Page 112 of Kiss Me in the Dark
Blaze smirks, releasing my wrist only to cup my jaw.His fingers tilt my face toward his, and before I can process what's happening, he leans in and presses his lips to mine.
29
Underneath the Surface
Blazepullsmecloserand kisses me without warning.It takes a second to register what’s happening—his lips pressing against mine, the heat of his body, the faint taste of smoke lingering on his breath.And before I can even think, I’m kissing him back.His hands grip my waist, fingers digging into my skin as he pulls me closer.
This is wrong.This isn’t right.I shouldn’t be doing this with Blaze—Fox’s best friend.The best friend of the man who makes my heart race.
I pull away abruptly, breaking the kiss.Blaze lets out a satisfied sigh and slowly opens his eyes, a smug smile spreading across his face.
“Why are you doing this?”I manage to choke out, my voice unsteady.
Blaze licks his lips.“What?Kissing you?”
“Yeah, that.And bringing me here.Why?”
He smirks and pulls a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with practiced ease.The glow of the flame briefly illuminates his face before he blows out a cloud of smoke.
“To explore your sexuality,” he repeats nonchalantly, shrugging.
“My sexuality?”I ask, incredulous.“What makes you think I’m gay?”
He chuckles under his breath, his eyes gleaming with amusement.“You kissed back.That’s a start.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” I protest.“I was caught off guard.I wasn’t expecting you to—because all my life, I thought you weren’t—”
“Gay?”he finishes for me, raising an eyebrow.“How would you know?I’ve been flirting with you for months, and you didn’t even notice.No straight guy would do that.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded.“You’ve got a girlfriend.Joan.Does she know about this?”My voice rises slightly, the confusion and frustration bubbling over.“Or do you have a secret boyfriend you’re hiding too?”
Blaze exhales a long plume of smoke, his expression unreadable.“No boyfriend.Just Joan.And no secrets—at least not anymore.”
This is unbelievable.Blaze hates Landon.Since the beginning of the semester, Blaze always throws every derogatory word in the book at Landon.Calling him every gay slur he could think of.And now he’s telling me he’s gay?What the hell!
“You’re unbelievable,” I mutter, shaking my head.“What do you want from me, Blaze?”
He leans back in his seat, cigarette dangling between his fingers.“I thought you already knew.”His gaze locks on mine, and I feel exposed, like he’s peeling back layers I’ve worked so hard to keep hidden.
“I can’t,” I say firmly.“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Blaze arches an eyebrow.“Is this about Fox?”
I huff out a laugh.“How is this about Fox?”
“I see the way you look at him,” he says matter-of-factly.“You don’t look at anyone else like that.”
I bristle.“You’re reading way too much into this.”
He doesn’t miss a beat.“Let’s see.”
He starts ticking off on his fingers.
“One—you kissed back.Two—you look at your roommate like he hung the damn stars.Three—your best friend’s gay, and you practically live in his pocket.And four—I saw you on a date with Keith’s brother.”
He lifts an eyebrow.“Want me to keep going?”
“Keith’s brother?”I ask, thrown.“Elias?”
