Hidden Love by MINK

6

Jamie

Itake his hand. He pulls me inside and shuts the door behind us, then locks it. I look around his place. It’s clean, but there’s not much to it. It could use a few knick knacks to spruce it up. A couple of throw pillows and a fuzzy blanket too. Maybe a stuffed Pusheen.

“I keep things simple.” He seems to hear my thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I wasn't trying to be rude.” I bet I had a sour look on my face or something. First the whole lickdick thing and now I’m insulting him. This is a crystal clear reminder of why I stay away from this house. Well, not only the house but him, too. I lose all self-control when it comes to him on a normal day. Never mind one where he’s not wearing a shirt.

He leads me into the living room, giving me a view of his wide back. “It could use a little something. I'm just not good at that kind of thing. Your place is nice. Maybe you could help me?”

I try to structure my thoughts into complete sentences instead of just drool. “I would love to help you with--” back, sexy damn back--“err, that. I’ll stay away from pink I swear.”

“What’s wrong with pink?”

“Nothing at all. I love it. I just thought men don’t like pink.”

“Some of the sweetest things in life are pink.”

I bite my lip. The way he says it makes my body heat. Is he talking about what I think he’s talking about? I cut off that train of thought and clench my thighs together. I’m the one with the dirty mind here, clearly.

“Cotton candy?” I suggest.

“Yes, cotton candy.” He smiles at me. “Your cheeks turn a pretty pink, too.” I reach up to touch them, then realize I’m still holding his hand.

“It’s my fair skin. I’m not embarrassed or anything. I’m totally cool.” I lean back to rest on the wall, trying to act as casual as possible. I lose my balance and almost fall over. Silas wraps an arm around my waist and saves me from the floor.

“Are you okay?”

My mind blanks for a moment when he pulls me against his chest. I want to tell him that I’m more than okay. I’m perfectly fine nestled up against him. I swear I have to stop myself from licking him.

“Your wall is dangerous. You should have it removed before someone hurts themselves.” I try to change the subject so that I can stop thinking about the way he smells and his naked broad chest.

“I’ll get on that.” He laughs, righting me onto my feet before letting me go. I try not to look disappointed. I’m terrible at hiding my emotions. I show every one of them on my face, so I look away to be safe. “Why don’t you sit down on the sofa and I’ll get you some iced tea?”

“Okay. But I really shouldn’t stay long. It’s too dangerous for you. I shouldn’t even have come.” Despite my words, I sit down and make myself comfortable. My eyes catch a pile of books on an end table. From calculus to engineering and everything in between. Brilliant and gorgeous, that’s just not fair.

Silas comes back with an iced tea in his hand.

“Thanks.” I take a sip before reaching to set it down on the coffee table. My eyes go to Silas’s chest again as he starts to sit right next to me. The glass slips from my hand. I shoot up from the sofa. “I’m so sorry.” I look around for something to clean it up.

“I’ve got it. It’s all right.” He turns and leaves the room again.

I think I’m a danger to Silas. I’m going to destroy his house. I really should get out of here. I see the tea puddle almost make it to the edge of the table. It’s about to spill off so before it can ruin the cream rug on the floor, I pull my shirt off and use it to stop the flow. I think I caught it in time.

“Fuck.” I turn to see Silas standing there.

“I think I got it.” He’s not staring at the mess I made but at me. Cool air makes my nipples go hard. I gasp and grab my boobs. I don’t even have a bra on! What is wrong with me?

“I’ll get you a shirt.” He turns to leave.

“Get one for yourself too while you're at it.” I drop onto the sofa, burying my face in my hands. I just killed any crush I was having on Silas. Probably for the best. He lives next door, is out of my league, and I could get him whacked. And I just flashed him. I want to crawl under the couch and stay there.

“Got you this.”

I pull my hands away from my face to look up at Silas. I was only supposed to come over to get a lockpick. Now look at me.

“Shit.” He curses and drapes the shirt over my chest. Before I know what’s happening, he’s sitting on the sofa with me in his lap. “Don’t cry.”

“I wasn't going to. I got hair in my eye. It’s hard to control.” I try to blow my hair out of the way but it only sends a couple of my curls bouncing. On second thought, I think I am about to cry. “I don’t think we should hang out anymore.”

He’s got his hands wrapped around both my wrists.

“Because I’ll die?” His lips twitch.

“Yes. Right. You’ll die.” I will, too. From embarrassment.

“Your face is turning that pretty pink again.”

“You don’t have to call it out!”

“I was just thinking maybe I could give you a real reason to blush.”

“Huh?” He pulls on my wrist. I fall into his chest as he takes my mouth in a kiss.

“Open for me,” he says against my mouth before his tongue licks across the seam of my lips. I part my mouth for him as his tongue sweeps in. I close my eyes and let him kiss me until I’m breathless. He starts to pull back, but I grab him and start kissing him.

I wrap my arms around his neck and press myself into his big, warm body. I didn't know men could feel this good. I should have been pressing against them for years. Or maybe just him. I pull back when I have no other choice and try to catch my breath.

He stares at me. I’m not sure if he jumped me or I jumped him. I open my mouth to say something but then close it. I’ve got nothing to say. The silence stretches.

“You taste better than PopTarts,” I blurt out. Okay. It’s really time for me to go home now.