Page 71 of Strings

“I’m being a child? Me? You’re the one who completely overreacted today when you saw me talking to Cherese. You lost your mind over nothing and instead of just admitting it, you staged a flirtation with Stuart.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“I know what I saw.”

“I didn’t stage anything!” I hurry past him and out of the kitchen.

He follows me as his head falls back in frustration. “Bullshit. God dammit! Stop lying to me. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything, it’s lies.”

“I didn’t stage it!” I shout.

He shakes his head.

I purse my lips and swallow hard before I stare at the floor and mumble, “Amy did.”

“What?”

“Amy arranged it, okay? Are you happy?” I shout as I place my hands on my hips. “She saw I was miserable after I left you, and I told her I got jealous and made an ass out of myself. She suggested I give you a taste of your own medicine. I thought it would make me feel better, but it didn’t. It made me feel worse. Because you saw through the whole charade and my flirting with some other guy didn’t bother you at all!”

“What makes you think it didn’t bother me? I’m here, aren’t I?” he yells back.

“You’re only here to yell at me!”

“Don’t tell me why I’m here. I’m here because I didn’t like it. I didn’t like you thinking I was flirting with Cherese. I didn’t like the way I left you standing there alone, and I didn’t like bulky-ass Stuart with all his rippling muscles flirting with my pretend girlfriend!”

“Well good, then. I hope it hurt.”

“It did.”

“Good, then we’re even!”

“Even? Hardly.” He shakes his head and stares at me for a moment. When he speaks again, his volume drops considerably. “You and that mouth of yours are nothing but trouble for me.”

My volume matches his. No one is yelling anymore, and something in the air around us has shifted. “I bet you wish I’d shut up, don’t you?” I gaze up into his eyes and inhale deeply. Why does he have to smell so good? My knees go weak.

“You’re right,” he says, inching closer. “I do want you to shut up.”

“Then make me,” I whisper. I intend my words to sound angry, but instead they’re more of an invitation. Did he just swallow hard, or am I imagining it?

Sebastian places his hand on the back of my neck and quickly pulls my face toward his. I expect him to devour me, but instead, he leans his forehead against mine. I can feel his breath on my face and our lips are inches apart. Every cell in my body stands at attention.

“Is this what you want?” he asks in a whisper.

I can’t speak. I can’t answer him. I’m afraid. For the first time in my life, I’m really scared. Lifting my hand, I place it on top of his as he cups my cheek in his hand.

My lack of response is loud and he hears it. He licks his lips as he turns his head slightly and lowers his lips to mine. His kiss is soft. It’s tender, slow, and like a drug. He pauses as we both inhale like it’s the first breath we’ve ever taken. I want more. I want him. Could he feel the same?

As if he reads my mind, his lips find me again. I’ve never been kissed this way, and the moment he parts my lips and slides his tongue against mine, I realize what I’ve been missing my entire life. I’m not scared anymore. For the first time in my whole life, I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.

Every stroke of his tongue, every kiss he offers leaves me with a high I’ve never felt before. His hand trails down my face, to the side of my neck, then down my back as he pulls me closer. Just when I think he’s about to grab my ass, there’s a knock on my door.

“Hey, Talia. It’s Cherese. You left your phone in my car and it was buzzing up a storm. I think Sebastian wants you.”

Sebastian and I immediately stop kissing and stare at each other. Was it her knocking or what she said that brought us back to reality? I can tell he’s thinking the same thing I am. We crossed a line that was never meant to be crossed.

He stares at me for a moment. His blue eyes pierce through me. I’m so confused. What is it about him that makes me question everything I’ve ever known? Cherese knocks again. “Talia? Is everything okay?”

“I should go.” Sebastian picks up his keys and opens the door.