Caught Stealing (Leighton U, #2)

by C.E. Ricci

But hey, what doesn’t kill you just gives you seriously fucked-up coping mechanisms and one massive self-destruct button.

“Yeah, Hold. I took a page straight from your playbook and let someone get on their knees for me in the upstairs bathroom with a bunch of other people right outside. Best blowjob of my life; the scent of weed and stale beer truly was the best kind of aphrodisiac. I get why you enjoy it now. Ten outta ten, highly recommend.”

None of it feels right because he’s not the person I want to be kissing. Because he’s not his best friend.

It became about him well before I ever found out about our elusive one-night-stand back in May.

And what might be even more confusing is now…I actually care about him.

My eyes sink closed, finally allowing myself to admit what I’ve known for a while now. I want him.

“Why are you doing this?” I whisper. “Because it’s all I can think about anymore.” His attention drifts from my eyes back to my lips. “You’re all I think about. And I can’t do anything to stop it.”

“Don’t you dare,” he whispers harshly while tightening his hold on my hip. “You’re not ending this now. I’m not fucking done with you.” Then he crashes his mouth back to mine, and I drown all over again.

He’ll be lucky if I ever let him out of reach ever again, especially when it took this long to get him here in the first place.

God, he’s beautiful. Beautiful and finally fucking mine. “I want both,” he finally says slowly, fingers dancing down my bicep. “I want you to drive me to the brink of insanity only to stop and let me return the favor.”

“Kason and I aren’t together,” he says, arms crossed over his chest as he frowns at me. “We aren’t in a relationship, never have been. There’s nothing monogamous about it, and if he wanted to see someone else or sleep with someone else, he’s perfectly allowed to.”

Hell if I’m gonna give him another reason to hate me. Not when I’m already dying for him to stop.

“You have to stop looking at me like that.” My eyes follow the lines and planes of his face as I murmur, “I wish I knew how.”

Especially when he texted me a few days ago with the news that Holden had cut things off with him. I think we’re better off as friends,

oh good I'm glad it's not gonna continue the whole book!

I’m going to Hell for this. But fuck, the road to Hell has never tasted so sweet.

“You’re allowed to be a little selfish sometimes, baby. It doesn’t make you a bad person.”

100% and if anyone makes you feel bad for your own happiness then they are not your people!

“Then claim me. Own me. And if the jersey isn’t enough, feel free to mark every inch of my body with your cum.”

“I’m yours, Nix. Always. You have to know that. So choose you, baby. ‘Cause I’m choosing you too.”

Because I’ll always choose him. Even if he can’t. Even if it tears me apart in the process.

Choosing me means choosing you, too.”