Page 21 of What He Always Knew

I’d been careful with my actions around her, steering clear of any kind of affection that went past friendship. Every now and then she’d steal a kiss, but I’d always end it early, and I did the same on that Friday morning.

“I better get going,” I said, pulling back with my hands on her arms, but Blake pressed into my space more.

Her lips latched onto mine, her tongue sweeping inside my mouth as she gripped me hard over my dress slacks. And it didn’t matter that all I could think about was Charlie, or that it washerI wanted to rush to that morning — when Blake touched me like that, my body responded.

“Blake,” I warned, grabbing her arms a bit harder to push her back. “I really need to go.”

“Please, Reese,” she begged when her eyes found mine again. They were still shiny and wet, her face twisting with the pain from the trip she had to make into the city. “I need this. I need you. Please.”

I closed my eyes tight as her hand ran the length of my hard-on again, her little body rolling into mine as she kissed my neck.

“Not right now,” I tried, my hand stopping hers from where it was undoing my zipper.

“Why not?” Blake searched my eyes. “You haven’t touched me since I’ve been here. Do you not want me, anymore?”

“It’s not that,” I breathed. “It’s just…”

“What?” she probed, and her hand was already working under mine again. “Please, just let me make you feel good.Ineed to feel good, too. Just for a little bit. Please, Reese.Please.”

“Jesus Christ,” I cursed as she wiggled her hand under my pants and over my briefs below. I gritted my teeth, trying to find a way to get her to stop, but unless I told her the truth, I had nothing.

And I couldn’t break her heart. Not yet. Not today.

So, I relented, dropping my grip on her wrist and letting her take what she wanted.

I let Blake fuck me as I sat on that barstool, working herself to a release in my lap that would take away whatever pain she was feeling. I hated myself so much as I drove myself to school afterward that I considered taking my car right off the bridge.

Because I’d taken Blake’s pain, but I’d also given more to Charlie, in return.

She would hate me when she found out, and shewouldfind out — I’d tell her that day. I had to. I owed her that honesty, and that respect.

Once I explained, she’d understand. Once I got her alone, she’d feel me again. Once I had her again, I’d never let her go.

I just needed one night.

I couldn’t get Charlie alone until after the last bell rang that Friday.

I tried before school, but I’d been too late, and she was nowhere to be found at lunch, either. I wasn’t surprised, not after a week and a half of her avoiding me. She was pissed, and she had the right to be.

But I would change that this weekend.

I rapped on the doorframe of her classroom once the car pool was clear, watching as she tidied up the tables.

“Need some help?”

She stiffened at the sound of my voice, one hand sweeping up to tuck a fallen strand of hair behind her ear, but she continued working without so much as a glance in my direction.

“Nope.”

The word left her lips with a pop, and I grimaced, sliding into the room like the snake I was.

“Okay, how about some company, then?”

“I prefer to work alone, actually.”

I chuckled, taking a seat at one of the tables, my knees riding up comically high as I tried to fit into the tiny chair.

“How long are you going to stay mad at me?”