Page 84 of We Are Yours

Was I that obvious?

“Curiosity ache, right?”

Oh! Of course, he’s talking about that…

My stare went wide when he handed it to me, and as soon as I saw his grades, I shouted, “Oh my God!” My hand flew to my mouth, beyond excited.

He passed all his classes. On pure impulse, I threw my arms around his neck, full of pride for him.

“I knew you could do it!”

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me close to his chest. It was one of those embraces that you felt in all the right places. The kind you felt hours later.

“Couldn’t have done it without you,” he muttered close to my ear.

I buried my face in the side of his neck, smiling from ear to ear. His scent was as intoxicating as it was lethal. Maybe it was feeling his bare chest and arms for the first time that had me woozy. He was warm, really warm.

“How do you always smell so fucking good?” he rasped, brushing his lips along my cheek.

“Kraven…”

“I know you feel it.” He paused for a second. “I know you feel me.”

The lump in my throat turned into a mountain.

“You’re seeing?—”

“I see you,” he replied in a low tone, slightly pulling away from me. “And I hate pretending that I don’t.”

I simply stated, “We’re friends.”

“Like you and my brother are friends?”

My heart pounded. “What do you want from me?”

“Prove me wrong. If it’s Julius, tell me.”

Silence.

“Now, if it’s me…” He leaned in close like we were sharing a breath. “Show me.”

I shook my head, stepping back and away from him. “Are you high?”

His smile resembled a Cheshire cat.

“On you?” he mocked, grinning. “Maybe.”

“I don’t get you,” I spewed, suddenly pissed. “You barely interact with me unless it’s for tutoring, and now you’re acting like this? What’s your deal?”

“What’s yours?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, do you love Julius?”

“Yes,” I said in one breath.

If he was hurt, he didn’t show it. Once again proving absolutely nothing to me.