by Jordan Marie
“I’m teaching you here, Luna. You should pay attention.”
“What are you teaching me?” I ask, suddenly left breathless.
“That some things make your body react out of your control,” he responds. His eyes are intense and his hand on my stomach feels hot through my thin shirt. My heart is beating hard in my chest. I use my tongue to moisten my lips, rubbing them together nervously, because my mouth is suddenly dry.
“What things?” I whisper, hoping I’m tempting him. For the first time in my life, I want to tempt a boy. I want Gavin to lose control. I want him to lose control with me. I want his touch, his kiss and maybe more.
“Luna—”
“What things, Gavin?” I ask again. My voice is so hoarse, full of hunger for things I don’t truly understand, that I barely recognize the desire.
“Damn,” he growls, his lips close to mine, and then he kisses me.
His tongue slides into my mouth like a soldier intent on owning me. The ferociousness behind the sensual act would scare me if I didn’t want him so much. I’ve never noticed before that kisses have tastes. There’s the minty freshness of his mouth as if he had gum or candy, but there’s something else, a deeper taste that feeds my growing hunger. Our tongues slide against one another, and I lose myself in the kiss, letting my worries fade and letting Gavin take control, allowing him to lead me where we need to go.
I feel his hand slide under my shirt and move across my stomach. I moan and Gavin swallows the sound. My hips rock and I clench the muscles in my body because it feels like there’s a fire inside of me that has been fanned and is on the verge of becoming a wild blaze. His fingers skirt under my bikini top, as his thumb brushes against the swell of my breast.
This is it. This is what I’ve waited my whole life to experience. These sensations—the ones only Gavin awakens—are what Jules is always talking about, that I never understood.
“God, Luna,” Gavin growls, when he breaks away for just a moment.
My eyes open slowly as I stare up at him. I’ve wanted this for so long, I feel like I might be in the middle of a dream. I lick my lips, and I can still taste him there. His gaze zeros in on my tongue and becomes so heated that I feel like it’s burning me.
“Gavin, I—” I break off with a gasp, as at this exact moment, the moment when I’m foolishly about to tell him about how long I’ve wanted him to notice me, how often I think about him, want to talk to him, want to kiss him and definitely more… My fishing rod goes crazy. The reel lets out a buzzing noise as the line is being pulled at really quick speed. I stare in disbelief as the rod starts sliding down the dock.
Gavin must be as shocked as I am, because he doesn’t reach over and grab the pole either. Actually, we both kind of stare at the rod not sure what’s happening when all at once it makes a plopping noise as it falls into the water.
“Shit,” Gavin mutters.
“We have to get it.”
“Babe—”
“It’s your fishing rod, Gavin.”
“It’s not that important.”
“It is. You brought it for me to use and we have to get it.”
“Babe the reel is—”
“I’ll get it,” I volunteer, feeling guilty, because I did put it down. In my defense I didn’t think a giant killer fish would attack while I was otherwise occupied. My face flushes as I remember what Gavin and I were doing only moments earlier. I swear I can still feel his hand under my breast, and I miss the feel of it.
“Babe you don’t have to—”
“I said I’ll get it.”
I stand and slide my cut offs down my legs, stepping out of them and tossing them to the side with my flip flops. Then I yank my shirt off and let it join them.
“Babe, you don’t have to jump in the water. I won’t say no to you standing there the rest of the day modeling that bikini though,” Gavin says.
I look at him in surprise then smile because apparently, he likes my plain white bikini. I guess obsessing over if I should have worn something sexier was worrying over nothing.
“You could get in the water with me,” I suggest.
“I like the idea of watching you model for me more.”
I roll my eyes, looking heavenward. “Whatever,” I mutter, shaking my head. “I mean if you’re scared to get in the water, I guess it’s up to me to save the day,” I tease. Then, I jump into the water. I look back at the dock to see Gavin laughing. He’s taking off his shoes, socks, and shirt. He keeps his jeans on, which is disappointing, but he jumps in. I start sputtering because his splashing into the water nearly drowns me. I wipe the water off my face all over again, kicking my legs to stay afloat.
“You’re going to be a handful, Luna Marshall,” he drones when he gets in front of me and then, he’s kissing me again.
Maybe I should worry, but it sounds like Gavin likes me just the way I am, so instead, I kiss him until we slide under the water and kick back to the surface again.
CHAPTER TWENTY
GAVIN
“Y ou haven’t been around the house much on the weekends. I thought you were working, but you weren’t at the grocery store today. Where have you been?”
I ignore the urge to hit my brother and tell him that it’s not any of his business where I’m at.
“I didn’t realize that you had such an unhealthy fascination with my life, Atticus.”
“Just wondering what you’re up to,” he deflects, flopping on his bed.
I’m sure he’d like to know, but I’m not about to tell him—at least not right now. I want to keep it to myself for as long as I can. Luna and I have officially been seeing each other for three months now. Almost all of my weekends I spend with her and occasionally we get Wednesday nights together for a couple of hours. Even so, that’s not enough time. I want to spend every waking moment with her. I’ve never felt like this before. I knew Luna Marshall was dangerous, but I don’t think I appreciated how deeply I would become addicted to her.
And I’m definitely addicted.
“Not up to nothing, just school and work. I get some time off the last thing I want to do is come back here, so I find other places to be.”
It’s the truth, but not. Hopefully it’s enough to satisfy him. I don’t really give a damn, but I’d rather not have him snooping around Luna and me. Not right now. Things are going too good right now to have my asshole brother get involved and fuck it up.
“There are rumors going around at school that you’re seeing a girl.”
“Don’t you have enough to worry about in your own life, Atticus? Do you have to be obsessed with mine?”
“I’m not obsessed with you.”
“It sure as hell feels like it. Do me a favor and worry about your own shit and stay out of mine.”
“No worries. You’re always talking about leaving this place. You should just leave now. No one wants you around.”
I ignore him. Instead of smarting off, I close my eyes and immediately Luna’s smiling face comes to mind. Memories of the last kiss we shared, of touching her, hearing her moan my name. It’s all right there, and she fills me as nothing else has in my life. I love her. I haven’t told her, but the feelings are there. She has to know she’s special. I hate not letting the world see that this beautiful woman cares about me, that she belongs to me. I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want the world to know that she chose me and that she thinks I’m worthy of her, even if no one else does.
It’s hard to keep it a secret, so that’s coming soon. Especially with all the boys circling around Luna. She shoots them down, but that doesn’t mean I like sitting back and watching.
Things will change, though. I look over at Atticus, as if by instinct. I worry what will happen when they do. I can’t help but worry because inside I know that my own brother will do everything that he can to destroy this for me. I think I can contain him, because I’m prepared for his lies now. I wasn’t expecting them before, and he blindsided me. He won’t get that chance again.
So, yeah, I think I can handle him.
I’m not so sure about Luna’s parents…
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
ATTICUS
“L et’s go out.”
I’m so damn nervous. My palms are sweating. I hope I don’t sound desperate, but I feel like I am—Luna’s forcing me to be. She keeps ignoring me, treating me as a buddy. It’s driving me crazy. I can get any girl in this school and the one I want insists on seeing me as a friend. Sometimes I think she may pet me on the head and whisper, “Good boy.”
This is Gavin’s fault, of course. If he hadn’t gotten Luna’s hopes up things would have been different. I was making progress until then. He doesn’t even like her. He just spent the night with her because he knew it would hurt me. I spied on them all night. Spending the night in the dark and listening to them. I always knew my brother was lame, but the fact that he could have fucked Luna and didn’t proved it. I’m glad though. It would have changed everything. I don’t want my brother’s leftovers. I knew Luna was still a virgin. I knew exactly what happened between her and my brother, but I still spread the rumors at school about them. I still made sure it sounded like Gavin was the one who told me. I thought once Luna saw what a jerk my brother truly was, the realization would make her turn to me. It hasn’t. It appears I’m going to have to do something drastic to get Luna’s attention.
Why can’t anything ever be easy?
“What?”
The surprise and almost panic in Luna’s voice pisses me off, but I do my best to hide it.
“Go out with me. We could go watch the new scary movie.”
“What movie?”
“The Hills Have Eyes.”
“Ew. No, Attie. That movie looks gross. I don’t like horror movies,” Luna says, shaking her head. Frustration doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling.
“What about scary movies?”
I look up as Jules walks over to us. Great, just great. I can’t even get time alone with Luna. Something is going to have to change and soon.
“Attie wants us all to go watch that creepy movie that’s coming out. Remember we saw it advertised the other night?”
“Oh, that one about the people that are stalked by monsters living in the desert? Uber creepy, Atticus. I don’t need any more creepiness in my life. I’ve got too much as it is.”
I bite back the retort that I didn’t actually invite her to the movies. That would probably upset Luna.
Jules.
She grates on my nerves like a fly buzzing around that won’t leave you alone. I don’t know why Luna insists on being her friend.
“It doesn’t have to be that movie,” I mumble.
“I think I’m done with scary movies in general. They lose something after you get weird notes in your locker,” Jules responds.
“Oh man, did you get another one?” Luna questions.
“Not a note this time, but a flower.”
“I thought girls liked flowers?” I argue, figuring the rest of our lunch hour will be all about Jules and her stalker that’s been putting notes and things in her locker. If you ask me, the bitch should be glad some guy is interested in her.
“Not like this,” she mutters and reaches into the backpack she’s carrying and pulls out a black rose.
Luna gasps.
I didn’t think it was that bad, but I make a note never to buy her black roses.
If we ever get to that point of our relationship.
Something is going to have to change…
“Oh my God. Jules you have to tell your parents. That’s just too much. It’s almost… threatening.”
“Nah. Maybe whoever it is, is heavy into goth.”
“You mean like that Bixler kid?”
“Ew. He’s only a freshman. That’d ruin me.”
“Or maybe that Laney chick that recently transferred here,” I suggest with a smirk.
“A girl? Hmm… I never thought of that. I mean, I don’t really think of girls that way.”
“No muff diving for you?”
“Gross Atticus, do you have to call it that?” Luna says, scrunching up her nose.
She really is too innocent. I’ll have to work to get her the way I want her. If I can ever get in there with her.
I shrug in reply.
“Still, she’s kind of pretty in a Jennifer Love-Hewitt meets Jessica Alba and throw in Sarah Jessica Parker, just because.”
“Because, why?” Luna asks.
“Because no one should be as pretty as Jennifer and Jessica. It defies the natural order of things.” Jules lifts a shoulder.
“Luna’s that pretty,” I add in.
“Awe, Attie!” Luna laughs, blushing prettily.
“Yeah, awe, Attie. You really need to quit trying so hard. You’re being your own kind of creepy,” Jules mocks.
“I’m just stating the truth.” I try not to growl the words at her.
“Desperate, much?” Jules whispers, rolling her eyes at me.
“Jules, leave Atticus alone. He doesn’t mean anything like that. He knows we’re just friends.”
“But does he, Luna?”
“Of course he does. Right, Attie?”
“Right,” I mutter, unable to say much more.
“And that’s all you’ll ever be,” Jules says, her eyes mocking me and as usual, Luna is clueless.
“Attie is one of my best friends. I’d be lost without either of you,” Luna argues. “Right now, though, I better get. I have to meet Mrs. Raine in the library for a makeup biology exam. I missed it the other day when I went to the dentist. Catch you guys on the flipside,” she calls over her shoulder, walking away.
“Don’t you ever get tired of sporting a hard on for Luna, knowing she’ll never think of you as more than a pet?” Jules asks me.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know my girl would rather kiss anyone at this school than you, and that includes yours truly.”
“Whatever. Luna doesn’t see me as anyone other than her friend yet. She will.”
“When pigs fly. Hate to break it to you, Attie, but you’ve been friend-zoned for life when it comes to Luna.”
“I don’t—”
“Even if by some miracle. I mean, let’s say lightning came down from the gods and struck Luna and she suddenly realized that you’re madly in love with her, there’s no way she’d ever go there with you.”
“Why not? Lots of girls in this school want me.”
“Of course they do, you’re hot. You got that unrequited love thing going and you rock it. Luna only sees you as Gavin’s little brother. You’re doomed with her.”
“You’re wrong. Gavin and Luna are over. She wants nothing to do with my brother, not since he spread those lies on her. She’s done with him.”
“Oh poor, poor Atticus. You’re so blind to how girls really think.”
“I don’t think so,” I grumble.
Jules slides next to me. We’re both sitting on the ground, under the shade of an old Maple tree. She reaches up and slides her fingers in my hair and she bites her lip. I know what she wants. You’d have to be stupid not to. Jules isn’t like Luna. She’s not innocent. I’ve never gone there with her, because of Luna, but most of the boys in our class have. I look down at her chest. Her light pink shirt has a wide V-neck and it’s open to show a lot of cleavage. You can see the black silk strap of her bra and the dark color bleeds through under the shirt, so that you can see the form of her breasts perfectly.
“Don’t you get tired of pining over a girl who will never see you as a man, Attie? Who will never give you the pleasure you deserve? Who will always prefer your brother over you?”
“What do you know that I don’t?”
“Exactly what I’m telling you. But don’t worry, Attie. I’m here to heal your wounded heart, and I’ll kiss it all better.”
“You will, huh?”
“Definitely.”
“You can’t ever tell, Luna.”
; “It will be our secret,” she agrees with a smile as I move my hand up to squeeze her tit. “Our dirty little secret.”
She’s not the one I want, but she might prove useful and a guy can’t live on love alone. I shrug, standing up. Jules gets up too and I let her lead me. I know she’s headed to the weight lifting room. The showers in the back are legendary around here.
Looks like Jules and I will be missing fifth period.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
LUNA
It’s official. Maine’s weather is on crack. A few weeks back we could sit outside with our coats on and have lunch. Today it’s snowing and school has been canceled. There’s so much snow that it will take weeks to dig out. The white stuff might be beautiful, but I’m definitely not a fan. I won’t get to spend this weekend with Gavin and the thought of going so long without seeing him or being around him hurts me.
“You look awful sad today, Moonbeam.”
“Just sick of the white stuff outside.”
“One of the pleasures of living in Maine,” Mom laughs and she’s not wrong.
“What are you doing?” I ask her, deciding to change the subject because there’s not much I can do about the weather. I can’t invite Gavin over either, because if he got hurt on these roads, I’d never forgive myself.
“Going over my shopping list for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Will Daddy be here?”
“Of course he will, Luna. It’s Thanksgiving. Where else would he be?”
“I don’t know, he seems to be out of town a lot lately.”
“It’s only travel for work. It will get better.”
“I hope so, I miss him,” I tell her, and I do, but I’m more worried about Mom. I hear her crying at night when she thinks I’m asleep. There’s something going on, and I know that she’s trying to shield me from it.