I Knew You Were Trouble - Cassie Mae Page 0,74

cover the canvas, capturing the sharp line of his jaw, the mess of his hair, the unkempt state of his clothing. I wouldn’t change the color of his golden eyes, keeping them as bright and hopeful as they are right now.

I’d hang it in my house and refuse to ever take it down.

I lean forward slowly, deliberately, my breath catching just centimeters from his lips. “I’ve loved you for longer, I bet.”

“I beg to differ.” He hooks just above my knees and slides me even further into his lap. Our belly buttons kiss, and I swear I hear my heart sigh in my chest. “Wasn’t there this guy you were trying to change for? What was his name again?”

I bat him in the chest, and he captures my hand, keeping it there. His heart thunders just as wildly as mine. I know him well enough that even though I’m sitting on top of him, that I just professed my love, that he’s still unsure. I don’t blame him, either. My heart was so lost before, and now its nestled right where it should be—in his safe arms.

“You know if Zach burst into this room right now and told me everything you did, I wouldn’t have a second thought about who I’d choose.”

“Is that right?”

“Mmmhmm.” I trace the rest of the print on his shirt, and his hand starts to trail up and down my knuckles, creating havoc in my lower abdomen.

“You promise?” he asks, his voice just a decibel above a whisper. I meet his light brown eyes and nod my conviction. There is no comparison between the two of them, and I hate that it took me so long to see it, but I’m also grateful that it did. I’m not sure I would’ve believed he fell for the real me if I never showed him.

Because the truth is, I am a mix of both bad and good girl. He knows that, but more importantly, I know that now too. And I’m okay with it.

He closes the small space between our mouths, his kiss slow and sweet, then growing in cadence. I meet him beat for beat, melding my body with his. His hands run up my sides, leaving scorching paths in their wake. I grasp at his hair, unable to fight my grin that splits through every time we break for air. He occasionally pauses just to look at me, resting his forehead against mine.

He taps a finger to the corner of my mouth. “This freckle kills me, you know.”

“Yeah?” I smoosh my lips together and try to make it dance.

“Very sexy.” He kisses it, and I turn like lightning to catch his kiss with mine. We make out for so long my face hurts from smiling and from beard burn.

“It’s getting late,” he says after who knows how long, but it’s not long enough. “We could get into trouble.”

I lean back, meeting his eyes with a wicked grin. “Worth it.” Then I throw myself at him again, cutting off our amusement. He matches my enthusiasm, and we don’t make a move toward the door. Or leaving at all. And I have no idea when that will happen. Someone might have to pry us apart.

I’m going to break so many rules with him, but only when I want to.

Candace

I’m going to see a penis today.

I will look at it, paint it, and then not give it a second thought.

Hopefully.

“You want me to come in with you? Hold your hand?” Pete teases, and I poke him in the stomach. Raina and Tristan wave as they pass us in the school’s hallway. It’s our first class after break, and we know Ms. Barley will probably throw another wrench into our painting plans, but I still think Zach’s going to be as naked as the day he was born.

“I’ll be fine,” I say through playful teeth, poking him again. Pete has a good, strong stomach—muscular, but not too muscular. There’s definitely a little pooch there under his green t-shirt, and I love it. Gosh, I love so much about him my brain won’t think straight.

“What about you?” My gaze falls to his pocket where I know his phone rests. “Do you need me to hold your hand?”

“Maybe.” He takes my hand in his and interlocks our fingers. “If I lose my nerve, I’ll bust down your classroom door and haul you out over my shoulder.”

“Just don’t ruin my painting.”

“You got it.”

He drops his lips to mine in a brief, fantastic kiss.