Page 35 of Kicking It with the Point Guard

“That’s kind of hard to believe with how much she throws herself at you and hangs from you like a baby sloth hangs from their mother.”

The side of his mouth quirks up, but he draws his brows together.

“Violet, I don’t like Allyson.”

“You can lie to me all you want, Cameron. She’s made your position perfectly clear.”

“STOP IT!” Cam shouts. His breaths come in short bursts, and he pulls his knees up, tucking his head inside them.

“What—Cameron, what’s wrong?” I reach for him but pull my hand back at the last minute.

“I hate Allyson. I HATE her. Quit saying we’re together. Just stop.”

He pulls his head up to look me directly in the eyes.

He looks… vulnerable. And hurt.

“Cameron, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. You never talk about…”

“I don’t want to talk about her. There’s nothing to talk about. She ruined me.” His voice breaks and tears streak his face.

Oh. My. God.

I knew she was a bitch, but Cameron is legitimately traumatized. This man who hides his emotions, who only speaks when he feels it’s necessary, who felt the need to protect me, a stranger, when he saw that I was hurt, has been traumatized by this woman.

“Okay. So you and her are nothing then. I’ll drop it. But there’s one more thing I’d like to say before we move on. You can go, or we can watch a movie or do whatever you want. Is that all right?”

He nods.

“She’s doing all this crap to me… because I’m spending time with you…”

He takes a deep breath, fists and jaw clenching, then releases it all.

“Are you saying that she hurt you because I’m your tutor?” His voice is calm, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.

“That, and… other reasons.” I hesitate.

He looks at me, and it feels like he’s looking into my soul. His dark eyes are clear, his gaze thoughtful.

“Other reasons…” His hand reaches for mine. His touch is gentle as he rubs small circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.

“Other reasons like this?”

My heart stutters in my chest.

“Or maybe… like this?” He pulls on my hand, and I somehow wind up in his lap. My stuffed companion falls onto the bed, away from whatever is about to happen.

I turn from him, but he grips my chin tenderly, turning me to face him. His other hand reaches behind me, and he starts twirling a strand of my hair.

He’s so close to me, his clean, masculine scent washes over me. Its recent familiarity calms me and, at the same time, makes my heart beat faster and faster until it feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest.

“Or maybe…” He dips his head, his lips just a breath away from my own. “Maybe for something like this.”

I’m not sure which one of us leaned that last centimeter.

Soft lips brush my own, and I close my eyes. Cameron deepens the kiss, his tongue running along the seam of my lips, and I let him in.

He’s got a handful of my hair now, and he gently tugs, changing the angle to give him easier access to me. The hand that was holding mine now cups the side of my face.

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