Page 39 of Steps

“Shit.” I push him away instantly and fix mydress. “Jesus.”

Varen rakes his right hand through his hair. Hisbreathing is as erratic as mine.

“Toya!” Mom calls again. Her voice sounds as ifshe’s standing in the passage.

“I don’t know what to do,” I mutter, a hot mess.

Varen adjusts his shirt and the bulging in hispants, composing himself. “I’ll go out first and distract her. Come out once wego downstairs.”

“Wait,” I say before he walks away. “Tell her Isuddenly missed Gran and need a moment alone. She’ll believe you.”

He lingers on my face. I motion for him to leave.Varen lifts his left hand and puts his fingers in his mouth, obviously tastingmy juices.

I gulp as my vagina reacts with a throb.

A satisfied growl escapes. “I knew you weresweet.” He turns and walks to the exit of the movie room. I can hear himtalking to my mom in the passage, telling her to give me a sec.

I sink down in a chair and bury my face in myhands. What the hell was I thinking? I can still taste his mouth. My vaginastill feels moist, still aches for his touch. Shit! Why did I let that happen?

I use the bathroom upstairs to wipe out myself andcheck my appearance before returning to the party.

August brightens, seeing me enter the living room.“Hey, I didn’t scare you off, did I?” he jokes.

“Not at all,” I say on a forced laugh, trying tokeep it together. My eyes still linger, searching for Varen. He’s nowherearound now.

I spot Mom instead. She looks a bit concerned.August resumes talking to me about music. Then we walk to the bench near thesliding doors and sit down.

“Want to see a movie tomorrow?” he asks. It soundslike a date. I’ve never been on one, and now I’d prefer to go out with Varen.

As politely as I can muster, I tell him, “I’msorry. I’m actually seeing someone.”

Am I? I just made out with my future stepbrother,and now suddenly, I’m taken?

“Oh.” Disappointment masks his face. “That’s toobad.” He quickly clarifies, “I mean, too bad for me. You’re a nice girl. Yourboyfriend’s lucky.”

I smile. “Hmm.”

Boyfriend? Varen? Does he even want that? Orperhaps looking for another conquest.

Ugh! August Caldwell appears to be a good guy. Heprobably doesn’t drink, smoke, or dabble with other drugs. But I can’t lead himon. I like someone else.

Why do I have a thing for the bad boy, anyway? Thetype I’ve always avoided. My feelings for Varen Kirby will probably tear meapart.

“Looks like my parents are heading out,” Augustsays, snapping me out of my head. “Well, it was great talking to you, Latoya.”He stands up to leave.

“You too.” I get up as well.

“Guess the next time we’ll see each other is atthe wedding.”

The wedding. That alone should diminish myfeelings, but they only bloom stronger. Like a flower refusing to let adownpour destroy it.

“Maybe we could exchange numbers?” he suggests.

“Um, sure. You could tell me more about JohnsHopkins. I’m considering schools close to home as well.”

Wow. Now my feelings are nudging me to stay inBaltimore for Varen. Toya, you are crazy.

August beams. He unlocks his phone and hands it tome. I call mine, then give it back to him.

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