Free Choices by Sydney Lane Page B

fire ignites inside of me, burning from the inside out.
    He licks my bottom lip, and I wrap my arms around his neck. I can’t wait, so I pull him to me. When I open my mouth to him, he slides his tongue inside. He tastes as good as he smells. Maybe some mint and a hint of beer. One hand glides down my body to my hip, then lower. My shirt rides up high on my thighs. His hand finds the back of my leg and urges it upward. He guides it over his waist. When he lowers onto me, he presses himself against me. I feel so out of control, but I can’t stop. His other hand wraps around the back of my neck to pull me closer. It’s like we can’t get close enough, like I could crawl out of my skin and into his.
    He moves a hand between our bodies and gently rubs me through my panties. I gasp and arch my back off the bed. I feel close to the edge of something, and I press myself into his hand. I lean my head back, and he watches while he continues to move his fingers on me. A pressure begins building inside me, spreading out from my core, until it consumes me. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. Something inside of me shatters. I cry out as I writhe against him. He gently rubs me until the sensation subsides. That. Was. Awesome .
    As I become aware of just how I must look, I get embarrassed. I lower my eyes and try to turn my head. “No, Quinc e. Look at me.” I do as he says, but my cheeks are betraying me again. “There is nothing to be embarrassed about, Quince. That was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” He gently rolls off of me, pulling me into his side. Ever so sweetly, he plants a kiss on my forehead. “But I want you to remember what just happened. No matter what happens after this, I want you to remember how good we are together.” How could I forget that?
    “Brody? Shouldn’t I do something for you?” I’m not sure how this works, but he just rocked my world. I feel like I should return the favor.
    “No, baby. I’ll be thinking about that for a long damn time.” He smiles and rubs small circles on my lower back. “Besides, if you touch me, I will take something I have no right to take.” I immediately go still.
    Does he know I’ m a virgin? “What do you mean?” I wonder if he could tell how inexperienced I am. Maybe I did something wrong.
    “Declan is my friend, my roommate. No matter what you say, he thinks you’re interested. And I have no right to get in his way.” His hand stills on my back. “What just happened was wrong. Quince, he’s my brother for crying out loud!” He moves away from me, but I pull him closer.
    “Brody, I told you I’m not dating him. What do you want me to do?” I am desperate because I feel as if I’m already losing something I never had. How could this be wrong if it feels so right?
    “Sleep, Quince. Just go to sleep. We’ll talk about this in the morning.” Instead of pushing me away, he pulls me close again. With my head on his chest, I fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.

 
    Chapter 16
     
    Someone is beating on the door. “Quince, are you in there? You better open this door or I’m coming in.” Jenna is better than an alarm clock. And much more annoying.
    I roll over and realize I am alone in the bed. He left. He left without saying goodbye. I sit up and look around. Every trace of him is gone. What happened to discussing this in the morning?
    “Yeah, yeah. Come on in.” I mumble, and each word echoes inside my head. I didn’t drink that much, but I know this must be what a hangover feels like.
    Jenna bursts into the room, a woman on a mission. “You weren’t in the room you were supposed to be in, and you weren’t answering your phone. I was about to call the police.” So, now she’s worried about me. She sits on the bed beside me, “So what happened?”
    “Well, someone either took my room or locked me out last night.” I’m still confused as to how I ended up in Brody’s bed. But I’m glad I did. “Um, Jenna, this is Brody’s