Page 14 of Hate You Forever

I take my place on the couch and daze off as I pet Noodle and watch TV. It feels like no time has passed when he walks in, shirt back on ,and sits next to me.

“All done and cleaned up.” He flashesme a smile.

“Really? Thanks. You didn’t have to clean up. I would’ve done it.”

He shrugs one shoulder. “What do you say we go grab something to eat? Our favorite pizza place?”

I offer him a small smile. “That place closed down four years ago, and the one that moved in is awful.”

“Really? Mario’s closed down?”

I nod. “I got the last pizza and it was amazing.”

“What’d you get on it?” he asks, his eyes clouding over.

“Pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, peppers, and black olives, with a side of cheesy bread and hot wings.”

He lets out a sound that almost sounds like a sexy moan. “God, I’d kill for that pizza.”

I laugh. “Me too. Mario is still in town though. Maybe you can convince him into making something special just for you.”

He nods. “I’m going to have to. Well, how about that sub shop on the corner?”

“Closed.”

“Really? When?”

“About five minutes after you left town. Didn’t even make it the summer.”

“Damn. Benny’s?”

“Cl—”

“Don’t you dare say closed.”

I laugh and shrug. “Well?”

He throws his head back against the couch. “How’d this happen?”

“You left. Everything fell apart,” I say, joking but not really. It really does seem that way. Once he left, our whole town felt the absence.

He looks over at me and our eyes lock. It feels like the air between us is charging, gaining electricity and a pull over the both of us. I’m lost in his green eyes. My body feels like it lights on fire, and those eyes, they only fuel it to burn hotter. He leans closer—I’m not even sure if he means to—and I lean closer, unable to think past those eyes and those thick, warm, sweet lips.

My tongue comes out, wetting my lips, and his eyes drop down to watch. He bites his bottom lip, almost like he’s not sure if he can stop what’s about to happen. I can’t stop what’s about to happen. I don’t know if I want to. But Paul. I have this connection with Paul that’s greater than sex. He knows me in ways nobody else does—well, except maybe Memphis. But Memphis and I, we have or had a connection like no other. Paul may know my mind, but Memphis knows my body and exactly how to manipulate it.

Our lips finally meet, and that fire that was already blazing erupts and engulfs us both. His hands cup my cheeks, not allowing me to pull away, even though I can’t even think about that right now. He deepens thekiss, and I somehow end up on his lap, straddling him. He sits up and wraps his arms around my back, holding me close so I don’t fall. His hands are moving up and down my back, over my hips and ass, then into my hair while his mouth ravishes my own.

My hips begin rocking against him, and I feel him harden beneath me.

“Fuck, Jade,” he says against my skin as he trails hot kisses down my jaw and neck. His hands come around to cup my breasts, his thumbs rubbing against my nipple to make them tingle and harden. I gasp when he grabs them both and moves his mouth to the swell of my breast. Without allowing myself to think, I reach down and pull my shirt off, tossing it into the floor. His mouth is right back on me, pushing the cups of my bra out of the way and replacing it with his mouth. He sucks my nipple into his mouth and swirls his tongue around it before flicking back and forth. I run my hands over his head, wanting to tangle my fingers into the silky strands, but it’s not the length it used to be. Now, it’s so short I can’t pull anything.

“Memphis,” I whisper, and he pulls away to look into my eyes. I shake my head. “I know we shouldn’t do this, but I’ve never wanted anything more,” I confess.

He swallows, making his Adam’s apple bob in this throat, before he stands with me in his arms, his mouthnever leaving mine. We collapse onto my bed, a mess of hands and clothes, as he both work to undress the other. He sits back on his knees, and his hands work to free me of my jeans.

“Memphis?”

“Hmm?” His eyes jump up to mine.

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