The Pledge (21 page)

Taren hummed with contentment, and the sound went straight to my cock.

She straightened her body and opened her eyes. “What are you working on?” She reached out and grabbed a book off the top of my stack.

I swallowed down the need that was burning hot in my chest and cleared my throat. “An essay about myths and legends in different cultures. Mine is about the red string of fate. We’re supposed to discuss how the subject matter of the myth might be related to similar stories in other cultures.”

“I’ve never heard of the red string of fate.” She opened the book and flipped through some of the pages, stopping to look at illustrations.

“It’s an East Asian belief that a red string connects two people who are destined to be together.” I grabbed the book she was holding and flipped through the pages to find an old drawing, and then pointed to the illustration. “The Chinese version believes they’re tied by the ankles. The Japanese version says the pinky fingers. Both believe the couple will continually cross paths and even though the string might get tangled or messed up, it will never break. Their connection means that they’re destined to always be together or help one another.”

“Wow. What a cool story. Is that for a core class?” She didn’t look up from the book as she studied the illustrations. The thoughtful way she examined the page reminded me of our days working on the debate project. She was so full of passion that it was hard not to get sucked into her excitement about things.

I cleared my throat, trying to quell the desire to keep staring at her. “It’s a diversity class. I needed something to fulfill some of my core requirements, and it fit into my schedule.”

“It definitely sounds more interesting than my core class.” She sighed and turned the page, inspecting another illustration.

“What are you taking?”

She finally looked up, and a thrill burst through my chest to have her intensity focused on me. “Introduction to Art Theory. I thought it would be fun looking at art. I had no idea we were going to have to analyze it. Way over my head.” She waved her hand over her head and rolled her eyes before reclining against the wall to read her book again.

Silence fell between us, and I found myself stealing glances at Taren. She was running her tongue along her bottom lip as she concentrated. I imagined that her lip tasted like powdered sugar from the donut she’d been eating earlier. I had the urge to lean over and take a taste to see if I was right.

Taren cleared her throat, and for a moment, I thought she’d caught me looking. “You know, maybe we’re connected by a red string.”

“Yeah?” I raised my eyebrows in question.

She shifted on the bed to get comfortable, setting her book to the side. “Yeah. Our paths seem to keep crossing. First in high school, then last year, at The Shell, and now in our class. Even though things were a mess in high school, we’re friends again now, right? It’s crazy. What were the chances we’d meet at college? I mean, we’re so different, but we work well together.” She chanced a look up at me.

“So you’re saying we’re meant to help each other?” I crossed my arms, giving her a teasing smile.

“Well, maybe you’ve done most of the helping so far.” Her smile was shy, and her laugh was nervous. “You saved me from getting hit by a car, you found my wallet, you loaned me your sweatshirt.” She ticked each item off on a finger. “And you fixed my backpack.”

“You remember that?” I figured the memory of her backpack repair had probably been wiped out soon after I embarrassed her in front of everyone.

Taren shrugged. “I always remember when people are nice to me, especially since those days were pretty rare back in high school.” She shook her head before turning to look at me again. “Anyway, maybe someday I’ll get to return the favor and help you. I mean, since we’re destined to keep running into each other and all.” She smiled and pushed my knee playfully.

I grinned. “You’re right. It must be fate.” Was it fate? I wasn’t sure, but I was fucking thrilled our paths had crossed again.

She continued to watch me, her mouth slightly open as if she was going to say something. No matter what I promised earlier, I couldn’t stand another minute on this bed trying to ignore the fact that I was attracted to her. Being study partners wasn’t going to be enough for me anymore. I needed to see if she tasted as sweet as I imagined she would. I wanted Taren, and I didn’t intend to screw it up this time.

Chapter Seventeen

TAREN

Alec bent closer to me, his gaze fixed on my mouth. A swarm of butterflies danced in my stomach, and my heart caught in my throat. “I promised I wouldn’t try anything. I want you to trust me, but I want to kiss you so fucking bad. Is that wrong?”

I sighed, closing my eyes for a split second to relish the moment. I looked up at him and leaned forward, just enough. “I’ve been wanting to lick your chest since you walked out of your room this morning. Is that wrong?” I stilled and squeezed my eyes shut.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
I opened them, one at a time, and twisted my lips. “I said that out loud, didn’t I? I’m such a—”

He cut me off by pressing his mouth against mine. My heart pounded against the inside of my chest like a caged animal. Gripping my waist, he pulled me closer, and my arms wrapped around his neck. His lips were warm, and when they parted, his tongue lightly swept against mine.

A moan slipped out before I could stop it, and his kiss became more demanding. His fingertips pressed into my hip. With every sweep of his tongue, my blood pounded through my veins like liquid fire. He tasted amazing, mint and…all man. I loved the way his lips kissed the corners of my mouth, my chin, my neck, my shoulder, before they raced back to my mouth with greedy desperation. Our tongues tangled with one another, and our lips only parted so they could come back together again, hot and slippery. Another moan escaped me, and his fingers clenched me tighter.

He pulled back and cupped my jaw with his hand. “Taren.” My name came out strangled, like a long, low groan before his mouth descended on me again. I threaded my fingers into his hair and tugged the short strands. I was on fire. I had to be. He was burning me from the inside out, and every press of his lips made me feel more alive. Releasing his hair, I dragged my fingers down his back, fisting his T-shirt.

When his hands slid up my sides and to my shoulders, tiny fireworks exploded under my skin and in my chest. This was it. This was the feeling I’d been waiting for. Something in me had always known Alec Hart would kiss like this. Nothing about it was sloppy or messy. His lips were absolute perfection, as if they were made just for me.

His fingers slipped into my hair, cradling my head. My tongue met his in teasing licks as my breathing picked up. I moved onto my knees and tentatively touched my fingers along the bottom of his shirt, inching inside.

When my fingertips finally skimmed the hot, hard skin of his stomach, his muscles jumped in response. I pulled back to look at him. His jaw was clenched, and a vein in his neck throbbed as he gritted his teeth.

“Sorry,” I whispered, withdrawing my hands. My already flushed face burned with embarrassment. I was moving too fast…doing this all wrong. He was probably used to girls with so much more experience. I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat as I sat back on my heels, twisting my fingers together. The thought of this ending—of not kissing him anymore—was torment.

He reached over his head to pull off his shirt in one swift motion. Even that was ridiculously sexy. “You can touch me, Taren.” He placed my hand where it had been just moments before. “I want you to.” His eyes met mine, and the intensity stole my breath. “Please.”

I thought I might burst into flames having my hands on him again. So many times I had thought about this when I was in high school, and now he was begging me to. I bit the inside of my lip, trying not to smile in triumph, as my fingers skimmed along the ridges of his stomach. My palms pressed against him, exploring the tight, hard muscles.

Alec’s gaze held me captive, and desire smoldered deep inside as he watched me touch him. When I licked my bottom lip and pulled it between my teeth, he groaned. That sound, rumbling deep in his throat, went straight to my core. His muscles twitched under my fingers, and a feeling of power overtook me. My breaths were shallow, and my fingers trembled with excitement.

In an entire year with Doug, I had never felt one second of what I felt right now. He never set my body on fire. He never made me feel desperate. I’d never known what it was like to really crave something until now. I craved Alec. I would never get enough of his lips or the way his eyes held mine when he said my name.

Feeling bold, I placed my palms flat against Alec’s chest and pushed him back against the mattress. His eyes flared, and then he shot me a sexy smirk. I pressed my lips together, and moving on my hands and knees, I straddled him.

Holy shit
. I was straddling Alec Hart. Instead of ruining the moment and doing a victory dance, I let my eyes roam over his chest and face.

“You’re so beautiful,” I told him. The urge to lick him was relentless. My body vibrated with energy and lust when I leaned forward and lightly licked his collarbone before placing a soft kiss on his chest.

His body went rigid. He exhaled in a groan, and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he searched my face where my lips were poised over his chest.

“Taren.” His voice was low and rough, and his face strained. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

My racing heart tripped. Skipped a beat. I looked back down to his chest before he could see the vulnerability in my eyes. I’d come a long way in a year, and I knew I was pretty, but I never expected to be called gorgeous. By him. Was this even real?

I bent to place kisses on his chest, ribs, biceps, and shoulders. With each touch of my lips to his skin, I wanted to leave a small piece of me. I wanted to mark him.

Alec pulled me up to his mouth for another kiss, and my body lay flush against his. I moaned when our hips made contact, and Alec continued kissing me as he sat up so that I was straddling his lap. I moved my hips forward in gentle rocks, and I could feel him growing hard underneath me.

Alec cupped my face with both hands and looked into my eyes, breathing hard. “Fuck, you feel so good.”

My hips slid backward and forward, grinding against his lap. Instead of answering, my lips met his, urgent and fierce. He groaned again, and I wanted to capture every sound that echoed through his chest.

It was too much and not enough. I wanted more. I had to have all of him. My hands ran over his arms and chest leaving trails on his skin. I felt frantic and out of control. I wanted him to touch me. I wasn’t ready to go all the way, but dear god if I didn’t feel his hands on my skin, I was going to shatter.

“Touch me, Alec,” I whispered. “Please.”

He ran his hands down the sides of my neck, but he was in no hurry. His pace was slow and agonizing. When his fingertips brushed my shoulders, I shivered, and he kissed me harder, trading needy sounds between our lips. His hands continued across my shoulder blades and over the swell of my chest, cupping me gently while his thumbs feathered over the center of my breasts.

“Yes.” I closed my eyes, my words a whimper, as I tilted my head back.

He leaned forward to kiss my neck, gently rubbing his thumbs across my pebbled nipples. His palms caressed the underside of my breasts through the fabric of my shirt. Tiny moans slipped out of my mouth and into his as I rocked into him.

Alec pulled his lips from mine, and I wanted to cry out from the loss. Then he pressed them to my neck and sucked lightly. “Are you close, Taren?” His mouth moved against my skin as he said the words.

What was he talking about? I couldn’t get closer to him than I was now. All I knew was that a force of nature wouldn’t be able to get me to stop moving against him like this. His erection rubbed against me, and everything deep inside tensed in anticipation.

The doorknob rattled and then there was a loud knock. My eyes opened, and I slowed my movements as I looked toward the sound.

“Well, at least you locked the door this time. Can I eat the rest of the donuts?” Caz’s voice was loud and unwelcome from the other side of the door.

Was he coming in here?

Alec turned my chin back toward him. “Eyes on me.” I felt his words right between my legs and loved how his simple demand was possessive and full of the same need I felt.

“I’m going to take your silence as a yes.” Caz called before we heard him stomp off down the hall.

Alec’s large hands were on my waist, coaxing my hips back into their rhythm. “Are you close, Taren?”

I studied his face. His expression was tight and his chest heaved as he drew in air. He was the sexiest damn thing I had ever seen.

“Close to what?” I managed to say.

“This.” He captured my mouth with his. His hands slipped around to my ass, and he pulled me down to him as he pressed up against me. His erection was rubbing me in just the right way, and I moaned in response. His body mirrored mine with every dip and roll, our hips moving together in a rhythm that made my heart race to keep up.

I took a few stuttering breaths before I stopped kissing him and buried my face against his neck. My words, a quiet, breathless, chant filled the space between us. “Oh god, oh god, oh god.” My body jerked, and my voice shook as his hips kept thrusting. Wave after wave of sensation flooded through me as sparks of bliss exploded through my body. I gripped his shoulders and held my breath, clinging to the pleasure until it faded. Finally, I collapsed against his hard chest.