Try Me (Extracurricular Activities #2)

by Neve Wilder

My gaze had landed on him like lightning drawn to the lone tree in a field, complete with a concurrent crackle of electricity that arced through me.

Mark Farrow, the boy I’d crushed on before I even knew what a crush was. The first guy I’d ever jacked off to. The first guy I’d ever wanted to kiss. The first guy who’d ever touched me exactly the fucking way I’d wanted to be touched. The only guy I could never have.

“Let me ask you a question.” “No, I won’t be your Valentine.” “It’s July.” “I’m hot property.”

“Who pinged your gaydar?” I spluttered. “My…no, I don’t think I have gaydar, exactly.” “Okay, just call it radar then. Everyone has it, I think we’re just initially programmed to think there’s only one setting, and some people figure out there’s more early on and some people figure it out later.

My name in his mouth. My weakness. I wanted him to keep saying it in that throaty, wrecked murmur.

“I would’ve let you in anytime.” I met the dark pools of his eyes, the confession soft. “I always will. I don’t know that I’d ever be able not to.”

Chet: I want to take you out. Mark: Mafia style? Or like to dinner and a movie. Chet: Idiot.

Because the truth was, nothing else felt as good as Mark Farrow. I wasn’t sure anything else ever could.

“There’s no need to apologize for staying true to yourself.”

“I love you,” he whispered. “I tried really fucking hard not to, but—” “I know.” “You do?” I pulled back just far enough to find his eyes. I didn’t want there to be any mistake. “I love you, too. Knew it that night at Kacey’s party. Knew it that night in your bedroom. Knew it that night in your car with Cam—God, did I know it then. I couldn’t stop looking at you. I—” “Shut up,” he murmured, and hooked a hand around the back of my neck, dragging my mouth back to his.

“Fuck, baby,” I murmured into his throat.

This word will never not bring me butterflies