Free Craving You (TBX #2) by Ashley Christin

can’t be named.
    Pulling away, we both allow ourselves time to breathe. “You going to give us a chance, sweetness?” I take a moment to absorb his words.
    Us .
    No, nononononono. There can never be an us . I can’t allow myself to fall down that rabbit hole. The same one my mom has been lost in for years. No. I won’t do that. The look in my eyes must give him a sign of what’s going through my brain. His arms leave my face, and he takes a step back. I feel the loss of his heat instantly and whimper inside.
    “You don’t want me. You sure about that?”
    “I can’t want you , Parker, and trust me when I tell you , you don’t want me .” He gives me that panty-dropping smirk, and I’m tempted to drop them, but I don’t. I show some restraint. I’m a lady, dammit.
    “If that’s what you want.” I’m confused by the look on his face. It’s like he has won a prize I’m unaware of.
    “That’s just how it has to be.” Brealynn and Colt come barging through the door in laughter. I plaster a fake smile on my face and join them in the living room.
    There’s a party tonight I need to get ready for. It’s time to prove to Parker he needs to move on from me and get under someone else.
     
     
    Parker
     
    All the students who are still in town for the summer have been showing up for a few hours now. Kelsey has stuck close to Brealynn tonight so far. She won’t get within a few feet of me. Avoiding me like a damn leper. I’ll have her soon, though. Her little admission today shook me. The bitch queen has feelings and for me, of all people. That works out since I have those same feelings for her. I just have to make her realize it, which is why you don’t need to get pissed at me for what I’m about to do. It’s for her own good.
    Throwing my arms around Karina, she giggles and smiles up at me. “Hey!”
    I met her earlier in the party. She seems fun, and she’s hot, so why not? I notice Kelsey look over at me from the corner of the living room, her eyes growing wide at my placement around Karina. Leaning down so my whisper can reach Karina’s ear, I say, “Kiss me.” A simple command that any girl I touch follows; well, all but Kelsey.
    Her lips rush to mine in a hurried attempt to wrap her arms around my neck. Soon, her tongue is darting into my mouth. Whoa. Didn’t want to take it this far, but when my eyes open to look at Kelsey, she’s fuming. Flashing a cocky smile as Karina pulls my bottom lip into her mouth. With a pop, my lip releases, and Kelsey stares daggers at me. Keeping the fake cockiness on my face while Karina whispers sexy promises she would like to follow through with me. My dick doesn’t even move.
    Lifting my head back up to Kelsey’s direction, I now have two angry sets of eyes staring daggers at me. Shit. Brealynn grabs her hand and drags her through the house, away from me.
     

     
    I haven’t seen Kelsey in a while. Maybe I took it too far? Nah , my drunk brain informs me. Once Karina learned that I wasn’t interested, she finally left my side and found a new man to make out with. Rounding the corner back into the living room, my eyes are assaulted. Kelsey is sitting on the couch with some fuckin’ guy, making out. FUCK ME . This backfired tremendously.
    Stalking away from the living room is my only option or else I’ll lose my shit. I’m too pretty to serve jail time. When I reach the top of the stairs, Tim is playing pool with my little sister, Jamie, and her friends. We decided if she’s going to get wasted, she might as well be where her big brothers are.
    “I got winner.” I need something to help distract me and regroup. A hard shove to my shoulder jolts me forward.
    The fuck?
    “I hate you!” Kelsey yells, drawing attention to us. Grabbing her arm in a hurry, I drag her into the nearest room, which happens to be mine.
    “No, you don’t.” My voice is stern. When will she stop lying to herself? She has unshed tears in her eyes, and it tugs at my heart.