In Too Deep

Chapter 24

We take our time walking back to the school, drinking and stumbling and making small talk. She’s funny when she’s been drinking, and just as sassy as ever. This girl is keeping me on my toes. I can’t tell what she thinks of me. Her eyes say one thing, but her mouth says another.

When Taylor falters, stumbling in the grass, I allow myself to reach out and touch her, as I’ve been desperate to do since our kiss. I hold her upright, her back pressing against my chest. “You okay?” I breathe against her hair.

“Sorry,” she says, catching her breath. “My legs aren’t working so well right now.”

“It’s cool.” I release her, and turn her toward me. I fight the urge to pull her closer. “We can hang out here for a little while if you want.” She nods and we sit down in the grass, tilting our heads back to look up at the stars. There are a million of them tonight and the nearly full moon gives us enough light to see by.

When Taylor lies back in the tall grass, she’s partially obscured from my view, which I don’t like, but I lie back next to her. “Would you think less of me if I tell you something right now?” I say, teasing.

“I couldn’t possibly think any less of you then I already do, so go for it.”

I laugh softly even though her assessment of me stings a little. “My lip hurts like a bitch.”

She laughs out loud. “Lemme see.” She lifts up on her elbow and leans over me.

Her face is serious as she looks down at me. She watches my eyes intently, but I focus on her mouth. She brings her hand to my face like she wants to reach out and touch my split lip, but stops herself and drops her hand. I don’t know why she’s so scared to feel anything with me. I can tell by the way she’s looking at me that she’s interested, but I can also tell she’ll never let herself act on it. But I guess if I’m admitting the truth, she scares the shit out of me. I find myself hesitating where I’m normally sure and questioning what to when I’m around her.

But she’s still leaning over me, studying me. So I haven’t completely scared her off. Yet. I lift my hand to her face, trailing my fingers along her jaw. She flinches at my touch, but doesn’t back away. Maybe she’s not as shy as I’ve thought. Our eyes stay locked on each other’s as the seconds tick past. Her face hovers just inches above mine. I want to kiss her again. Bad.

A lock of her hair falls over my cheek, but neither of us moves. She smells enticing and I can’t help but lean closer. She tucks a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

Unable to stop myself, I move my hand to her full mouth to touch those pretty pink lips I’ve been thinking about since last weekend. I trace a fingertip along her mouth, wanting to do so much more.

She sucks in a breath, and pulls away.

Fuck. Too much.

“Sorry,” I whisper hoarsely.

“We should get back,” she says, her voice just as breathless as mine.

I nod. “Yeah.” I need to get out of here. Now. Before I go all caveman and drag her back to my room to satisfy every primal urge she arouses in me.

I walk her inside, all the way upstairs to the girl’s dorm in silence. She grips the banister, and navigates the stairs carefully. She may have had more to drink than I realized. I hang back behind her on the stairs, my hand at the small of her back, ready to catch her if she stumbles.

When we reach the door to the dorm, she steps inside, then stops, realizing I’m no longer following her. If I go into that dorm, she’d stand no chance. I want to taste her lips, to press her soft body against mine, and knowing that I can’t, I stand stiffly by the door.