me. Catching my glance from across the room, she nodded her head to the side of the ballroom where a shadowed alcove led to a hallway. My dick instantly grew hard at the idea of having her alone. I already wanted to tear that ridiculous dress from her perfect body, but my desire to cup her ass with my palm grew tenfold. I stood, dropping the napkin in my lap on the fine china before strutting towards the place she indicated.
She was anxious to follow after me. For a gymnast, she sure was clumsy on her heels. I got back a chuckle as I watched her speed walking after me like she’d combust if she didn’t get to me fast enough. We’ve always been addicted to one another, but it’s gotten worse since I got discharged from the hospital. When she was near, we always looked for excuses to touch, excuses to sneak off and explore. I just wanted the constant reminder that she was really there—really looking into my eyes, safe and sound.
From the hidden alcove, I watched her wind around people talking and dancing, and as soon as she neared, my hand shot out, and I pulled her around the corner and pinned her to the wall, my body pressing against hers. Fucking frills and all.
Out of breath, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close for a kiss. I obliged her, tasting the sticky gloss on her lips. I preferred her without the stuff, but I’d take whatever I could get. “I know as your boyfriend that I’m supposed to say you look beautiful, but this dress is terrible,” I said while pulling back to take a good look at her. “It looks like some fucking cheap ass tissue paper exploded on you and had an orgy with some doilies.”
She pretended to look offended, but I saw the twinkle in her eyes. “Rogue Kelly, take that back right now. I am a lady, and I won’t be taking that sort of insult from you,” she said in a tone that mocked Bonham’s mother. She completed the teasing tone by throwing a shocked hand to her chest, drawing my attention once again to how the disgusting dress covered up her tight, perfect body.
We laughed for a minute, and I enjoyed how fucking freeing it felt to be best friends again. The sex was off the charts hot, but having her carefree side was what I loved most. Having her by my side, smiling with me, trusting me again—it was the best fucking feeling in the world.
When I saw her face slip into something I’d heard that asshole Clay call her “running eyes,” I immediately went on high alert.
“What’s wrong?” I turned to look around the corner for the threat, like Johnny Jack was suddenly going to come back from the grave and fuck with us again. It was hard letting go of that constant anxiousness, especially since Godfrey has been mixed up with Rocco’s daughter ever since the accident. He swore there was nothing going on between them, but I smelled a lie. Hell, I knew exactly what it looked like to hide feelings for a girl.
Scarlett grabbed my arm, pulling me out of my intense scope of the room. “It’s nothing bad. I’m just...nervous.” She gripped my arm and pulled me out of sight again.
“Spit it out, you’re making me nervous,” I said through gritted teeth, but then I wanted to kick myself in the balls when I saw her face drop even more.
She blew out a breath and wrung her hands together. “Okay, so I know we haven’t been dating very long, but I was wondering if I could...umm, move in with you for the summer?” She took a deep breath and sped up almost too fast for me to catch her nervous words. “I know that’s a lot to ask. I swear, I get how big of a deal this is, and you can say no. I didn’t really want to ask, but everything with my mama and my school choice and—”
I cut her off by covering her mouth with mine and nibbling on her lush lips that I wanted to see wrapped around my cock. “Yes,” I answered against her mouth.
I didn’t even have to think twice about my answer before spitting it out. I’d been brainstorming for weeks for ways to get her out of her mama’s house. That place was toxic for her self-esteem, and I wanted to spend