Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me Go #2)

by Kelsie Rae

“Besides. Colt’s not the one you have to worry about,” Mia adds, stealing my attention from the daunting house in front of me. “Theo’s gonna shit his pants.”

“What the hell are you wearing?” Theo barks, rushing toward us on the front lawn from his porch. Speak of the freaking devil. He’s practically throttling a bottle of beer in one hand as he grabs my arm with his other. Not roughly but with a possessiveness causing my breath to hitch. He’s always been this way, though. Overly protective while detached and bossy at the same time. Like I’m a nuisance. A pariah. Someone he wishes would simply…go away. Yet anytime I try to, he reels me back in.

Hot

Orange Crush will always remind me of him. Theo. Teddy. The boy next door who happened to be my hero. Once upon a time, anyway.

“Look around, Mia. It’s a party. A college party. And what does one normally do at college parties?” I tip my cup in her direction, then lift it to my lips. “Drink, of course.” “Drinking at a party is fine as long as it’s to have fun and not to erase a certain brother’s best friend from your mind.”

“Blake!” Colt calls from the open French doors. My neck snaps in his direction, and I paste on a smile. “Yes?” “You good out here?” My grin widens. “Yup!” He points his finger at Burrows. “She’s my little sister, man. Keep that in mind, all right?” Burrows dips his chin. “Yeah, Colt. I got you.” With a slow nod, Colt turns back to me, adds, “Don’t puke,” and disappears into the house.

This is the good kind of brother

Without bothering to tear his gaze from mine, Theo yells, “Everyone! Out!” I flinch at the sharpness in his tone. He isn’t usually an angry guy. Most of the time, he’s laid back and––dare I say it––almost jovial. Like Santa Claus. Except sexier and without the massive belly.

Unless I’m around. Then, he’s the Grinch with a side of Jack the Ripper.

“You should let me down,” I slur, hating how good he smells. Seriously. It’s delicious. Like aftershave and sweat. But not gross sweat. Good sweat. I didn’t know there was good sweat until this moment. But it’s official. There’s such a thing as good sweat. Clean sweat. And I want to wrap myself up in it. Not to mention the view. Hello, tushy, tush. I kind of want to pinch it, bite it, and smack it all at once. Maybe if I do, he’ll even put me down.

He doesn’t let me go as he leads me to the sink to clean up. And boy, do I need it. When I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, a lump clogs my throat. My dark, smokey makeup is smudged, making me look like a raccoon instead of the sexy goddess I’d been channeling. Not to mention my naturally curly red hair. It’s sticking up in every direction like I just rolled out of bed. I don’t look sexy anymore. I don’t look put together. I look like a freaking train wreck.

Everything hurts when it comes to Theo. My heart. My pride. My confidence.

His gaze slides down my body, and for the first time ever, there’s a glint of heat in it. Not much. Hell, it’s barely a spark. But it’s there. Tempting me. Testing me. My resolve. My self-preservation. My restraint.

You’ve decided it’s your responsibility to boss me around. To make sure no one touches me, when guess what, Teddy? No one asked you to take on those responsibilities. And here’s the real doozy, my friend.” I pat his chest, ignoring the feel of his tense muscles beneath my palm. “I want to be touched. I want to be kissed. To be fu––” He slams his mouth against mine. I gasp, and he shoves his tongue between my lips. It isn’t soft or sweet. It isn’t innocent. It’s freaking dirty. And selfish. Like I’m being used. Like he’s proving exactly what it’s like to wind up with a hockey player instead of the sweet and caring gentleman he thinks

Fucking break me, Theo,

I’ve craved him for years. And now…here he is. Kissing me.

He tears his mouth away and presses his forehead against mine. But even that isn’t gentle. It’s rough. Bruising. Forceful.

In thirty seconds or less, he blew apart every fantasy I’ve ever had about another guy. Honestly, the bastard obliterated them.

I bite my lip, barely able to withhold my grin because of how frustrated he looks in the bathroom light. How sexy he looks. How unhinged he looks. Like I’ve finally managed to burrow under his skin the same way he has mine.

“My point,” he spits, “is a girl like you doesn’t belong with a guy like me––or with any other guy you’d run into at these parties. You should stay away next time.”

Without a word, I turn on my heel and march up the stairs toward his room. I don’t say anything when I slip beneath his bedsheets. I don’t utter a single syllable as his scent rolls over me, tickling my senses and making my mouth water. I don’t say a damn word. Because he doesn’t deserve them. Not my voice. Or my thoughts. Or my feelings.

After tonight, he’s made one thing very clear. He doesn’t deserve a single piece of me. Not anymore. And I’m too stubborn to ever forget it.

I haven’t seen Theo since his party. I’ve been avoiding him––and what happened––at all costs. But now, he’s less than ten feet away, and the reminder of our kiss hits me square in the chest. I still can’t believe it happened. But the memory’s richer than any fantasy I’ve ever whipped up, and boy have I whipped up a few doozies over the years.

An annoyed huff interrupts our friendly banter, and Theo storms back toward the rink without a word.

He's jealousssssss

UNKNOWN NUMBER: So, when I leave this glowing review, do I mention the part where I couldn’t take my eyes off you, or should I focus on the way your hands felt against my leg?

“Nah, because whatever guy takes your cherry is only gonna be a disappointment if you think any of them will live up to the beast between my legs.”

THEO I'm dying

He grabs my throat and angles my head up at him, demanding my full attention. I gulp but hold his gaze.

Holy crap on a cracker, Batman!

After being fucked up enough to kiss Blake at my place a couple months ago, it felt weird to touch anyone else. Wrong, maybe.

“And it’s not like she hasn’t seen a dick before. She isn’t the Virgin Mary or some shit.” “Yeah, well, maybe she is,” I offer, cutting him off. Silence. Fucking silence. Their eyes widen as they exchange curious glances with each other, the energy in the arena twisting with testosterone. And interest. The blood drains from my face, but I keep my expression indifferent, well aware I’m on thin ice and even the smallest wrong move could send them spiraling. “Are you saying she’s a virgin?”

My attention shifts from one player to the next, my blood boiling in my veins at the idea of any of them touching Blakely or being her first.

“Then, let’s make a bet. Hundred bucks says I can sleep with her first.”

He wants to place a bet on Blake’s virginity? I’ll fucking kill him.

She’s so fucking…infuriating. But gorgeous too. Like a tornado. Or a storm. A tsunami, maybe.

I squeeze my hands into a ball to keep them in check when all I want to do is reach out, tug her long red hair into my fist, and slam my mouth to hers.

seeing those green eyes flare to life? It’s like a drug. And I’m ready for my next hit.

Pulling out my cell, I send a quick message to Colt. Me: Going home. Headache. We’ll talk later. His response is almost instant. Colt: Way to piss her off, then ditch her. She’s gonna kill you.

Colt’s right. She’s gonna be the death of me. But what he doesn’t know is she’s been killing me for years. Long before tonight. Why would my future be any different?

“Is there a problem with tiny clothes and no make up?” I cross my arms and cover my braless chest, daring him to say yes. “Nope. I like the freckles.”

With a laugh, I repeat, “Purple?” “Yeah. It’s a recent realization.

“I think you want a guy who pushes you. A guy who eggs you on. A guy who doesn't let you barrel over him. Someone who looks at you like an equal. Someone who challenges you.”

“You want a guy who can break you, Blake,” he rasps, his voice low and gritty and shooting straight to my core. “One who grabs you by the throat and squeezes as he enters you. One who treats you like you aren’t made of glass. You’re different than other girls.”

I thought he wasn’t supposed to be here tonight.

Give me your fire, Blake. Give me everything. Just don’t be numb.

Now, are you gonna fuck me or not? Because I won’t ask you again.

Every inch of her is perfection. I’m not surprised. After all, it’s Blake. She’s always been perfection.

his paramedic uniform.

WTF IS HE THE GUY FROM KATE'S BOOK!?

Fuck that, Theo. I’m not blind. I’ve known you’ve had a thing for her since we were kids. Why won’t you own up to it and date her for real?”

He just got divorced.”

HE IS

It’s hard. Not knowing where we stand. Not knowing where I want us to stand. Not knowing where he wants us to stand. I don’t do unknowns. They’re messy. A waste of time and energy.

Taking the ice pack from the bench, Theo mutters, “Good girl.”

“Yeah, but it isn’t fair to have my nose rubbed in the fact that as soon as he sees me as someone broken, he’ll break it off, and I’ll be all alone again.” Well, damn. When she puts it that way…

Its why its hard for me to tell people I'm bipolar