Still Water by A. M. Johnson Page B

television and at least two gaming consoles. Yep, men lived here.
    "He's out. He's hardly here on the weekend nights. He won't bring chicks here." Todd plopped down onto the sofa. I could have died and been fine with never knowing that tiny bit of info on Seth. "We watching a movie or something?" He smiled up at me. His grin was sweet.
    "Or something?" I smiled back suggestively, and his grin fell slightly. I almost thought I imagined it.
    "I think we need to slow down. I mean, we hardly know each other, maybe —"
    "Why did you drive me over here then?" He was rejecting me again, and it pissed me off how much that hurt.
    "Lily… I know, okay, I get it. But I think us…" He swayed his hand back and forth gesturing to himself and then me. "…hooking up, could be a bad idea." He stood from the couch bringing his body just inches from mine. His dark brown eyes pierced through me. "Trust me. Like I've said before, you don't want my baggage."
    I was confused and getting angrier. "Then why the fuck did you bring me here?" My voice was louder than I meant it to be. He stepped away from me with a shocked look.
    "Damn it, Lily. At first, it was because I got so wrapped up in you. Kissing you is like a drug. I can't fucking think." He shook his head. "Lily, I can't do this shit with you. I'm still getting over some things, and I'll just screw it up like I always do." His hands fisted.
    I should've been listening to his warnings, but my stupid ego was too wounded to care. "I don't get it! You'll screw random chicks that throw themselves at you, but you won't get physical with me? What is that about? What… am I not good enough for you, Todd? I'm not Liz or some easy slut so you won't give me the time of day?" Todd's eyes narrowed into slits, he looked like he hated me. I'd taken that small piece of him that he gave me on the ride over and threw it in his face. I was being such a bitch. I couldn't believe how livid I was. What was it about him that made me care this much? My cheeks heated and my pulse beat heavy in my chest. One minute he was hot, all over me, making me feel sexier than I'd ever felt, and then next he was just as cold. This back and forth, this jealous bullshit, it was exhausting.
    "Are you serious right now?" He took two massive steps and caged me against his living room wall. "Lily, what do you want from me?" Todd's voice was low. It felt as if he was asking me for forever, but all I needed was right now.
    "I want you to want me like you do all those other girls." I couldn't meet his eyes, letting him know how much I needed this – him. He made me feel insecure.
    He grabbed my shoulders and kissed me hard. I could tell he was fighting his temper. He pulled roughly at my lips, and I loved every minute of it. The coarse hair from his short, clipped beard burned my lips in the most wonderful way. I savored the peppermint flavor of his lips. The flavor I had begun to crave. Todd's now familiar scent invaded my senses and started me on fire, a slow burn, but worth every bit of pain it was sure to cause after the fact.
     

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    Todd
     
    " I S THIS WHAT YOU WANT?" I kissed her deeply, tracing my tongue along her bottom lip. My teeth grazed the soft surface of her neck. "Is it, Lily?" My voice was strained, my throat dry. I wouldn't be able to say no to her. I would take her any way I could, even if it killed me later.
    "Yes," she whispered. My hand clasped around the back of her neck pulling her close as she bit her lip with anticipation. I needed her to want me more than anything she's ever needed in her life. I opened myself up to her tonight, telling her about Liz, but she still gave me nothing. I wanted to be deep inside her, filling all that emptiness that was obviously drowning her. This girl was damaged. Why else would she seek me out? All I knew about her was she had recently lost her dad. Maybe she felt alone? Maybe she needed to feel something other than the pain she carried, even if it wasn't