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they 're just conquests to him . ''
i cross my arms and frown at him .
`` that sounds pretty hypocritical .
i mean , the first time we met , you asked me to have a threesome with you and you did n't even know my name . ''
a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth .
`` ok , that 's fair .
for the record , you just looked so shocked , and innocent-i could n't resist .
you 're right , it 's not like i have a great track record either .
i guess the difference , in my mind , is that i 'm upfront about it .
i 've never promised a woman a relationship .
the girls i sleep with , they know that it 's not going anywhere because i tell them that .
jackson pulls them in by promising them a future with him , and then as soon as he sleeps with them , he acts like they do n't exist . ''
`` but you 're friends with him ... '' i point out .
`` well , he 's a good friend .
loyal , funny ... '' `` but he sounds like a bad person .
i just ...
i do n't know why you 'd want to be friends with a person like that .
sorry , maybe i 'm just ... '' i shake my head , trying to process this new version of events .
`` he did ... what you just said about him does match up with some things he was saying to me .
god , i ca n't believe i fell for it . ''
`` he was n't always like that , '' nate says quietly , gesturing vaguely to a framed photo sitting on his desk .
i glance at it , then walk over to get a closer look .
`` oh my god , is that you ? ''
i ask , picking it up .
it 's a class photo from elementary school , three rows of smiling kids with their teacher standing next to them .
nate is easy to spot .
`` you look so serious , like you 're on the way to the office or something . ''
nate peers over my shoulder at it , his face an exact reflection of his younger self .
`` that was the year my mom left , '' he says quietly .
`` oh .
oh , i 'm sorry .
do you ever see her ? ''
`` no .
she made her choice . ''
he pauses for a moment .
`` that one 's jackson , '' he says , pointing out a grinning towheaded boy .
i snort .
he had a flirtatious smile even back then .
`` i 'm sorry you heard me say those things .
jackson 's the kind of guy who , if you tell him something 's off limits , that makes him want it even more .
he 's never been denied anything .
so i thought it would be better to convince him that he did n't want you in the first place . ''
i fiddle with the edge of the frame and then turn to face him .
he 's standing closer than i thought he was .
`` so ... you do n't think those things about me ? ''
i whisper , feeling suddenly vulnerable .
`` no , the exact opposite , really , '' he replies , equally softly .
`` brynn you are gorgeous . ''
there 's a charged moment between us .
i ca n't rip my gaze away from his eyes .
i realize he 's moving forward ever so slowly , and my lips automatically part , my body taking over from my brain .
every inch of my skin tingles , and i suddenly feel brave-a completely different reaction than anything i 've ever felt being this close to jackson .
just before his mouth touches mine , i close my eyes .
as our lips come together , an exquisite feeling rushes through me , unlike anything i 've ever felt before .
his lips graze mine , then return a bit more firmly , guiding me into a kiss .
i 've been kissed by a handful of guys over the years , but this kiss is something else .
nate is something else .
his hands wrap around my waist and slide to the small of my back as his lips crush against mine .
all my thoughts evaporate , all my worries and insecurities-maybe it 's that i can tell he knows exactly what he 's doing , and so i can let myself go , trust myself in his hands .
he nudges me slightly with his nose and his lower lip brushes against mine .
i almost gasp as i feel his tongue move smoothly into my mouth .
electricity flies straight from my mouth to the base of my hips .
i press my tongue against his as my hands move of their own accord up to his chest .
i lay my palms against his pecs and feel his racing heartbeat under his rapidly rising and falling chest .
it 's my first hint that there 's something else hiding under his completely confident exterior .
his tongue moves deeper into my mouth , and his hands pull me close against his body .
i wrap my arms around his neck and run my fingers through the hair falling onto the collar of his polo .
i can feel his erection pushing against my stomach as he slides one hand over my ass .
i want nothing more than to rip my clothes off , jump on his bed , and be ravaged by him ... to feel his mouth all over my body ... inside me ...
suddenly he pulls away .
i almost fall forward in surprise as my eyes blink open .
`` i should n't have done that , '' he mutters .
`` why ? ''
i whisper , falling quickly from my cloud .
`` it 's wrong ... you 're my stepsister .
maybe it 's best if we just keep our distance from each other . ''
`` yeah , you 're right ... '' i reply , feeling like he 's just slapped me in the face .
i walk quickly to the door .
i pause before i open it , wishing i could put into words what i 'm feeling , but i ca n't .
i open the door and close it softly behind me before rushing to my room .
as i curl up under the covers , i try to wrap my mind around all the twists this night has taken .
i ca n't believe nate and i just kissed .
i mean , i 've been dreaming about that moment since i first laid eyes on him freshman year .
i 've found that most things in life do n't live up to how i 've built them up in my head , but that kiss far surpassed any fantasy .
i can feel my body reacting at just the thought of his lips touching mine again .
but is he right ?
was it wrong of us to do that ?
light is creeping around the sides of my shades by the time i manage to fall asleep , and i still have n't managed to find an answer .
chapter twelve nate and i pass the next few weeks as though we 're each surrounded by an invisible force field .
whenever one of us enters a room , the other is propelled out of it .
we 're only pushed into close proximity with each other when we have a family dinner , though my mom has been pushing those on us quite frequently in an effort to bond .
if she only knew .
today , though , nate 's and my presence is required at the same event : the thornhill 's annual fourth of july party .
it 's in our very own backyard , starting in the afternoon with a crab boil and extending through the evening fireworks .
apparently we 'll get a good view of the country club 's annual fireworks display just down the river .
my mom has absolutely insisted on buying me a new dress for the occasion , and even came into the fitting room with me to make sure it fit correctly .
the shift dress is not exactly my style , but i 've seen it on plenty of girls at school .
i 'm just worried about spilling tartar sauce on the bright white fabric .
i pull on my new pair of gold wedges , and walk downstairs to see if my mom needs any help .
i 'm taken aback by the flurry of activity downstairs .