Page 13 of Inseparable
“Really?” I’m surprised because all the douche does is tease me mercilessly.
Dev frowns. “You’re not going to say yes, are you?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe.”Absolutelynot, but I’m curious to see how Devinreacts.
His frown deepens. “Why would you go out with him? I thought you didn’t like him.”
I chew on my lip. “I don’t, not really, but some of the other girls are teasing me because I’ve never kissed a boy, so maybe I should go out withAdam, get it over and done with, and then they’ll back off.”
Devin stiffens underneath me. “That’s a stupid reason to go out with him, and I’m not letting you. I don’t trust him not to hurt you.”
“It’s not upto you.”
Silence descends, and it’s not the comfortable type.
“What if I kissed you?” he whispers, and my cheeks heat again.
“What?” I sit up a bit straighter, looking into his eyes.
“Just so you can get it over with and you won’t have to date the douche then.”
My face drops, along with my heart. “Thanks, but I don’t want to force you to do something you don’t wantto do.”
He frowns, and his eyes drop to my mouth. “Who says I don’t want to kiss you?”
My brows climb to my hairline. “You do?”
His lips curve into a cheeky smile. “It’s not like it’d be a chore. You’re hot,Ange, and you’re my best friend.Andyour first kiss should be with someone who cares about you, and someone you care about, and we care about each other,right?”
I frown, nodding, confused over whether this is a pity offer or not. I want to kiss him, but only if he wants to kiss me. I don’t want charity. Before I can raise more objections, he tilts my chin up with his finger. “Let’s stop talking, and just do this.” His eyes probe mine for permission. The butterflies in my chest are going crazy, and my heart’s beating so, so fast. My mouth feels dry as I nod.
He keeps his eyes locked on mine as he lowers his head and kisses me. I close my eyes, wanting to fully absorb the rush of sensation sweeping over me. My lips move shyly against his, and he wraps his arms around my back, holding me close as he continues kissing me. Fireworks are exploding inside me, and I love the feel of his lips caressing mine. I don’t want himto stop.
“What the hell?”Aydenasks in a gruff tone, startling us, and we break apart. My cheeks are roaring red as I cast a quick glance at Devin. His eyes bore into mine, as if he can see straight through to my soul, and he isn’t disguising the look of adoration on his face. My heart soars as I turn to face the music.
“Penny for them?” Ayden asks, catapulting me out of the past. He’s lounging against the doorframe to the kitchen and watching me with an amused grin. I jump at the same time the toast pops in the toaster.
“Oh my God. Don’t creep up on me like that. My heart almost gave out.”
“You need to be more observant, Lina.” He strides toward me, tugging on the ends of my ponytail. “I could’ve been a mass murderer, and you’d still be there staring off dreamily into space.”
My cheeks flare up at his words, and he sends me a strange look. “What were you daydreaming about anyway?”
“Nothing important.” The lie flies out of my mouth. Admitting to Ayden that I was reliving the moment of my first kiss with Devin would not go down well, considering the current situation. And the fact he wasn’t pleased with the discovery his first time around. “Want some?” I hold up a piece of toast as a peace offering–slash–diversion tactic.
Mariah always says if you want to distract a man, offer them food or sex, and since the latter is off the table, food it is.
And Ayden is like a lamb to the slaughter. “Hell yeah.” His belly rumbles, as if on cue.
“Didn’t you eat?”
“Of course, I did.” He snatches a piece of toast, slathering it in raspberry jelly. “But I’m always hungry. You know that.” He yanks on my ponytail again, and I nudge him aside with my hip.
“You must cost your mom a fortune in groceries.”
“I do, but she loves me.” He wiggles his brows, taking a massive bite of toast.
“Doesn’t everyone,” I tease, but it’s the truth. Ayden can do no wrong in most people’s eyes. He’s an all-round good guy who works hard at school and football and doesn’t cause his parents any trouble. He’s like the anti-stereotypical jock. He’s popular, and every kid in school knows his name, but he doesn’t party hard, and he hasn’t screwed his way through the cheerleading squad like most of his teammates. He keeps his head down and his nose clean.
