More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
To the ones who have ever felt like giving up on love because of an ex. Do not settle for someone who makes you feel caged. The right person will never try to break your wings, they will help you spread them. They will love you the way you are, the real you.
The door opens, and she’s the first one to walk out of the diner. My eyes travel up and down her length, and again I’m mesmerized by her. She’s wearing tiny denim shorts and a red tee. My stomach twists and turns, and my skin warms up. Our eyes lock on each other’s, and I don’t want to look away, but this moment can’t last forever.
“What happened?” His voice is quieter than I expect. He stops just behind my back, and goosebumps spread across my skin. “Nothing.” “Why did she throw her drink on you? It didn’t look like an accident.” He sounds strange. Almost like he cares.
“She knows I have no friends here.” “Meaning?” “No one wants to talk to me. Or even notice me. People act like I don’t exist.” I shut my eyes because my voice is trembling. Then I take a deep breath and look at him through the mirror. “That’s my life now.” “Why?” “Because they think you hate me, and no one wants to be on your bad side.” “My bad side?”
“You’re a popular guy, and people respect you. A lot of girls want to date you, or just sleep with you,” I explain, wondering why I even need to tell him this. He doesn’t look like an idiot who doesn’t know the power he has over people in this place. Or am I reading him wrong? “After you kicked me out, they all think I offended you or something. They ignore my presence.” “Wait…” he mumbles, frowning. “They’re doing this to you because of me?”
“Yes, Thompson, they’re doing this to me because of you.” “That’s bullshit. I never asked—” “You sure are an idiot,” I snap, anger consuming me. The walls of the room close in on me; my breath becomes ragged. “People at the party saw what you did. They think I wronged you. And for them, that’s enough of a reason to have nothing to do with me. You don’t even need to ask them.” “Why didn’t Benson tell me? I could’ve fixed it a long time ago.” “Because I haven’t told him,”
“Promise me something.” “Whatever you want,”
“If you meet a girl you like, one who causes your heartbeat to speed up, who is constantly on your mind, day and night; one who stirs such strong emotions within you that it is hard to control yourself. If you meet a girl like that, promise me you will bring her here and introduce her to me.” My face drains of color. I’m speechless. “Please, Colt, it’ll mean the world to me. Promise me.”
“Hey.” An arm wraps around my wrist, stopping me. I know it’s Thompson without even looking. “What happened?” “Nothing,” I whine, trying to wipe these traitorous Niagara Falls tears off my face. He slowly turns me toward him, gently taking my chin between his fingers. He makes me look him in the eyes, and I feel myself drowning. His brown eyes are so dark, they remind me of a starless sky. He gazes at me with tenderness, making my knees give in. What is it with this guy? I have no
idea what he wants from me, but what’s more, I have no idea what I want from him.
“I don’t like seeing you so upset.”
I turn my head just slightly and see Benson and her strolling to the front door. A beast in my chest roars, and a poisonous feeling fills my lungs. He has what I want. Obsessively. It’s definitely not healthy, and it makes me want to do stupid things. Things I’m going to regret later for sure.
I press her closer, and she gasps in surprise, letting me slide my tongue inside her mouth. The second mine brushes hers, my cock comes to life and my whole body becomes tingly, because she answers my kiss, closing her eyes at once. She has a fucking piercing in her tongue, and it makes this moment even more sensual. More passionate, but at the same time I go slow. I don’t want to rush things, not with her. I want to experience every emotion this kiss is giving me, every quickened heartbeat this girl causes me. I want it all.
This girl drives me crazy, and I have no
idea if I’ll ever be able to react to her without looking like an obsessed moron.
I just had the best kiss of my life. I’ve never felt—
“Seeing you in my bomber is nice too. I thought you threw it away.” Her gaze dashes to me.
Moving on instinct, I press my palm to her cheek and lock my heated gaze with hers. “How come you’re friends with Clay?”
“I like him—not in a romantic way or anything. You know that connection when you just click with someone?
“You’re such a feisty girl,” I coo, dragging my thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ve never met anyone like you…” “Colt,”
Ava says my name, and the sound is so overwhelming and so powerful, I inch closer and place a light kiss on the seam of her lips. “I don’t want to be another random hookup for you.” She could never be a hookup. Absolutely out of the question.
“And Drake can be a hookup?” I ask, holding her gaze. Her brows knit together, and anger crosses her features. “Drake could be a boyfriend, not just a hookup, if I wanted more.” She takes a step back, and my hand drops to my side. “You just spoiled everything, asshole.” “Oh, really?” I mutter, watching her head to the door. “So Benson is good enough for you, but I’m not?” Abruptly, she twirls around and glares at me. “How would I know anything about you? All you do is make me feel like you fucking hate me.” she whisper-yells, balling her fists. “You took my words all wrong, and now you are
...more
“I’m an idiot. I’m sorry. I fucked up,” I utter in her ear, kissing her neck tenderly. “Can I touch you?” She presses into me; her voice is breathless. “Yes…please…”
My grip on her jaw tightens. “I want you to come for me,” I whisper, and she nods erratically. “Are you close?” “So close…”
I plunge my fingers into my mouth and lick them clean. “You taste like heaven.”
This girl is a fucking hurricane, and I’m right in the
middle of it. In all honesty, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
I desperately want to have her, not only in my bed, but in my life, and that’s why this shit scares me to death.
“Wow.” Blinking, I meet my best friend’s gaze, noticing a little twinkle behind his irises. Why is he staring at me like that? “You really like her, don’t you?” “Maybe.” “I knew it. Man, I want to hug you right now,” Clay murmurs. “Fuck off,” I scoff, standing up. “See you tomorrow.”
“Are you going to the library?” “Maybe.” I smirk, snatching my backpack. I haven’t been in the library for two years, but to finally get to see her? I’d go to the end of the fucking earth. “I still need to talk to her,” he says lazily. “Maybe I should come with you.” “Don’t you fucking dare,” I threaten him with a smile on my face, and he laughs again. “Bye, Clay.” “Bye, Colt-on.” Clay moans, and I show him two middle fingers. Moron.
I want to tell her that she’s the only one who has this effect on me, the only one who gets me
off like I did when I was younger, a horny teen. I want to tell her so many things, but I can’t. It’s not the place and not the time. At least for now.
For the first time in my entire life, I met a girl who turned my world upside down. Fucked up my head and made me brainless. I feel alive around her and empty when she’s not with me. Her behavior is confusing and irritating, and it’s totally driving me crazy.
As soon as I press harder on his dick, Colton freezes. He grabs the back of my neck and forces me to look him in the eyes. I gaze at him intently through blurry vision. “I told you, Ava. We aren’t going to have sex in the movies.” “And I told you that sounded like a challenge.” Why is he so stubborn? He wants it just as much as I want it. “Let me make you feel good.” “Kissing you feels good,” Colt hums huskily, and my breath hitches in my throat.
“Please, let me make you feel good,”
wait for his decision. I won’t take it further if he doesn’t want it. “Please, Colton…” He watches me in silence, his brows knitted together, and then he just shakes his head no. My skin flames up, and I fidget in my seat. His rejection stings, and I scrunch my nose, trying to do anything to keep myself from crying. I take my hands off his lap, and stare straight ahead, not seeing anything. I have no idea what he wants from me, because what I’ve heard about him contradicts how he is with me.
“I can’t believe I thought I liked you.”
My heart stops for just a moment, and then it speeds up and thunders in my ears. She thought she liked me? Liked? As in past tense? No. That’s bullshit. I refuse to accept it.
lift her, making her lock her legs behind my back. She licks her lips, her breath hitching. “What are you doing?” Ava whispers, all her bravado gone. “Kidnapping you.” I head in the direction of my apartment building. It’s about twenty minutes away from here, but I’ll carry her the whole way without any problem. “Looks like that’s the only way to make you listen to me.”
“Do you think that’s the reason I’m carrying you? That I’m afraid you’ll run away from me?” His voice is full of amusement, and I pinch my brows together. “Why else?” “Because I want to.”
“What happened at the movies?” “Meaning?” Colt leans on the couch, propping his head on his hand. “Why did you say no? You were into me just as much as I was into you. Then you pushed me away. Whatever you want to call it, the result is the same. You were cold and distant.” “Didn’t I tell you I liked kissing you?” “You did,” I agree, shifting a little to take a hair tie from my purse. I collect my hair and twist it into a bun. “But you could’ve handled it differently. You didn’t have to ditch me the second you rejected me, without any explanation.”
“You have no idea how sorry I am. For assuming you slept with Moore, for not telling you about the bet, and for being a fucking jerk who can’t handle his emotions. Your college experience wasn’t a nice one because of me and my actions.” It means a lot that he says it. The first step in fixing things is to make sure we understand our mistakes. I only hope the honesty I hear in his voice and see in his eyes is real.
“You’re not sleeping on the couch.” I take his outstretched hand, letting him pull me to my feet. “I can go back to my dorm and sleep in my bed.” “No.” It’s firm. With a pinch of finality. Steely. Colton doesn’t expect objections. He’s sure I’ll stay. “I don’t really take orders.” “It’s not an order.” He takes a step forward, still holding my hand in his. “Please, Ava, stay.”
“Okay.” I lace my fingers through his, and his Adam’s apple bobs up and down.
“You look tired.” He cups my cheek with his hand, bending down to meet my eyes. “Even though it’d be flattering if you passed out while I was fucking you, that’s not how I want our first time to be.”
The effect she has on me is just…wow. I never thought it could be possible for someone to affect me like she does.
“What did you want to ask?” “Do you like me?”
“Yeah, I do. I like you. I thought I’d made it embarrassingly obvious.”
“And confusing,” she utters, smacking her lips together. “I like you too, but—”
“You don’t date anyone,” Ava blurts, grabbing her coffee mug between her palms. “And before I went to college, I promised myself I’d do the same. Hookups are the only thing I’m interested in right now. At least in my first year.” “It’s my last year here.” “And that’s another reason why I don’t want anything serious.” She brings the mug to her lips, but instantly lowers it to the table. “Can you imagine falling for someone and then saying goodbye as soon as they graduate? I don’t know about you, Colton, but my feelings can’t be changed with a remote control. I can’t turn them on and off
...more
