“Come on.”
Finally it roared to life.
I sent up a prayer of thanks and with shaking hands turned the steering wheel toward the general direction of the parking lot exit. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to cry over someone so stupid. Guys like Lex, Lex in general, didn’t deserve my tears.
Why did I always do this to myself?
Why?
I’d been drunk on the power that the little cheap stage had given me. Lex hadn’t looked at me like Ian’s best friend or his most hated enemy. He’d watched me with a raw hunger that I’d never seen before. He’d tried to mask it, and then, after the mask had slipped, all I saw was . . . desire.
Finally. That was the only word I could think as his eyes hooded, his fists clenched, and his body so clearly responded.
I wasn’t planning on walking toward him, but I’d gone halfway, and he’d pulled me the rest. His mouth was . . . Words couldn’t describe the way Lex kissed, like he was pulling every inch of pleasure he could from me. Trying not to respond to him was impossible. Even his hands on my hips . . . I shuddered and shoved the memory into the box of Never Again. Damn, that box was getting full.
“Are you drunk?” I asked. Finals were over. Ian and Lex were hosting a party at their house. I was invited because I was invited everywhere Ian was. Ever since freshman year Lex had given me a wide berth, if wide meant he treated me like crap and I returned the favor.
“No.” Lex’s eyes looked clear. “Not yet.”
“Got big plans for getting wasted and impregnating a nice young girl, only to have her drop out of school?”
Lex rolled his eyes. “Not tonight, Gabs.”
“Whoa.” I blocked his exit from the balcony. “Are you . . . okay?”
He licked his lips and stared at his shoes. Lex never stared at his shoes. He was an eye-contact sort of guy. It was rare to see him glance away from people. In fact, one of the few things I respected in him was the way he treated others—not me, but others. Everyone was important, everyone’s opinion mattered. I clearly didn’t count, but for whatever reason, I was okay with that.
“No.” Lex huffed out a breath. “I, uh . . .” He scratched his head. “No.”
“Anything I can do?” I touched his arm. I shouldn’t have. That was my first mistake.
His eyes immediately locked on my arm.
My fingers tingled as if he had some sort of mental power, or laser beams coming out of his pupils, nailing my fingertips to his bulky forearm.
“What if I asked you for a hug?” he said slowly, then looked up. His eyes were clear, so hopeful. “Would you laugh at me?”
“Probably.” I grinned. “But only after the hug took place. I’d still allow you your pride and all that.”
Lex barked out a laugh, then held up a finger. “One hug . . . and then you can rub it in my face.”
“Deal.” I held out my hand.
He shook it, then without releasing it, tugged me against his body. Our chests collided, and my head nearly knocked his chin into submission.
And then his big burly arms wrapped around me.
With a sigh, I returned the movement.
We spent a few minutes hugging, and the hugging somehow turned into dancing, and one song turned into two songs, and then three, even though the music was barely audible from the house.
“Thanks,” Lex whispered over my head. “For the hug and the dances.”
I swallowed and looked up; our faces were inches apart. “It was nice.”
“What?” He frowned. “No sarcasm? Did my hug drain all your superpowers?”
“Yes.” I nodded seriously. “Apparently you’re my kryptonite.”
“Not Superman.”
“No, I guess not.” I lifted one shoulder and let it fall with a sigh. “What’s Lex Luthor’s kryptonite?”
“Superman.”
I laughed.
“Or maybe Supergirl,” he whispered. “Yeah, Supergirl . . .”
“And how does she get her superpowers?”
“Sunshine,” he whispered. “Just like Superman, only . . . prettier.” His head lowered while my chin lifted toward his.
“I like that.”
“Me too.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” I almost said it against his mouth. We were so close to kissing I couldn’t stop shaking.
“I forget.”
“You lie.”
“No.” He cupped my face. “For fifteen minutes . . . I forgot. Thank you.”
He kissed me.
It was a quick peck on the lips.
And then another.
And another.
Until our mouths were fused together, arms wildly grabbing at one another. He didn’t taste