life. It never meant anything to me until she looked at me as if I were someone worthy of her love and attention.

My mood worsens as I drive through the campus gates. Atmy house, I had everything I needed: her and nature. But I have done everything for my friends, so I can’t abandon them in this tough time just because I want to be selfish and live a little for once. I have a reason to live—it’s her, and I would shout my truth from the top of my lungs.

When I park in front of our house, she casts a glance my way and nods in assurance, filling my veins with strength and pumping my insides with determination. Taking her hand in mine, we walk inside.

Hunter jumps from the couch, and then he notices our fingers linked together. I am ready for a confrontation. Celine places a hand on his arm, squeezing to keep him in place.

Kaden nods his approval as he nurses a drink, while Abi and Dane are cuddled together on the couch. Dane gives me a thumbs-up, and Abi smiles fondly.

Hunter approaches us, and Mia lets go of my hand to hug him, which doesn’t sit well with me. At all.

He’s her damn brother, I keep telling myself, trying to quench this irrational jealousy and burst of possessiveness. It doesn’t work, so I drag her back to me, and she giggles.

Dane, the asshole, bursts into laughter. “Oh, man. You’re so fucked.”

Hunter shakes my hand, applying pressure while I smirk in his face. I don’t feel a damn thing, but I don’t want Mia to constantly have to play pacifier between us.

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