Page 15 of Sweet Lies

Shoving her away, I step forward, only for her to rush forward to stand in front of me. Moving forward only causes her to step back, but not to move out my way.

“Not happening, Rebecca. I don’t have a death wish.”

I move, and she moves. I move again, and it’s the same outcome. Breathing out a frustrated sigh, I run my hand through my hair and try to find the words to convince her to change her course.

“That’s why it should be you—because they won’t have your head. Anyone else wouldn’t be so lucky. But you’re E’s friend. You’remyfriend.”

A laugh breaks free but it has no humor. I’m the closest thing to a friend Elijah has, but he’s becoming more distant by the day. The day-to-day operations and responsibilities we have are changing both of us rapidly. There’s no other way to survive in this world but to grow tougher and meaner. I won’t break that to Rebecca. She already knows, even if she won’t admit it. But I won’t be the one to put it into words.

“What’s so funny?” she demands with a pout that would look annoying on anyone but her. On her it’s just cute.

Cute? I need to get my head screwed on straight before her brother or father has it removed.

“Bec, I’m not going to kiss you. Stop asking before someone hears, and we both end up in the basement getting punished.”

“No one else will do it. Everyone else has been kissed by now. I’m the only one who hasn’t. I want it to be you,” she begs once more, moving closer.

“I’m sure that’s not true. And it won’t be me. Can’t you go back to how you were last night, being all quiet?” I ask with little hope.

Last night, Rossi had a party, and it got intense. She’d hardly said a word to anyone. She’d wanted to run the entire night, and it was clear to everyone. Claire and her brother had tried to block her, but there was only so much they could do.

Hurt crosses her features and she turns away. Damnit.

I grab her shoulder, stopping her. “That’s not what I meant. I just…Bec, we need to leave some things alone. You know that much. Your brother and father’s goodwill toward my dad and me only goes so far. Kissing you isn’t in that reach.”

“I talk to you because you’re the only one Icantalk to,” she admits quietly. “Everyone else talks around me or at me. Half the time, they spend as little time as they can with me before moving on to my other siblings. I watch you the same way you watch me.”

“One day, you’re going to realize just who you are, Rebecca Rossi, then you won’t need me anymore. You’ll see. One day you’ll see.”

“Will you be around when I do?” she asks, stepping even closer, till she’s mere inches away.

I should step back or push her away. Anything but what I do next, which is pull her closer.

“You’re the princess in the tower, Bec. The one everyone sees but can never have. Why would you want me to be the one to kiss you first? Did you not read enough princess books growing up? You should wait for your prince or some shit.”

Our lack of space has only increased her boldness. “My life is the opposite of a fairy tale. The more likely story is I die young or get married to someone I can’t stand. I won’t live like that. This moment is the closest I’ll come to a fairy tale.”

Before I stop her, she closes the inch between us and kisses me softly.

I should end it here. Say that was her first kiss and walk away, but I don’t. Instead, I part her lips and deepen the kiss. She’s unsure for just a moment before following my lead.

After a second, I let her take control. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me into her till we’re up against the wall. My hands rest on her back, not daring to move anywhere else.

Kissing Rebecca is everything I knew it would be. My body is on fire with need. I want her, and I can never let her go.

Rebecca’s hands rest against my chest, and her moan of pleasure breaks my control. I press her into the wall, lifting her so her legs wrap around my waist, her fingers digging into my scalp. Nipping her lower lip, my hands roam as she hugs my back, pulling me even closer. I move to kiss her neck, every thought leaving my body except giving her everything she deserves.

“I love you,” she whispers.

Her words are the ice water I need to break the spell. I jump away from her as if I’ve been burned. If anyone were to catch us now, there would be no hiding what we’d been doing. Her lips are swollen and red from the kiss; both our eyes are wild from the moment. “We can’t.”

“Just admit it once, Andre. Just once tell me the truth,” she begs, stepping back into my arms. Her eyes are wide with determination.

“You know.” I hope that will be enough for her, but I should have known better.

“Say the words. Just once. Please.”

The pleading is my undoing.

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