Page 42 of Defect
“You are but you’re still only eighteen. Even if you’re not a virgin you’re not experienced.” She sounded so sure of herself. The beast inside of me wanted to show her every ounce of experience I had. The curious side of me wanted to know what she had to teach me. I wet my lips with my tongue and looked at her, sliding my gaze down her body.
Solana had the most perfect body. She was so toned and lean. Every time I put my hands on her hips, they throbbed to do more. To squeeze more and feel more.
“Look, we’re not going to go there. This discussion is only going to lead to somebody trying to prove a point and we’re friends, right?” I asked, folding my arms.
“Yes. Friends,” she said with a short nod.
“Good. So let’s assume that I knocked plenty of backs out of alignment and keep it moving.”
“Oh, what the fuck ever, Ezra. You’re not knocking a goddamn thing out of alignment. Shut up.”
“Yeah okay. Lucky for you I don’t teach my friends lessons when they don’t know how to leave well enough alone.” She rubbed her chest then slid her hand up to her neck and I followed her every step of the way.
“Lord, little boy…”
“Don’t call me that. I don’t like that shit, Solana.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t call you that anymore.Little boy.” Her teasing was stirring something hungry inside of me. Something that wanted to prove to her that there was nothing little about me and that I damn sure wasn’t a boy. She shoved me with her finger but I didn’t move an inch.
“You like playing with fire, don’t you?” I asked her, folding my arms across my chest.
“My name literally means sunshine. So yeah, I love fire.” I wondered if she was attracted to me sometimes. I saw it in fleeting moments when we were alone but right now it was pouring from her and it was hard for me to resist.
“I see. Stop that shit.”
“What? I’m not doing anything,” she grinned.
“So is this what you look like when you’re full of shit? Good to know.” I tugged on her silky ponytail and she stared at me with wide eyes.
“You’re must not know what it means when you pull a woman’s hair.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure I know what it means.” I tugged her ponytail again and closed the space between us. Her flat stomach pressed against mine and I could feel how shallow her breathing was.
“Then you like playing with fire too,” she said.
“My only friend’s name literally means sunshine…so yeah, I love fire.” I slid my fingers down her slender neck and her shallow breath stuttered beneath the pads of my fingers. I was dying to grab her neck and pull her against my mouth so I could taste her soft rose sugar lips.
I had to protect her from all my broken pieces though. Even if she didn’t think there was anything wrong with me I knew better. I knew what would happen if I contaminated such a beautiful flower. I was a weed. I would choke her to death.
I yanked my tainted hand away from her perfect cocoa skin and she blinked, shaking her head like she was clearing fog. “Friends. Right?” I said. My voice held onto a sliver of hope like a raft in a raging ocean of rejection.
“Yeah…” She didn’t sound sure but I didn’t press it. “Um, wanna go grab lunch?”
“I’m not supposed to leave the house.”
“Fuck that. Let’s go before the warden gets back.” She spun around and headed out of my room. I shook my head at her but I still followed.
I’d follow Solana anywhere.
I’d follow her into the sun.
We drove in her little yellow bug to get Chipotle. She ordered a vegan bowl and I stared at her quizzically. “You’re vegan?” I asked. I tore into my chicken burrito bowl hungrily.
“Yes, Ezra. How the hell didn’t you notice that?” She laughed.
“I know I saw you eat a chicken wing one day at the studio.”
“No the fuck you didn’t,” She slapped my arm from across the table. I grabbed her hand and held on to it for a few extra seconds.
