She's My Everything (Crave and Claimed Book 1) Read online

  He went to touch his hair again, only to stop and drop his hand. “You didn’t immediately push me away.”

  She folded her arms. “So?”

  “The kiss. You didn’t push me away. A part of you must have liked it.”

  Laylah shook her head. “Seriously, is that what you’re going to come up with? That some part of me should have liked it just because you’re you?”

  “I know what I felt. You wanted me to kiss you.”

  “Blue, I barely know you.”

  “We’ve been going to the same school since kindergarten.”

  “And that doesn’t actually mean I know you. This is ridiculous. I don’t know why you’re even here.”

  He grabbed her arm, pulling her close. “I’m here because I felt your response and I know you want me, and badly, because it’s the same way I feel about you. I wanted that kiss. I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a long time, and I never thought I’d get the chance, but guess what, I finally did, and it was fucking glorious.”

  “Blue?”

  “What? You feel this. I know you do.” Her breaths had deepened. He refused to let her go.

  She licked her lips, and he groaned. “Don’t do shit like that.”

  “I … that was my first kiss, Blue,” she said.

  He jerked back and she sighed. “See, you didn’t want to know that.” She brushed past him, and he stared at the space where she’d stood just moments ago.

  “Wait a minute, that was your first kiss?” he asked, finally following her into the kitchen. He couldn’t believe it. There was no way that was her first kiss.

  She opened the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water. “Not all of us have a reputation for screwing the entire cheerleading squad.”

  “Look, I will never touch any of them, ever again,” he said, putting his hand flat on the counter. “I was your first kiss.”

  “The more you keep asking, the bigger the embarrassment, Blue. I don’t want to talk about this.” She unscrewed the bottle and took a large gulp.

  He liked being her first. “Does that mean you’re a virgin?”

  She spat out her water, quickly covering her mouth as she choked on some. “You can’t just randomly ask a girl that.”

  “Why not? It’s a perfectly valid question.”

  “It’s an unfair one.”

  “Well, are you?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  He wasn’t getting anywhere with her. “You know I’m not a virgin.”

  “I know you’ve shacked up with half of the town.”

  “Not half of them. Come on, tell me.”

  She stared at him and finally shook her head. “Yes, fine. I’m a virgin, Blue. Most of my eighteen years have been spent hanging out with my friends, studying, and reading books. I’ve never had a boyfriend and kissing random strangers isn’t on my list of things to do before I grow up. You’re my first kiss, and the reason I slapped you was because…”

  He waited.

  Her answer seemed to stretch on.

  “Even though I thought it was pretty great, I didn’t want my kiss to be in front of a bunch of our friends who will do nothing but point and gossip about it. I wanted my first to be … I don’t know, different.”

  He closed the distance between them, which he seemed to be doing a great deal with her just lately. All he wanted was to be near her in any way that he could.

  Cupping her face, he tilted her head back, pleased she didn’t try to fight him.

  “Blue, you don’t have to do this.”

  “I took your first kiss and I didn’t know it was your first time, otherwise, I would’ve done all of this differently. When it comes to you, I want everything to be perfect. You’re special, Laylah. You always will be. I’m sorry I messed it up, but allow me to make it all better now.”

  Her plump lips called to him, and as she released a gasp, he took possession of her lips, righting the wrong from earlier. When she remembered her first kiss with him, this would be the one she recalled with excitement.

  The same kiss she’d one day tell their grandchildren about.

  ****

  There was no one to laugh or mock. The moment Blue’s lips touched hers, she lost all willpower to fight him. At first, she didn’t know where to put her hands, and then slowly, she placed them on his chest and slid them on up to circle around his neck. Blue’s hands moved from her face, sliding down, not touching her breasts, to finally cup her waist.

  His tongue traced across her lips and she opened up, moaning as they tasted each other.

  It was slow.

  Seductive.

  Intense.

  When he pulled away, she didn’t want the kiss to end, and that was a very new experience for her.

  Glancing up at him, she waited, wondering, and offered him a smile. “That was … nice.”

  “I can do a lot better than nice.”

  She put her hand to his chest, holding him off. “I need time to think.” She nibbled on her lip.

  “This isn’t some kind of joke, Laylah.”

  “But why now? Why after all of these years? We’ve known each other for so long.” She tilted her head back, a little surprised by how tall he actually was.

  “I don’t know. Maybe I wasn’t ready to see you. I don’t get it. Now, though, when I look at you, I can’t think of anything else.”

  “Your reputation?”

  “It means nothing. Honestly, I’m not going to cheat on you nor am I going to go looking for anyone else.” He stroked her cheek. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before in my life. Do you at least feel anything for me?”

  She truly didn’t know how to answer that. The kiss had been amazing. One she would remember for a long time, but this with Blue, it was all a little new.

  “My parents are going to be home very soon,” she said.

  “Can I meet them?”

  Not what she’d been expecting. “Really?”

  “Aren’t they curious who is going to be picking up their daughter for the foreseeable future?”

  She didn’t want to know how he knew her car was going to be staying in the shop for a long time, but she’d gotten the call to confirm it. With her waiting so long, they needed to get a couple of parts. She did listen to the entire conversation, however cars and her didn’t exactly get along. Her father had understood most of it.

  “They’re often out at work by the time you arrive.” She had two workaholic parents who were completely and utterly devoted to her. It was an odd statement, but the moment they got home, all they wanted to know was about her. She was the center of their world.

  “Really?”

  “I guess you can stick around.” She turned and looked at the fridge. Anything to buffer whatever was going on between them at the moment, which she wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but it was clearly something. “Do you want something to drink?”

  “Love a soda or a water.”

  She pulled out a soda and a water, offering him whichever one he decided. He took the soda.

  “You do surprise me.”

  “Why? Because I’ve got taste?”

  “Not just that.” She chuckled. “I guess I didn’t expect you to be so persistent.”

  “When I want something, I go after it.”

  “So, I’m a challenge?” she asked.

  He grasped her hip, pulling her close, and she lost all playfulness as she felt the unmistakable feel of his erect cock against her stomach. She dropped her bottled water as she grasped his shoulders.

  “You’re far more than a challenge, Laylah.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “No, I’m not.” He took possession of her lips once again.

  Where their last kiss had been slow, exploring, this one wasn’t. The fire, the heat, it was unmistakable. She whimpered his name as he took possession of her lips, holding her close until he pressed her up against the fridge. He must have lost his can of soda somewhere as he grabbed her hands, placing them a
bove her head.

  He broke the kiss and slowly trailed his lips down her neck, sucking on her pulse. An answering heat flooded her core and she pressed her thighs together, closing her eyes and tilting her head back.

  Blue wasn’t having any of it. He slid a thigh between hers, making her keep them open for him to tease and torture her some more.

  “Please,” she said.

  “I know what I can do to make you love this even more.”

  With one hand, he held both of hers up above her head as the other slowly traced down her body. He grazed across her breast. The single touch was almost more than she could bear. He slowly stroked down, going toward her pussy. As he cupped her between the thighs, she cried out.

  In the next second, the front door closed with her parents calling out her name.

  Pulling away from Blue, she looked down to see their drinks spilled to the floor.

  “I’m in the kitchen,” she said.

  They would know. She just knew there was no way they wouldn’t see through what they’d been doing.

  Blue helped her clean up the mess as her parents came around the corner. She managed to get through the introductions without too much error, but her parents were eyeing Blue with disappointment.

  She was in for one hell of a conversation when he left.

  Rather than dwell, she allowed Blue to charm the asses off of them while she went to grab the groceries from her father’s car.

  As she got the last bag, her mother was waiting for her in the kitchen.

  “Do we need to have a serious talk?” she asked.

  “Mom, really, please don’t.” She’d already been forced to have the sex and pregnancy meeting. She didn’t want to have to go through that again.

  “I think your dad likes him.”

  “And what do you think?” Her father had a way of liking everyone.

  “He’s got a reputation even at the country club, sweetheart. I’ve heard his name one too many times. Be careful there.”

  She had every intention of being careful.

  Chapter Five

  Blue liked Laylah’s dad. He was easy to talk to, but her mother was another problem. The way she looked at him told him she’d heard way too much shit about him. He was going to have to convince her that he had no intention of hurting her daughter.

  The following day, he arrived at Laylah’s house, waiting for her to come to him.

  Her parents had already left. Her father had asked for him to keep an eye on her, which he already did.

  His thoughts returned to the fridge. The way she’d responded to his touch. When he’d faced her parents, he’d been so rock-hard. He couldn’t keep a single thought as he’d been so desperate to have Laylah.

  She stepped out of her door, heading toward him. She wore another pair of jeans and a plain black shirt that seemed to mold to every single curve. Her long brown locks were pulled up into a single ponytail. She got into his car, offering him a smile, but he couldn’t resist leaning forward and kissing those luscious lips.

  Laylah cupped his cheek and whimpered. “You’ve got to stop doing that.”

  “I’m not going to stop doing anything until I’m sure you’re as addicted as I am.”

  “You’re bad for me.” She kissed him again before pulling away. “I don’t think I can get used to this.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make it easier for you.” He pulled away from her driveway, taking hold of her hand as he did.

  “You know you were a pro with my parents. Are you used to charming them?”

  “Laylah, I hate to break it to you, but I’ve never had a girlfriend before.”

  “Are you serious?” she asked. “You must have.”

  “Nope.” He shook his head. “I’ve had no reason to have a girlfriend.”

  “Blue, I’m not going to sleep with you.”

  “I want you too, but this is far more than sex. Believe me, I know what sex means.”

  “Yeah, my mom has heard about your reputation,” she said.

  He winced. “Really?”

  “Yep. She warned me about you. You’re very popular at the country club.”

  He grimaced. “Okay, can I at least have points for saying that it all happened before I realized you were the one I wanted?”

  “You don’t have to keep saying stuff like that, Blue.”

  Blue pulled up against the curb and kept the ignition running. He turned in his seat to look at her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I … I have a reputation. You know that. I screwed my way through the cheerleading squad, I’ve slept with married women. I had a married woman show me how to please a woman.”

  “I don’t need to hear this.”

  “Yes, you do. I’ve slept with a lot of girls and women. I’ve never used force. It has always been consensual.” He licked his lips. “At the time, I didn’t care what it made me, but I’m not proud of it. After you told me I was your first kiss, I wish I’d saved my firsts for you, but I didn’t. I only have one first and that’s falling in love.”

  “Please, don’t.”

  “I’ve got to tell you.”

  “No, you don’t,” she said. “We don’t have to have this conversation.”

  He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “They’re all in the past, Laylah. You’re the only woman I want. Will you go out with me?”

  She frowned. “You’re asking me to be your girlfriend?”

  “Yes. I will be the perfect gentleman.”

  “What does being your girlfriend entail?”

  “For one, you’re going to have to accept me kissing you. Holding your hand. Walking you to class. Being the attentive boyfriend.”

  “And?”

  “You’re going to need to cheer me on when I play.”

  “I already do that.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. My parents, even though they don’t know the first thing about sports, are always there at the games. I’ve been cheering you on for years, Blue.”

  “Then I’m going to look for you and when I win, I’m going to come and find you to give me a celebratory kiss.”

  “This is all…”

  “Awesome. Amazing. The best kind of news you’ve heard.”

  “I was going to say surreal.”

  “Well, I can live with surreal.” He cupped her cheek. “And I’m hoping you can as well.”

  She nodded. “We need to get to school. I don’t need my mom already being anti-Blue when she finds out you made me late to class.”

  “And here I was going to suggest we cut school entirely. You can spend the day with me. Get to know the real me and not just the crap I’ve told you about.”

  “I think I need school to deal with everything. That will be a nice distraction. Just out of curiosity, I’m not going to get someone claiming to be your girlfriend and threatening to beat my ass, am I?”

  “I’ve got no one, Laylah. I never promised anyone anything. You’re the first person I have.”

  She chuckled. “So, there you go, I am a first of something. I’m the first girl you’re going to be serious about.”

  “You’ve got that right.” He turned back to start driving.

  Blue didn’t know how else to tell her that he was falling for her. It was so fucking crazy, even to him.

  They’d been school friends for years but he’d never felt this way before. She consumed his every waking thought. He’d been so confused by his feelings, he’d talked to his dad, who happened to be happily married, and told him straight, he was falling in love. It was the Jones way. They loved with their whole hearts. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was how they were, even his grandfather.

  Laylah was nowhere near ready to learn that he was completely and totally in love with her.

  ****

  “You know he could be doing it to fuck you,” Becky said later that same day in their biology class.

  “Ignore her. We all know he’s not the kind of guy to tr
y to use wanting a date to get a girl to fall into his bed,” John said.

  “You think he’s being serious about his feelings?”

  “He hasn’t given you a single reason to doubt him, has he?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’d trust him. There’s nothing wrong with allowing yourself to enjoy this, Laylah. When was the last time you just enjoyed yourself?”

  “There’s school and a lot of stuff.”

  “You’ve forgotten what it means to have fun, and we haven’t been much help.” John playfully slapped Becky’s arm.

  “Ouch, why is it our fault?”

  “I’m interested in my girlfriend, and you’re more interested in peaceful protest.”

  “Don’t,” Laylah said. “You do not under any circumstances need to blame yourselves at all.”

  There was a knock at the door. Someone from the main reception came in with a note and left immediately.

  The teacher opened it up and looked across the classroom. “Laylah, you’re needed in reception.”

  She frowned. Grabbing her bag, she stuffed her closed books into the bag and left the classroom.

  Walking down the hallway, she wondered what she’d done. She’d always been an exemplary student, so being called to the office was just … strange. She was a damn good person.

  All of sudden, her hand was tugged. In the next second, she was pulled into the boys’ bathroom.

  “Blue,” she said, laughing.

  He pressed her up against the door.

  “I need to go to the office.”

  “No, you don’t. That was all me.” He slammed his lips down on hers and she moaned. Dropping her bag, she cupped his face and kissed him back with a fiery passion.

  Breaking from the kiss, she put her hands on his chest. “Wait a minute? How did you do that?”

  “I was owed a favor, and I couldn’t stand not seeing you.”

  “We saw each other less than an hour ago.”

  “Yeah, and it felt like too much. I’m thinking of transferring biology classes. My grades have been impressive of late, and I can convince the teacher to transfer me.”

  “Blue, please.”

  “Too much?”

  “Just a little.”

  “You’re going to have to get used to it.” He kissed her harder, pressing his body against her. “Do you want to skip class?”