Free Because of Lucy by Lisa Swallow Page A

muscled stomach.
    “Honestly, I don’t know what to say.”
    I tug him towards me by his shirt. I’m a bit drunk and a lot reckless but what the hell, it’s about time I had some fun. “How about you hit me with some poetry, I hear the girls really…”
    “Ness. Shut up.” He drags me onto him and crushes his mou th on mine, the breath sucked from my lungs as the urgency of his kiss overwhelms me. The tiniest amount of self-control I had just disappeared.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
     
    EVAN
     
    When Matt pulled his stunt tonight, I almost managed to stop him. At one point I calmed him down enough to edge him towards the bus stop. Apparently the pull to see the girl he dumped several weeks ago became too much, and he staggered off. He’d be an easy target for any lurking gangs looking for a student to bash, so I didn’t have a bloody choice. I followed him.
    Man, I was fucking furious, I wanted to continue my evening into the city with our mates. But now I could run downstairs and kiss him. Because Ness, spilling out of her sexy dress, and taking control, is straddling me as I lie on her bed. She leans over, and as she kisses my neck her soft hair tickles my face. I want to ask her why she’s doing this, but know asking girls why is a bad idea. And she might stop.
    Ness pulls her mouth away and sits back up, running a finger down my chest. Deftly, she unbuttons my shirt, her delicate fingers warm on my skin. Pushing the shirt to one side, Ness places her warm lips on the cool of my chest and her tongue darts out, licking me.
    “Holy crap, Ness,” I growl and tip her over so she’s lying on the bed. “I’m trying to keep control of myself here.”
    She looks up at me, hair splayed on the bed behind her. “Why?”
    “Because I don’t want to be accused of anything tomorrow.”
    “I won’t accuse you of anything. I want to do this.”
    I’m fighting with myself, with the whole respect thing girls go on about. Situations like this confuse the hell out of me.
    “Ness…”
    “So you don’t want to?”
    Ness’s eyes shine as her hands slide my shirt off my shoulders. She digs her fingers into the sinew before tracing lightly down the center of my body, towards the edge of my jeans. My heart slams against my chest, and the blood pools away from my head. I am so damn hard, it hurts.
    I squeeze her thigh through her dress and push the material up, sliding my hand around her waist and pulling her into me. I’m used to girls giggling, and wriggling around but she stares at me with an amused determination on her face. I need to step it up a notch.
    “Jeez, Ness, of course I want to…”
    The strap of her dress pushes down easily and I nip her shoulder with my teeth, nudging my nose into her neck. Ness makes a small noise, low in her throat as I trace kisses towards the top of her breasts. My fingers slide along her warm skin, following the direction of my mouth. As I reach her breast, I rub her nipple through the lace of her bra and Ness pushes herself into me. I hook the other strap of her dress down and she shifts so I can move the dress to her waist. Easing down the fabric, I follow the dress’s path to the floor with small kisses on her impossibly soft, fragrant skin. Ness tugs my hair, pulling me back upwards, towards her face.
    I swallow and meet her eyes. God, I hope she’s not about to change her mind.
     
    ****
     
    NESS
     
    Evan looks down at my half naked body, and hesitates. I prop myself up on my elbows and look at him kneeling shirtless on the floor. The light from the open curtains highlights the curves of his abs and it takes every ounce of control not to throw myself at him.
    Evan’s going to change his mind, maybe he doesn’t like what he sees because he’s not touching me anymore. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
    Evan’s eyes shine. “I’m worried you won’t respect me in the morning.”
    I open my mouth to reassure him, then see the hint of a smile curving