Page 123 of Steps

Varen fixes his jeans and breathes out intensely,placing his hand at my neck to pull me in for a kiss.

“Your turn,” he says throatily.

I shake my head. “It’s late. Next time.”

“Uh-uh. You—”

Two girls and a guy stumble outside to the deckbefore he can finish. They’re laughing and intimately touching on each other.

“Ahem, next time,” I repeat to Varen, smiling.Then I take his hand, and we step out of the dark together, passing the ménagea trois to head back inside the house.

Varen says his goodbyes to Finn and other friends,and we linger outside at my mom’s car.

He cups my face and presses yet another kiss to mylips. “Love you.”

“Love you, too. See you soon.” I get in and startthe car. “I’ll text you when I’m back at the house.”

“Cool.”

He shuffles away, hands in his pockets, lookingsad as he watches me leave.

Vibrations wake me from sleep. I roll over andfeel for my phone. Blurry-eyed, I squint at the text message.

Unlockthe backdoor.

“Varen…” I murmur. It takes a second for me tosnap to my senses. I toss the sheet aside and fumble through the darkness.

When I turn the corner into the family room, Ispot him covertly crouched by the shrubs like a creeper, waiting for me to openthe sliding door.

I snort at his craziness then continue over to lethim inside. “Geez,” I whisper. “What are you doing?”

Varen shoves his lips on mine as he enters. Helocks the door behind him, and we quietly walk to my bedroom.

“You didn’t come,” he reminds. “We can’t havethat.”

Soft laughter spurts from my lips. “No, guess wecan’t.” I turn the lock and haul my nightshirt over my head. I’m not wearingany underwear.

Varen releases an animal-like grunt, touching mynaked body in the dim room.

“Come take what’s yours,” I whisper like aseductress.

He hurries out of his clothes, then pushes hismouth on mine again, hands fondling me all over.

“Mm… wait,” I stop him, breathless. “Last Sundayat the mall, you wanted to say something but didn’t. What was it?”

Varen chortles softly. “Just that you’re the onlygirl I’m going to love for a really long time.”

My lips curl in elation. Although we can barelysee each other’s expressions in the shadows, I’m sure he’s smiling as well.

We collapse on my bed. Varen goes down on me untilmy body explodes, then we make love twice to partially satisfy the swelteringdesire before falling asleep during quiet conversations.

I’m filled with sadness as he kisses me before daybreakand sneaks out of my room. Perhaps I should put more thought into moving inwith him?

30

Kenya doesn’t appear to be as thrilled as some tostart our senior year of high school. Hooking her arm around mine, we walkinside the building after Daniel dropped me off on his way to work.

“Shit, can you believe it’s already September,girl? Where did the summer go?”

---