Page 13 of The Crush
He drags a hand down his face, about to say more when there is a shouted greeting outside, both of us suddenly aware again that we are anything but alone. He looks away to listen before he looks back at me, how close we’re standing. His eyes drop to my mouth.
He mutters a low curse then grabs my hand to lead me out of the kitchen. Moving so fast to the opposite side of the house that I’m not sure where we’re headed until we’re already there and the door is clicking shut behind me.
Daniel’s room.My awareness of him heightens even as my eyes drink in everything from the neatly made bed to the drawn curtains, the collection of maps on the far wall and the still unpacked boxes in the corner.
“Need to take care of those still,” he says, following my gaze before turning his attention back to me where we stand right inside his bedroom door. “Isabel, we are not a good idea. For a lot of reasons.”
“I know,” I admit, “but—”
“No,” he says, voice suddenly sharp. “Christ, let me do this one thing right. You don’t need to get wrapped up in this with me.”
“What do you mean? Get wrapped up inwhat? In yourlife?” If he only knew how far that ship had already sailed. “Maybe if you talked about things with someone—”
“I already said I’m not putting that shit on you. I am not your problem to deal with. You don’t want me, Isabel. I promise you.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No,” he says again, clearly meaning to leave no room for argument this time. “I’m not—for one, I’mtwelveyears older than you. You’re justa—”
“Donotcall me a kid,” I snap at him, meeting his gaze. “In case you haven’t noticed, I grew up while you were gone.”
“Oh,trust me, that much I’ve noticed.” He leans in, keeping his voice hushed while the now faint sounds of the party trickle in from the distance. “Do you have any idea how much people would talk if we were together? Have you thought about how our families would react if they found out?”
I had. A lot. But I didn’t care enough to stop. “We could keep it a secret. No one would have to know.”
“No, you don’t—” Daniel shakes his head and turns away before I can reach out a hand to stop him. “I’m not going to ask you to lie for me.”
“You don’t have toask. Iwantto if it means…”God, if he only knew.“Danny, give me a reason to lie, and I’ll do it.”
Eleven
Daniel
Give me a reason.Her words hang over me as I second-guess every single argument I’ve convinced myself of over the last few days.
Not because they aren’t all still true. But because I just don’t want to fight anymore. Not with her. I don’t want to see the disappointment in her eyes. I don’t want her to see me like everyone else will when they finally realize I’m not who they think.
I’d already had enough of it in the thirty minutes I’d spent outside at the party. More than enough. Of everyone so eager to welcome me home while telling me that I never should’ve left. Of everyone calling me a hero even after I try to tell them I’m anything but.
“Danny?” Isabel murmurs my name again behind me, but I keep myself from answering, listening instead to the sound of her sigh, her hand on the doorknob as she goes to leave.
I really had meant to let her go. Right until I thought I’d lose her.
I turn, catching her by the arm and pulling her back to me, my mouth landing on hers. She lets out a soft sound of surprise, and then she’s kissing me back, and every bit of control I have leftsnaps. Louder than a gunshot reverberating through every cell.
I sink down, my hands finding the bare backs of her thighs to lift her up against me, and her arms wrap around my neck as I press the lock on the door and then press her against the nearest wall.
She feelssogood. Smells like sunshine and tastes like sin. Arching into me and making a little needy sound when I slip my fingers beneath the hem of her top. Experimentally, I trace my fingers higher up over her rib cage, not even the slightest press, and she trembles.
“You like me touching you, Isabel?”
“Yes,” she says, her voice already breathy. “Wanted you to.”
If I could only have her for a little while. Only for a little while so everything else will stop.
She gives me a content hum when I kiss my way down her neck, though a worried frown pinches her brow when I set her back down a moment later. Afraid we’re done until I put my mouth on hers again, keep her snug between me and the bedroom wall as I ease my thigh in between her legs.
I just need it all to stop. Everything but her.
