thing I know, I’m on my back, and Desmond’s on top of me, his mouth moving from my mouth, to my ear, and then to his favorite spot on my neck. I slam my eyes closed and turn my head toward the back of the passenger seat to give him room to venture.
My breaths become ragged as he drags his mouth from my neck to my cleavage, dipping his tongue inside my shirt while his hand slides up beneath my shirt to cover my breast. My entire body shudders as his fingers glide over my nipple. Pleasure shoots straight down to my core from Desmond’s dangerously addictive touch, and I’m so ready to give in.
He pushes up my shirt, and his mouth is hot on my nipple, stealing licks, just seconds from devouring me whole. And I desperately want him to do just that. But when my eyes open again, they connect to the back of the passenger seat, specifically on something strangely familiar, causing the fog to clear from my mind and an ache to burn hot in my chest.
No way. No fucking way.
I scramble to move Desmond off of me, to sit and yank my shirt down as I shake the fog of sex from my mind. I blink a few times, trying to make the image now branded in my mind fade from sight. But I can’t escape the heart-shaped image that’s carved into the old red leather of the passenger seat.
It’s not a coincidence.
I’m not seeing things.
I carved that heart into the back of the passenger seat when I was nine, but before I could put the “M&M” inside it for my sister and me, my dad caught me and sent me straight to time-out. I’d never seen my father pissed off before that day.
“You okay?” Desmond’s voice breaks through my memories.
Did he really just ask me that? My eyes snap to his as my frown deepens. “Where did you get this car?”
His expression morphs from confusion to understanding so fast, it almost makes me sick. I scoot away from him, my back landing against the side wall of the car. When his mouth opens but he fails to speak, anger engulfs me like gas on a fire.
“Answer me, Desmond.”
His shoulders sag, and his face transitions into shame. “It was a gift from Coach after I graduated from high school.”
My jaw drops, and my stomach heaves as my heart breaks all over again. “He just… gave it to you?”
His eyes dart between mine before slowly nodding. “I used to fix it up for him until he got so frustrated, he didn’t want to mess with it anymore. So he said I could have it since I was able to take care of it.” Then he lets out a sigh and shakes his head. “If you’re wondering why I didn’t tell you, it’s because I didn’t want you to get all upset about it. It doesn’t matter, Maggie. It’s just a car.”
My eyes bulge wide as I press my body back against the seat. Suddenly, the space is suffocating, and there’s nowhere to run. “Just a car?” I can feel my insides shaking as my voice grows in volume. “Just a car?” I glare at Desmond with all the venom I can muster. “Did you know my dad used to take me on secret drives, just me and him, when I’d get in a big fight with my sister or my mom? He’d take me to get ice cream, or to play at the park, and we’d just have fun together and talk for hours.” I swipe the first tear that falls with the back of my hand. “Did you know that before he disappeared from our lives, he promised this car to me? It was supposed to be my car, Desmond. Mine. And now it’s yours.” I blow out another frustrated breath and reach for the door handle.
“Where are you going?” Desmond growls.
“I’m leaving. I’ll walk back. Or I’ll find another ride. But I’m getting out of this damn car.”
Desmond follows me onto the sidewalk and slams the door behind him. “I’m not letting you walk home alone, Maggie. Get in the car. I’ll take you back.”
I just shake my head and keep walking. I’ll be fine. The condo is only ten minutes from here if I can focus on my direction. I’ll get home on my own.
When Desmond realizes I’m not going to stop and turn around, he jogs to catch up to me, his