Page 89 of Soul So Dark

“No me alejes,” he repeats slowly.

“No me alejes,” I try to emulate his voice.

“Cariño,” he adds.

“Cariño.”

I probably sound like an idiot, but Alex is right. The more I talk to him, the more I want him to keep looking at me, so much so that I twist around and climb over his legs until I’m facing him.

“What does it mean?” I ask again, still not letting him off the hook.

“Don’t push me away,” he says slowly before leaning into my ear, “Darling.”

A wave of butterflies rushes through my stomach as he runs his hands back and forth over the small of my back.

Then his eyes darken ever so slightly. “I’m your teacher now.”

I clench his shoulders when I feel his lips on my neck and the tight suction as he leaves kisses all over my skin. I pull him close, my hips moving dangerously over his lap. But, seconds later, I pull away, my heart beating erratically.

“Can I see it?” I ask, still afraid of what I might or might not do.

“See what?”

“Your number.”

Alex pulls the neck of his sweatshirt wide before yanking it over his head, then drops it on the seat. He does the same with his t-shirt, revealing his taut muscles beneath. He glances down at his left pec, motioning to the white scars. The number 23 is unmistakable, popping against his tan skin.

“Does it hurt?” I ask, lifting my fingers to touch it, but retracting them back into a fist.

“Why don’t you find out?”

I glance up at him dubiously before slowly brushing my fingertips over the raised skin.

“RRRGGGHHH!” Alex lets out a painful yell and pitches forward.

I jump back, letting out a shrill scream as I pull my fists to my chest in terror. But before I can fall off his lap, he grabs me and wraps his arms around my body. And when I finally open my eyes again, his shoulders are shaking with laughter.

“I’m sorry, Dal,” he creaks out between breaths.

My fright turns to anger. “AlexfuckingBarrera!” I shout as I try to wriggle out of his grip.

But it’s no use. He’s bigger, and stronger, and as soon as I feel his bare chest against mine, I sink into his arms, the warmth washing over me like a blanket.

“Go on, Dal,” he teases, “tell me how much you hate me.”

I can only glare back at his glimmering brown eyes.

“You can’t do it, can you?” he smirks.

Alex is such an arrogant asshole. But instead of admonishing him, I pause, and then in a split-second decision, I press my lips to his. Maybe it’s to catch him off-guard, maybe it’s to distract from his mean trick, or maybe I’m just trying to chase that same high from the movie theatre or the empty classroom at school.

My glasses click against his as I kiss him, trying to emulate his movements—the way he showed me.A shiver scurries up my body as he runs his hands up my back. He starts kissing me harder, and soon, my fingers trail from his chest down to his stomach.I let my hand fall, aimlessly fingering his waist while my muscles tremble with a toxic mixture of fear and lust.

I just want to see what he feels like…

My apprehension falters just long enough and I slowly run my hand up and down the front of his pants.As soon as I do, his head falls back onto the seat and he sucks a breath through his teeth.

“Fuuuck…” Alex lets out an airy groan toward the roof of the car.