Free Somebody Love Me (Journeys) by Michelle Sutton Page A

stick. "Eight ball in the corner pocket."
    To my surprise, the ball went straight in and I didn't scratch. "Whoo hoo! I won!"
    "That you did, Missy. What do you say you and I go outside for a bit?" Mick's gaze slowly crept along my body, lingering on my legs before returning to my face. He grabbed his jean jacket and slipped it on.
    I glanced over at Mary who sat on the same bench, still deep in a conversation with the same guy. In the meanwhile Cathy had found an admirer by the Ms. PacMan game in the back corner of the arcade. He dipped low and kissed her while feeling her up where anyone could see him. I glanced at the owner, who sat behind the counter and exchanged money for tokens. He didn't seem to notice or care.
    "Sure," I said as I followed Mick outside.
    Though freezing out, the heat of his gaze torched my face. But in spite of his smoldering looks, I still shivered.
    "Come here. I'll warm you up." Mick gestured for me to come closer. He took his coat off, then draped it over my shoulders. He pulled me so close I could hear the sound of his heartbeat. I couldn't believe he liked me enough to cuddle and we'd just met. He was better looking than any of my previous boyfriends. I couldn't tell his age, though, so I asked, "How old are you?"
    "Seventeen. You?"
    I knew if I told him the truth, that I'd be sixteen soon, he'd run screaming like the rest of the guys had, with the exception of Margie and Sharon's brother. So I said, "Sixteen."
    He squeezed me tighter and whispered into my hair. "I want you to be my girl."
    Had he just said what I thought he did? I tipped my head back to ask him when he covered my lips with his. The kiss started slow and innocently enough, but quickly grew steamy and warmed me all over. Several parts of my body heated, and they were in areas I didn't have much experience with. At least, not in a good way. So far sex hadn't been much fun for me at all.
    Mick's hands roamed over my chest and legs. After several minutes of gentle touches, he paused to unsnap my jeans. I glanced around and saw we were alone. What was he doing?
    Afraid to move, but enjoying the sensation of him touching me at the same time, I allowed him to explore me in a way that made my knees weak. I'd never felt anything like this and I wanted more. He rubbed inside my panties and asked, his breath now coming in erratic spurts, "Want to go to my aunt's place? I have a room there."
    My heart pounded and I thought maybe I'd found love this time. It certainly felt better than what I'd experienced with guys thus far. The hungry look in Mick's eyes made me want to do whatever he asked. So I said as I snapped my jeans, my body still swimming with pleasure, "Okay, but first I need to get my coat."
    When I approached Mary, she barely glanced at me when I told her I was leaving with Mick and I'd catch her later. Oh well, at least she wouldn't miss me. One glance at Cathy, who was still making out in the corner, told me she wouldn't care where I went any more than Mary did.
    I pulled on my coat and we stepped outside. Though it was dark out, I had four more hours until my curfew, so I announced, "I don't have to be home until eleven."
    "I'll get you home by then." Mick grabbed my hand and I followed him down the street. His fingers were warm and his large hand swallowed mine up. Fish had small hands in comparison, not that I wanted to think about him right now. He'd never made me feel like Mick had managed to do from his kisses alone.
    After walking several short blocks, we arrived at a two story home badly in need of a paint job. The moment I stepped inside I nearly gagged from the smell of cat pee, so I continued breathing through my teeth. I heard the television in the other room. It sounded like they were watching Frosty the Snowman .
    Mick led me up the stairs and within minutes I'd grown accustomed to the scent. If I focused on other things, like the handsome guy standing next to me, it didn't seem too bad. I studied the small room