Page 30 of Serpent In White

"That doesn't matter," he grunts, hand running subtly up my back. "It's survival 101. Bodies create more heat when they're huddled together."

"Oh..." My voice is all breathy. It sounds stupid, but I can't help it.

We've never done this before... We've only ever touched like this one time. And we don't talk about that. Or at least we haven't since it happened...

I'm so tense, and I'm sure he can feel it, all my muscles bunched up as he rubs my back slowly, I'm guessing just to keep me warm, though my body is having an entirely different reaction. I rest my head on the pillow, tucking my face away so I don't have to look at him.

I'm embarrassed. I don't think he likes this the way I do. It makes me feel like a creep. But I have to appreciate him not calling me out on it. He never does.

"I don't want to hear you apologizing to me again, Darian.” His voice rumbles into me, and my face pivots back up. "Do you understand?"

I'm speechless. I don't know what to say, so I just nod.

"You did nothing wrong," he goes on, his tone sure, and not to be argued with. "We left because we had to. I couldn't let you stay there for one more second. I won't ever let someone do that to you again. We're here because this is where we need to be. And we're gonna make it."

I gape up at him, my entire body flooding with warmth, at his protectiveness, his love. I don't think I've ever felt it before. I've never had someone who would sacrifice everything to protect me. That's why we left...

So he could keep me safe.

It should make me feel like a wuss. I mean, I'm fifteen, and I can fight. I have muscles, I play football. I can take care of myself.

But I didn't. None of that helped me when I needed it. That's why Drake was there. To get me out. And I like that. I like him feeling protective of me…

Because I think I would do just about anything for him.

"Okay," I speak, answering him.

Watching his eyes, I wish I knew what he was thinking. They're flickering between mine, his fingers still trailing my back. They go lower, and my body reacts. It takes me a second to register how hard my dick is. And heat rushes up my neck.

His powerful hand pulls me closer to him by my waist, and I hesitate.

"Closer," he whispers. "I need to keep you warm, dumbass."

I falter, shaking my head. I can't press my lower half into him... He'll feel my erection, and then he'll get freaked out. Because he's my brother, and he doesn't think of me that way. Even though we're not technically related, he's my best friend on earth, and I don't think he likes boys.

My jaw sets as he tugs me again, and this time I go, allowing him to meld our hips together. The moment my erection brushes his thigh, a wave of tingles sheets my skin. I gulp as my mouth fills with saliva. I'm so damn glad it's dark, because I'm sure I'm blushing like a total chick.

Even though all I want in the world is to look away, my eyes connect with his. I expect him to look disgusted, or angry. But he doesn't. He's giving me a look I can't read at all, and I just wish I could.

His hand, having previously halted its movements, picks back up again, rubbing me gently, flinching my dick against his waist.

And then something crazy happens. He hums.

A small, soft noise resounds from his chest, directly into mine. I'm not sure why, but the deranged part of me wants to believe it's because he likes the feeling of me, hardening against him.

I'm too busy watching his face, desperate to know what's running through his head to notice that his hand is shifting lower and lower, until it's resting right above my ass. I swallow my nerves, my throat as dry as a desert, prompting me to lick my lip.

His glowing eyes fall to my mouth, and my dick jerks even harder.

I can't even do this. I'm so afraid, ofeverything,and it's pissing me off.

I burrow my face into the pillow again to hide.

"Darian..." he mumbles.

"What...?"

"Are you okay?" His thumb is drawing circles on my lower back.