Alex's question dangles there, like a raindrop frozen in midair: "How do you feel, Mae?"How do I feel? How do I even begin to put my answer into words?So instead, I tighten my grip on his shirt and pull his face down to mine.Sensation explodes through me the moment our lips meet. Something must happen for Alex too because I can almost feel the exact moment when his restraint breaks.One moment, we're kissing on the street corner. The next, he's yanked me hard against him. His arms are so tight around me that it hurts, but I don't care. I want to be even closer to him. Want to give myself over completely to the fire burning through me.He crushes his mouth against mine, devouring me. I moan against his kiss, and he sinks his tongue deep between my lips as if he would taste every last bit of me.I cling to him, fighting the wave of emotion that sweeps through me. Alex loves me. Alex loves me and he's kissing me and - He pulls his mouth away from mine."Mae." This time the wor
As Alex carries me into his bedroom, I smile and kiss the side of his neck. "I hope we'll have plenty of chances to do it everywhere else in this apartment, too."He chuckles, and the sound rumbles through his chest. "Oh, I intend to take advantage of that, I assure you. Maybe we'll try the kitchen counter next - ""Or the rooftop patio?" I offer."Absolutely." His smile is wolfish. "Or maybe the shower - ""Yes," I say breathlessly.When we reach the bed, he lays me gently on the comforter before reaching for his nightstand drawer. I stretch out, looking up at the ceiling. This is it. The point of no return. Alex and I are about to have sex.Needless to say, I don't think our "friendship" will ever fully recover. In fact, I don't know if I'll ever describe Alex as just my friend ever again.I'm not going to lie - part of me is still freaking out about that a little. But it's the good kind of freaking out, the kind that makes me feel like I might burst into a thousand pieces. I
Alex doesn't question my feelings any further. Maybe he finally sees the truth in my eyes, or maybe, like me, he's realizing that the time for talking is over. His mouth finds mine again, and then he's moving, thrusting, joining us in the way I believe we were always meant to be joined.My body seems to move with his in perfect harmony, my hips matching his rhythm. My hands dig into his back, spurring him on. I'm sure I moan, and whimper, and beg, but honestly, my whole attention is on him. My entire world has narrowed down to the man inside of me. My entire being seems to cry out for him - body, heart, and soul.It isn't long before I feel the pleasure building inside of me, feel the tightening in my core around him. He must feel it, too. He grabs one of my arms and pushes it back against the pillow beside me. Laces his fingers through mine. His face falls to my neck."Alex," I croak when I feel the peak coming.He seems to know exactly what I need. He pushes himself deep, deep in
Most girls dream of marrying a billionaire.Me? I'd rather make fun of one. Especially if the billionaire in question is Alexander Grant.Excuse me - Xander Grant. That's right - the "mega-hot" entrepreneur who's appeared on both Modern Startup Monthly's "Richest Innovators Under 35" list and Celebrity Spark Magazine's "Hottest Eligible Bachelors" list in the last year.To me? He's still the guy who once ran naked down Main Street with "Free the Goats!" painted across his butt cheeks. My partner in crime until we went off to separate colleges and he and his buddy went on to sell the dating website they designed for a cool twenty-three million dollars. Practically overnight, he became known as one of the hottest young entrepreneurs in the country - a far cry from the guy I knew with the overlong hair and the weird obsession with dinosaurs.Alex and I have seen each other a handful of times since his first big deal - his mom has always tried to badger him into coming home for holiday
Maple Avenue is usually fairly quiet - let's be real, all the streets in Haverton are usually fairly quiet - and since most of the town's population is already here, it's not hard to guess who might be pulling down the street right now. Especially when the car in question turns out to be a black Lamborghini.That's new, I think as the luxury car comes to a stop next to the mailbox. In high school, Alex drove a teal pickup truck with his name spray-painted on the side - and yeah, that was exactly as classy as it sounds. In the years after he sold his first website, he upgraded to a more reliable sedan - an expensive sedan, but something practical. I guess it was only a matter of time before he decided he needed something more stylish and sporty. Every billionaire bachelor needs an obnoxious car, doesn't he? I'm pretty sure that's in the rich dudes' handbook somewhere.But as much as I want to roll my eyes at his choice of wheels, I can't help but grin as he gets out of the car. Alex w
I look up at myself in the bathroom mirror. Long days in the summer sun have brought out the gold and red tones in my otherwise light brown hair. They've also brought out the freckles on my cheeks and upper chest - the latter of which are on full display in my pale blue sun dress. Wes always liked my freckles - he always teased me that he was on a mission to kiss every single one - but now I can only picture him kissing Madison Harris. I wonder how many freckles he's kissed on her.Just make it through the party, I tell myself. Just get through the next hour. Make small talk with the friends and neighbors, say hello to Alex, and try to ignore the fact that something has changed about him. That you might not know him anymore. I think that's what's freaking me out the most - I thought that by coming here today I'd see a familiar face, find comfort with a friend who's known me longer than anyone outside of my immediate family. Instead, seeing him has made me aware of how much time has pa
"Well?" I ask Alex again, keeping my tone light. "Aren't you going to answer my question? Do you have a girlfriend?"His expression never wavers. "Not currently, much to my mom's disappointment.""Well," I tease, trying to edge back down the hall, "you have to keep your eligible bachelor status, after all. Otherwise you'll break the hearts of thousands of tabloid readers the world over. Didn't you always tell me that relationships were overrated anyway?"The old Alex would have laughed at that, but the new one just watches me closely with those intense blue eyes of his, a small wrinkle appearing between his brows."Are you sure everything's all right?" he asks me."Of course! Why wouldn't it be?" I've managed to progress a few steps backward down the hall, but he follows me, closing the distance between us again."Well, we've been speaking for about five minutes and you have yet to make a joke about my suit," he says."I've made plenty in my head," I say, forcing a laugh. "Tell
"Mae?" someone says.I blink, coming out of the fog of my thoughts. We've finally reached the table of food. Oh, sweet merciful cheeseburgers. Thank you for rescuing me from my despair."How have you been?" Eliza asks as she passes me a paper plate. "And where's Wes? I would have thought he'd come with you today.""He couldn't make it," I say quickly."Ah, that's a shame," says Collette. "He's always such a gentleman. So handsome.""And so sweet," chimes in Eliza.Until he sticks his cock in another chick. I press my lips together and help myself to a giant mound of coleslaw."He's still coming with us to the Apple Festival next week, isn't he?" my mom says. "Your dad and I still have to give him his birthday present."This is too much. "I...I'll have to ask him.""We've already got a festival ticket for him," my mom says, frowning slightly. "I thought you told me he could go.""I'll ask him," I say again quickly. I look up from the table, only to find Collette staring quizzi