Page 45 of Every Thought Taken

My cheeks heat at his flattery, my heart hiccuping in my chest.

I’ve never been the girl who truly knows or owns her beauty. Sure, there are days I feel pretty, believing the compliments of others. But more often than not, I don’t see what they do. I don’t look in the mirror and see the “hot” or “beautiful” girl they call me in my reflection.

Anderson lays a hand on my exposed thigh and gives a subtle squeeze before his hand drifts beneath the hem of my dress. “You steal my breath, North.” His thumb strokes the inside of my leg where my thighs touch. “Make me lose focus.” He presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “Drive me wild with need.” His hand inches higher, the tips of his fingers brushing the fabric of my panties before he leans in and steals a deeper kiss. “Love you, North,” he whispers against my lips. “God, do I love you.”

I rest my forehead on his and close my eyes. “Love you too, Ander.” Tilting my chin, I press my lips to his again. “So much.”

A knock at the door has us jumping apart seconds before Lessa walks in. My heart hammers in my chest, my vision a touch wobbly. I focus on quieting my heavy breathing and pray my friend doesn’t notice our distressed state.

When I peek up at her, she’s wiping her hands over her outfit. “Ready?” Her bright eyes meet ours. Before either of us answer, she spins on her heel and exits the room. “C’mon. I don’t want to be the last to arrive.”

I rise from the bed, tug down my dress, and extend my hand to Anderson. “Party time, psycho surgeon.”

He slips his hand into mine, swings his legs off the bed, and stands. Not an inch of space between us, he brings a hand to my neck, his thumb stroking the line of my jaw before he tips my head back and kisses me with hungry lips.

“Party time, crazy candy striper.” Something in his tone warms my lower belly.

I lace my fingers with his, lick my lips, and nod as I drag him from the room.Party time.

I am so over this party.

The past hour plus has been nothing but a terrible mix of booze and immaturity. The jocks vie for everyone’s attention as they run through the house in togas that barely cover their bodies and try to convince random girls to do body shots.Bleh. Half the girls present are trashed already, their costumes covering less and less of their bodies.

And we lost Lessa in the throng of people shortly after we walked through the front door.

Anderson tugs my hand and weaves us through the crowd toward the backyard. We step outside, away from the crowd, and I take my first full breath since arriving.

“Thank you,” I say as Anderson guides us away from the clusters of people outside.

“Always.”

We stop next to a tall evergreen and spin to face the party. Bottles, cans and cups litter tables, chairs, the pool, Jacuzzi, and the ground. Peeled-away costumes decorate bushes and the ground like additional holiday decor. People make out in the Jacuzzi while others skinny dip in the steaming pool.

I really don’t want to leave Lessa here, but I also don’t want to stay another minute. Pulling out my phone, I type a text to her.

Helena

Where are you? I’m thinking of heading out.

“You message Ales?”

Staring down at the screen, I nod. “Yeah. Don’t know about you, but I’m ready to leave.”

He wraps an arm around my shoulders, his thumb stroking the exposed skin of my arm. “Was ready to leave the moment we got here.”

I glance up at Anderson just as the gray bubble dances on the screen. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“Didn’t want to ruin your fun.” He shrugs.

Dropping my eyes back to the screen, I mumble, “I would’ve left earlier had I known.” As the words leave my lips, Lessa’s message pops up on the screen.

Lessa

I’m staying a little longer. You leaving with Baby A?

Helena

Sure you’re okay if we leave? You’ll be okay? Yes, leaving with Ander.

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