Page 48 of Savored Sins
“Used to sometimes—in college.” She shoots me a wry smile. “But god, it’s beenages. It smells good.”
“Yeah?” I gaze at her for a moment. Then, a lopsided grin spreading across my face, I grab her by the wrist and pull her down the sidewalk, ducking into the alley that leads behind the bar.
“What are you doing?” Autumn hisses.
I don’t answer, just pull her into a little alcove beneath the fire escape of the building that houses the bar. There’s still the faint hum of chatter from Main Street, but we’re out of sight now, and the sound of cars is only a low rumble.
My hand’s still clasped around Autumn’s wrist. I slide my fingers down to hers, pulling her hand toward me and tucking it into the front pocket of my jeans. My gaze finds hers, and I can tell from how wide her eyes are that she’s kind of afraid of what her hand’s going to feel. And honestly, although itreallywasn’tmy aim, having Autumn’s hand so close to my junk makes my skin instantly go electric.
I hold her gaze, my eyes questioning. “What do you say? You wanna?”
twenty-three
AUTUMN
Well, shit. I wasn’t expectingthat.
Zeke’s got a joint in his pocket, and he’s looking at me with his eyebrows raised. There’s a huge part of me that wants to take him up on his offer, to stand here with our backs against the brick wall of the building and take turns puffing. It’s been a long time since I was high, and Zeke seems like a fun person to get high with.
But…
“It’s illegal in public,” I say, very much aware of how old and responsible I sound.
Zeke’s smile is devious. “I know. It’ll be fun.”
“Mmm…”
I finger the joint in his pocket. He’s right. Itwouldbe fun. We’d stand here together in the muggy night air, the sky darkening around us, letting the haze seep through us until we’re fuzzy and floating. And, although I’m kind of annoyed at myself for thinking it, I’m sure Zeke’s every touch would be electric.
But then reality comes strutting in again. If someone saw us—if, god forbid, I gotarrestedor something, smoking weed with a kid ten years younger than me—I don’t even want to knowwhat Patrick’s mom would do. Kick me out of her building, for starters. So… nope. As fun as smoking a joint with Zeke sounds, I can’t risk it.
“A different time,” I say, giving him a sympathetic smile. “But you can. If you want.”
Zeke scoffs. “Please. What kind of an asshole do you take me for? That’d be rude.” He shrugs, unfazed. “I just thought I’d offer, in case you wanted to.”
“Thanks.”
“No prob.”
I pull my hand out of his pocket, and we stand there for a minute, neither of us talking. Zeke’s leaning back against the building, looking up at the fire escape. The outline of his angled jaw, silhouetted against the fading light, is sexy as hell. With just the two of us there, the night feels intimate. Like I could ask him anything.
“So who’s the girl from the clambake?”
Zeke turns to look at me. “Jenny? She’s a friend.”
“Like… a friend with benefits?” I hate myself for asking, but I want to know. Even if it’s none of my business.
Zeke shrugs, but his eyes don’t leave mine. “Why’s it matter?”
“It doesn’t,” I say, shrugging back.
A small smile dances around Zeke’s mouth. “You sure about that?”
God. His lips looksogood right now. “I’m sure.”
“Alright,” Zeke says, giving me a sly smile and breaking eye contact to look back up at the rooftop of the neighboring building. I hear him inhale in the twilight, and I close my eyes, enjoying his closeness in spite of myself.
Suddenly, without warning, Zeke’s mouth is at my neck. He grazes my earlobe with his teeth, flicks his tongue into the small, hollow space behind my ear, and my eyes fly open. I’m completely sober, but his touch is like a flip switch just the same.In two seconds, he’s got every cell of my body ignited. Every nerve on high alert.
