Page 22 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
"Well, too bad!I'm mad, I'm asking, and you owe me an explanation.What's going on with you?One moment I think we're …" She couldn't even speak it.One moment she thought they were going to kiss.One moment she thought they were on the same page.One moment she thought for once, someone saw her for her.
Then, Elliot hit her with a bag of bricks and swung with the might of…well…him."Cassie, I'm in heat."
She blinked, hands falling to her sides.Her keys clattered to the ground.Heat?She stared up at him, confusion filling her face.Brows knitted down, mouth hung open an inch, brain blank, she stammered."Heat?"
"Yeah, minotaur's get them randomly.It just pops up and it's a bad time—okay?I've been avoiding you… because every time I go to talk to you, this happens."He waved his hand grandly to his hips and, for the first time, she looked below his belt on purpose.His gray sweatpants were tented like he was holding them up with a lead pipe.Her stomach twisted into an angry knot as she immediately jerked her attention away from his pants.
"Oh, uh—well."
"I didn't want to tell you because it's not your problem to deal with…but that night at the pizza shop, it came over me and it won't go away, not while you're here."He spoke with a flap of his hands.
She stared at him, open mouth breathing."Wha-what does that mean?Do you want me to leave?Is that it?"
"No!"He put his hands to his hips."I like you, and my Heat is determined that I have you, but that's not fair to you."
"Why isn't that fair to me?"she retorted with a sneer.
"Because you don't…" He trailed off, his face softening as he looked at her.Truly looked at her, and the sharp sting of a blush covered her cheeks again.He took a step forward and her heart turned into a drum solo.A soft hand brushed against her cheeks, tucking a loose curl around her ear.Cass shivered as he dragged it around the pointy tips, his fingertips lingering above her pulse."Cassie, be honest, do you like me?"
She snorted, "Of course I do!Are you kidding?I've been fawning over you like a school yard crush!Was it not obvious?I…"
Her throat closed up as his hands cupped the nape of her neck.He dragged her till she was pressed against his chest.Elliot panted, tiny puffs of air hit her face.Her lips quivered.Their faces were close enough, just another inch and…Elliot's eyes fell closed first.Then, she smashed her mouth against his and the world spun.Her fingers fisted the fur on the side of his face.His water bottle crashed to the ground and rolled away as he grabbed her side.He tasted of a hint of green apple as he speared his tongue through her lips.The hand cupping her neck crawled into her curls and clenched them tight.Something hard like metal and heavy like a boulder pressed against her stomach, pulsing as she groaned into his kiss.
"Fuck," he hissed, ripping away from her mouth.Elliot stumbled away, twisting from her, and putting his hands to her car hood."Cassie, I—"
"What's wrong?"She blurted out, rushing to his side.
"You're wearing pants and we're in public and I'm so fucking hard I'm dizzy."He hung his head, groaning loudly."We should…we should."
Elliot sank to his knees, forehead against the ancient metal of her car.Cass knelt beside him, rubbing a hand to his arm."Elliot?"
"It'll pass," he breathed, flashing her a weak smile."Besides, I was still trying to apologize.The last thing you deserve is to have me horn dog you while I'm trying to grovel, you know?"
She barked with laughter, body trembling.His smile grew stronger as he sat back on his calves.Cass clenched her fingers around his shoulder caps for support as she tried to sober her chuckles."Horn dog?Really?"
"Yes, really."He leaned toward her, putting their foreheads together."Please, Cassie, forgive me."
She sighed, "You know how much I hate being ignored, how much that hurt me.Why wouldn't you just tell me?"
"I was worried, and I didn't want to scare off my girl.Heat is a lot, and it's kind of embarrassing—an uncontrollable red flag that screams, ‘hey world, I have to bone’."He pulled back before kissing between her eyebrows.
The words ‘mygirl’played on repeat in her mind.It made her heart flutter.Glancing up from his face to her car, she scanned the parking lot around them.Everyone was still on the field.Their chanting and music filled the air.Cass let out a shaky, excited breath as she whispered, "Elliot…are there cameras in the parking lot?"
His eyes widened in surprise.He swallowed loudly, like a cartoonish gulp."No, not out here."
Cassiopeia climbed to her feet, taking her keys with her.Elliot followed her like a lost puppy, practically crawling after her.Something akin to pride surged in her with wicked desire.She unlocked the back door to her wide, four door death trap, and it creaked open.He could fit in the frame.She spun to face him, his hands pinned against the metal of her car.Excitement and nerves sparked in her belly, turning her core into a wet, churning mess.Buzzing with need, she was hyper aware of every inch of her body."I think there's a way you can get me to forgive you, while also taking care of your heat."
Elliots eyebrows shot up on his face."Are you sure?We can just take care of your car, you don't have to."
"Elliot Bonesaw, if you don't hurry up and fuck me in this backseat, I'm never going to forgive you."She put her hands to her hips.
He let out a sheepish laugh, "Whatever my girl wants."
And he scooped her up, tossing her into the backseat of her car.
Chapter eleven
A bumpy ride
