Page 20 of Secret

“What?” I say innocently. I look around to see everyone, including Sebastian and Elena–who came back at some point, is looking at me. I notice they have poured us drinks and opened the pizzas, but they are staring at me like I’m some kind of puzzle.

I grab a slice of pizza and start eating as I ignore them, I even drink my coke, too.

“That couldn't have been just luck, you were amazing at it. You played me, didn't you?” Blake huffs, and I smirk at him with the laugh I’ve been holding in coming out. This makes everyone laugh, and I look back at Blake, who is staring at me in a weird kind of wonder.

“Well, I’ve played Xbox since I was thirteen with my friend. You kind of suck, Blake. Want to try to beat me again?” I tease him, knocking his shoulder with mine.

“I do, and I won't go easy on you this time.” He glares at me in a playful way, and we play four more matches like this. I win three and decide to save his pride a little by letting him win the last.

“Ha! I won that one,” he says proudly, and I try to hold down a laugh, but it ends up in a cough. I drink more coke to clear my throat.

“Yeah, dude, you did,” Sebastian says. I glance at him to see him nodding his head and smiling at me with a big grin. At this point, Elena climbs into his lap and starts attacking his neck, so I look away knowing she did that to gain his attention. Sebastian needs to watch that one, she has crazy written all over her, but I don’t know him well enough yet to give him love advice.

“I'm heading upstairs,” Elliot says and drags a happy Lily up with him.

“Night, Izzy, I'll see you tomorrow,” she says and then giggles at something Elliot whispers to her.They are cute.

Elena starts making little moaning noises. I get up quickly and grab some boxes to take to the kitchen. I don’t want to be around when that gets a little more awkward. It’s not something I ever need to hear.

As I put them on the counter in the kitchen, I feel hands on my waist before Blake pulls me back to his chest.

“I think you need a punishment, you’re a naughty little one for playing me earlier,” he says close to my ear and nibbles on it.

“What do you have in mind?” I ask, a little breathless from the heat of him at my back and the many bad thoughts in my head.

“Hmm… I want to spank that pretty ass of yours, but I’ll settle for a kiss for now,” he whispers, kissing my ear. My knees nearly give out at the idea of Blake spanking me, but before I can think much more about it, he says quietly, “Meet me in the garden in a second, I don’t want to wait long for that kiss.” He lets go, giving me a chance to take a deep breath and nod at him.

I hear him say bye to Sebastian and shut the door, I quietly open the back door to step outside after a few silent minutes. It’s a large, faultless garden, thanks to Harley, who seems to like gardening. There’s a big tree at the bottom of it, with a tree house built in the massive branches. The lawn has been cut recently, and there are bushes around the side of the garden next to a large greenhouse. There’s more grass before hitting a row of big trees at the end of the garden. There is a faint light in the tree house from fairy lights, which are wrapped around the tree. I wonder who put them there as I can’t imagine the boys doing something so personal.

Blake comes up next to me and takes my hand as we walk toward the tree. He climbs the tree ladder, then gestures for me to follow, and he pulls me up the last part. Before I can even look at Blake, he kisses me, really kisses me, and I grab his hair in return, running my fingers through it. He picks me up by my ass and pushes me into the cold, hard tree as I wrap my legs around him, hardly noticing the tree at my back. I can’t help the moan that escapes my lips as I feel his hard length pushed against my stomach. Blake pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily.

“You taste too fucking good, beauty. I can't stop thinking about you. I want you so bad, but not like this,”he mutters with his blue eyes reflecting the lights from the tree.

“I want you too, but I’ve never done much before. I don't want to rush this, is that all right?” I ask, and I'm hoping it is. It’s clear Blake is far more experienced than I am. I know what I feel for him might cloud my judgement, and even if it feels right being with him, I need a little time to get to know Blake.

“Yeah, it's no problem. I’ll wait forever for you. Look, I don't want to sneak around. I know they will most likely kick the shit out of me, together, but I want everyone to know you’re mine,” he says.My heart flutters at his statement.

I hesitate before saying, “Not yet, please. I want that, too. It's just things are complicated, and they wouldn't understand. How about one month and then we can tell them?” I ask, thinking I can convince them to talk to me before trying to kill him and maybe find out what they’re hiding before they hate me.

“Only one month,” he says in a dark tone, which shows he isn’t happy about it but will do it for me, and it makes me smile.

He kisses me again, and this time he slips his hands under my top, running them slowly down my back while kissing down my neck. I let him before turning my head, and I start kissing his neck the same way he kisses me, moving up to his jaw while he groans slowly.

“What about the girlfriend?” I ask suddenly, wanting to make sure that this is just us, no one else.

He pulls away a little to look me in the eye. “She isn't anything, Izzy, just a way to pass the time. I know that sounds bad, but while we may have been together a few times, we both messed around a lot. She knew it would never be serious. I was always honest with her. I am being honest with you, I want serious. I can't stop thinking about you,” he says, driving every word straight to my heart. I can’t help but remember the warning Allie gave me earlier.

“You shouldn't have kissed me when you just broke up with her if you wanted serious from me. It makes me feel like another number to you.” I frown, pushing his chest slightly so I can sit down on the landing of the tree house, looking over the peaceful garden.

He sits by me and takes my hand, kissing it gently. It’s a sweet gesture from such a big guy, making me look up at him as stares down at me.

“I do want you to be a number, my number one.” He smirks.

“That sounds like a cheesy line.” I grin at him.

“I have to use all my cards to get my girl to believe me.” He smiles, taking my breath away with how handsome he is with the moon catching his blond hair; this man is way too pretty for his own good.

In that moment, looking into his eyes, I believe him. “I want that, too. I can’t even think about how hard this is going to be when they find out. I don’t think they will let you see me, knowing your past with girls. You sure you want me, knowing it’s going to be difficult?” I ask. I am seriously worried, not a lot of men would take the crap my brothers are going to give him when they find out.

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