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TWELVE
DRAKE
This was a bad idea. I should have kept her at a distance.
My decision to invite her for pizza was a stupid one and now I’m paying the price.
Imogen is an intelligent girl and won’t swallow my lies easily, and yet the truth could blow this entire thing apart.
I wasn’t meant to engage so closely. But I can’t help myself.
She’s a magnetic force I can’t resist, and even sitting beside her on the bench was torture.
I’m shocked at my reaction to her and worried if I’m honest. She is off limits and I have a hankering to cross the line and be damned. And I would be—damned that is because actions have consequences and I’m fully aware of what they are concerning her.
“Tell me.” Her determined voice cuts through the air in the room as I peer into the fridge and my heart sinks at the determination in her voice.
I close the door and set the pie on the counter, noting how she leans against the doorjamb, watching me with a hard glare of distrust.
“I don’t have to tell you anything.”
I attempt to regain the upper hand and remove the knife from the drawer and slice the pie into quarters.
She heads toward me and the sweat trickles down my back as my body reacts to that one simple act.
I can’t tear my eyes away from her flashing blue eyes, the steel in them shocking me a little.
For such a sweet girl, she sure has fire in her veins and as she stops at the counter, she fixes me with a determined, “Why are you really here, Drake?”
Her question catches me off guard and she leans closer, the air between us filled with tension and something else way more destructive.
She holds my gaze and whispers, “Why me?”
There are so many things I could say right now and the truth definitely isn’t one of them and for a few seconds, my mind races as I struggle to answer her.
I glance down at the knife in my hand and search for the answer in the gleaming blade and she forces more steel into her voice as she demands, “Look at me.”
I raise my eyes and her icy stare collides with mine as she whispers, “It’s all adding up to a mystery I want to solve.”
“What is?” Even now I attempt to deflect and she reaches out and grips my wrist, the blade falling as she applies pressure, and I chuckle softly. “That’s some move. I’m impressed.”
“I have many moves to protect myself, Drake, which is why I want you to answer my god-damned question.”
Despite the tension between us, I grin. Loving her determination, finally understanding the woman I am dealing with, realization calming the situation.
“When we met in the hall on the first day–” I attempt to explain and she nods, “I remember.”
I clear my throat. “Well, it shocked me a little.”
“Why?” Her hand is still on mine as she pushes it down on the countertop, facing me with a determined glint in her eyes.
I pull my hand away and lean back against the fridge door, almost hoping the ice inside calms the situation.
“It gave me inappropriate thoughts concerning you and it shocked me.”
“Oh.”
Her eyes widen and lose a little of their fire and I swallow the sigh of relief that almost escapes.
“When I found you in the woods, I followed you. I was out jogging and saw you in the distance and couldn’t help myself.”
I run my fingers through my hair and smile apologetically. “You must think I’m a crazy stalker.”
She shrugs, a little of her guard rising as she absorbs what a psycho I am.
“I chose you to be my prom advisor. That much is on the record. There was no other student I wanted to spend time with, so I seized my chance.”
My admission has knocked the questions from her eyes and I breathe a sigh of relief. For now, anyway.
I smile regretfully. “You have every right to leave, Imogen. You are probably grossed out by this, and I wouldn’t blame you.”
“Why?” She relaxes a little. “You’re not much older than me, Drake and well, I kind of understand where your heads at because–” She blushes and appears so awkward something shifts inside me.
“I kind of get the fascination because, well, I’m thinking along the same lines concerning you.”
We say nothing, both of us coming clean and once again, I hate the position we’re in and wonder what the best way to deal with this is. I need Imogen for a reason; one I’m not prepared to divulge until I’m ready and this is definitely not that time.
We stand on opposite sides of the room, staring awkwardly at one another, trying not to voice what it is we both really want right now.
It’s like a lit rag of gasoline burning brightly between us. One step and this entire situation could go up in flames and I bite back the insatiable need to dive head first into hell and say regretfully, “Perhaps this was a bad idea.”
“Perhaps.”
Her voice is soft, almost regretful, and she whispers, “I should leave.”
“Perhaps you should.”
She hesitates and I hate how the thought of her leaving kills me inside and as she half turns, I move quickly.
Before I register my intention, I grasp her hand and pull her around, and she almost stumbles into me.
I reach out to steady her and as her eyes raise to mine, I am broken apart by the yearning in her expression.
Unable to check my own stupidity, I bend my lips to hers and unlock the door to hell.
Her lips are soft, perfect and as if they were designed for my enjoyment.
I cup her face in my hands and feed off her innocence, tasting a certain kind of victory.
She kisses me back with the same urgency.
Almost desperation as we contemplate this one and only time.
A small moan escapes into my mouth and I’m unsure which one of us put it there.
Her hands slide around the back of my head as she deepens the kiss and my cock jerks inside my pants as it senses judgment day.
Passion replaces desperation and as I push her hard against the wall, I kiss her deeply, almost roughly.
Desperate for every taste, every delicious second of her lips against mine.
Her tits graze against my chest and the fabric between us is an irritant I leave in place because, as sure as I have overstepped the boundary, I don’t have a fucking death wish, despite how it looks right now.
I’m in no hurry to stop what should never have started, and neither is she as we continue an act that will only have serious repercussions in the end.
Her breathing is fast and as our hearts bang in unity against our chests, I’m aware that one kiss is not enough.
I always knew it wouldn’t be.
I press in closer and she shifts into me. We are now as close as two people can be with their clothes still on.
“Drake!”
A loud voice douses water on the flame pretty damn quick and I freeze as Principal Constable’s voice invades my space.
“Are you in there?”
Fuck!
I clamp my hand on Imogen’s mouth and yell, “I’ll be right out. Wait there.”
Her eyes widen with fear as I nod to the counter and she wastes no time in sprinting behind it and crouching down.
I head to the door, meeting the principal in the hall and she smiles. “Ah, there you are. I was hoping for a word.”
“Sure, um–”
I rake my fingers through my hair and she flashes her eyelashes as she purrs, “Aren’t you going to invite me in? I could sure use a coffee after the day I’ve had, or even something stronger perhaps.”
I don’t miss the interest in her eyes as she casts them over my entire body and it appears that Karma really is a bitch and has delivered me Angela Constable in all her glory.
It’s obvious what her intentions are and as she casts her eyes behind me, sweat rolls down my back like a raging torrent.
“Sure.” I gulp. “Take a seat outside and I’ll fetch it out there. It’s such a warm night we would be more comfortable there.”
“Okay.” She smiles flirtatiously and turns on her six-inch heels.
I wait for her to leave and as she reaches the door, she turns and her sharp gaze rests on me. “Are you okay, Drake? You appear to be a little on edge.”
“Sorry, I um, well, just got off the phone with my girlfriend. She’s pissed that I haven’t been to see her since I started here and, well, you know how it is.”
Lies easily drip from my tongue and she sighs, disappointment rife in her eyes. “You have a girlfriend?”
“Yes, um, Sonia. We’ve been together since college.”
“I see.” She hesitates and then smiles. “But you’re not married yet.” She winks and I swear I should receive an Oscar for not revealing how disgusted I am at the thought of me and the principal.
“I’ll wait outside and maybe I can improve your evening.”
As she leaves, I wait for her to close the door before heading back into the kitchen.
As I make my way behind the counter, I’m surprised to find it empty and as the breeze rustles the drapes, a slow smile spreads across my face.
I knew I liked this girl.
Apparently, Imogen wasted no time and got the hell out of Dodge and as I come to terms with what happened here tonight, I’m surprised to discover I wouldn’t change a thing.
Table of Contents
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- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13 (Reading here)
- Page 14
- Page 15
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- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
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- Page 21
- Page 22
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- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
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- Page 37
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- Page 39
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- Page 48
- Page 49
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- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53