Free Fireflies From Heaven by Rebecca Julia Lauren Page B

and laughed humorlessly.   “I can’t decide which I want to do to you more.   Kiss you or spank you.”
    My stomach did
a double somersault.   “What?”
    “You heard me.”
    “Have you ever
done that?” I whispered, suddenly curious.
    Reed laughed
softly. “No, but we can try it if you want.”
    I could tell he
was joking, but the visual in my mind was surprisingly arousing.
    “The idea turns
you on,” Reed noted, his gaze heating. In an instant all playfulness vanished
and he asked pointedly, “Have you ever done that?”
    I opened my
mouth to tell him that he was my only lover, but I stopped, intrigued and
empowered by the jealousy in his eyes.   Reed’s chiseled jaw clenched at my hesitation and a thrill shot through
me at the possessiveness I sensed coming from him. “I’ve never done that.” I
answered finally.
    Reed let out a breath,
visibly relieved. “I’m not in love with Amber.”
    “You’re living
together, Reed.   Can you see how
Amber and I might have my doubts about your feelings for her?”
    He stared at me
as if I’d grown another head. “Ellie, I live here.”   He gestured toward the house. “Alone.”
    I frowned.
“This isn’t Amber’s house?”
    “No.   This is my house.”
    I was relieved
and speechless.
    “You thought I
was hitting on you while I was living in my ex-girlfriend’s house?” He raked a
hand through his hair.   “Maybe the
reason you don’t want to go out with me has more to do with the fact that you
think I’m the kind of guy who would do something like that.”
    I’d misjudged
him. Again.   I didn’t know what to
say so I apologized again. I examined his leg, and for the second time I left
Reed’s house feeling like I’d just been hit by an emotional tornado.
    Chapter 8

 
    “My brain short
circuited at the part where he said he couldn’t decide if he wanted to kiss you
or spank you.” Cora’s eyes were sparkling with interest.   “Sounds kinky and fun. Maybe you should
have let him.”
    I sat down on Cora’s
bed and watched her apply a taupe eye shadow.   “I thought about it,” I admitted.
    “You didn’t?”
She looked up at me, dropping the shadow brush.
    “You’re
shocked.”
    “Yes, but if
Reed Bentley wanted to kiss or spank me, I’d sure as hell let him do whichever
he liked.”
    “Really?”
    “Hell yeah.”
      “You don’t think it’s wrong?” I asked.
    “It’s kinky but
not wrong.”
    I laughed.   “I meant is it wrong to want Reed when I
know that Amber wants him back, and Isabelle wants them together too.”
    Cora set aside
her makeup and looked at me.   “At
first I wasn’t sure about you and Reed because I didn’t want you to get hurt,
but after hearing everything, I have to say that I agree with Reed.   If the two of you want to be together,
the only thing stopping that is you.   Amber and Isabelle have nothing to do with it.”
    “That’s sort of
what Reed said. I guess you’re on his side.”
    “Nah, I’m always
on your side.”
    “I’m making a
big deal over nothing, aren’t I?”
    “Not over
nothing, but it doesn’t have to stop you and Reed from being together.”
    “I just don’t
want to hurt anyone.”
    “Ellie, when we
were in school you always let kids cut in front of you in the lunch line. Since
the mystery meat wasn’t that great it didn’t matter much. Reed is way better
than the school lunch special,” Cora said meaningfully.
    “I’m sure he’d
be thrilled to hear that.”
    “Don’t let
anyone cut in front of you, not Amber or anyone else.”
    “What should I
do now?” I asked, always eager to hear Cora’s advice.
    “For starters,
the next time Reed brings up kissing or spanking, pick one and don’t forget to
come home and tell me every single delicious detail!”
    We both started
laughing.
    “Tonight,
forget about the drama and let’s just have fun.”
    We finished
getting dressed and left to meet Isabelle at Shooters, a local bar.
    Isabelle
already had a