Page 68 of Inferno
Caitlyn sighed, gently stroking Manning’s cheek. “I’m so glad I don’t have to ride the cheese bus anymore. Andyoudon’t have to, either, if you play your cards right.”
His eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I can give you a ride every day if you want.” She smiled wickedly. “And not just in my car, either.”
Manning swallowed, feeling his body react to her provocative words. Even though she’d pissed him off, his hormones couldn’t ignore how sexy she looked in her tight pink sweater and micro-miniskirt. No dude in his right mind would turn down what she was offering.
Sensing his weakening resolve, Caitlyn leaned out the car and whispered seductively in his ear, “Let me take you home, baby. My parents are at work, so we can have the house all to ourselves. We can do it anywhere you like, and we can get as loud and freaky as we want.”
Manning shuddered, closing his eyes as his father’s warning echoed through his mind.The girl may be beautiful, but she’s trouble with a capital T….
“I can’t,” Manning mumbled as Caitlyn nibbled his earlobe. “I’m supposed to go straight home.”
“Just call and tell your parents that you have to stay after school to make up work or something, and let them know that I’ll give you a ride home because I have to stay, too.” She took Manning’s hand and slowly guided it between her parted legs. When his fingertips encountered the warm silk of her panties, he jerkedfreeof her grasp and stood up.
“I have to go.”
Caitlyn heaved a sigh, shaking her head in exasperation. “If you’d rather go home and jerk off to relieve that”— His face heated as she pointed to the telltale bulge in his crotch —“it’syourloss.”
“Believe me,” Manning muttered darkly, “I know.”
As he started backing away, Caitlyn called out, “By the way, I tried to sneak up to your room the other night.”
Manning stopped, staring at her. “You did?”
She nodded, smirking. “I didn’t get very far though. When I stepped into the backyard, I could hear your mom and dad getting busy in the Jacuzzi.”
“You werespyingon my parents?”
“Not really. I couldn’t see them, but judging by the sounds your mom was making, your dad wasdefinitelyhandling his business.” Caitlyn grinned, her eyes glinting wickedly as she looked Manning up and down. “Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
He frowned, shaking his head at her. “You’re crazy, you know that? Stay out of my backyard.”
She winked and blew him a kiss.
As she drove off, Manning saw Taylor approaching a blue Pontiac Bonneville that had just pulled up at the end of the row of cars.
“Taylor,” he called, starting toward her.
She glanced up.
Their eyes met and held.
Without a word, Taylor ducked inside the car and slammed the door.
As the Pontiac rolled past, she stared straight ahead.
Manning stood there watching the departing vehicle until his bus arrived.
Then, walking over on leaden legs, he climbed aboard the noisy bus, flopped into an empty seat near the back and stared out the window, glumly wondering when his life had gotten so damn complicated.
