off. “No; I don’t think it’s an issue, but there’s nothing like the blast from the past.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” Taylor said dryly as he looked at me.
I glared at him.
The room fell silent as all eyes landed on me.
“Okay, so what are we watching?” Eli asked, purposely taking the attention away from me.
As our eyes met, he gave a smile and winked at me.
“I’m in a Bruce Willis type of mood. I’m thinking Hostage. One of my favorites,” Chelsea said.
“Wait a second, what was that?” Taylor asked as his curious eyes shifted from Eli to me.
“What was what?” I asked.
“Are you flirting with my sister?”
I glared at Taylor. “So what if he is. He isn’t allowed?”
Eli bowed his head, smiling. “Over-protective brother. I like her and I am interested.”
“I’m not protecting my sister; I’m protecting you from my sister.”
My stomach dropped. It hurt to know that Taylor didn’t think much of me, but I tried my best to remain impassive. Despite how I felt, he was right. If I was Taylor, I would have protected my friend as well, especially with my messed up past.
“I think I have it under control. I know you mean well, but I don’t think you actually truly understand her,” Eli said.
My brows rose as I was completely taken by surprise by his words. He understood me? “And you do?”
“Yeah, I do. Trust me; I know the type of girl you are. I saw a glimpse of it last night. I can handle you.”
I felt naked. My soul felt bare. I had laid everything out on the front line for him to see, and I was completely afraid. I didn’t want the attraction…I didn’t want him to like me. Because I knew that if I let him in, I would leave him broken just like I was.
He had no idea what I did…the hurt that I caused…the pain that tore me to pieces, reminding me of that night. I was the self-destructive, wild child with a haunted past, who ruined lives and pushed people away. I was out of control and no good for him, but he still looked at me as if I was light when all I was, was darkness.
His strange, unique orange eyes lingered on me, as if he could see deep into my soul. It was as if he could see the real me; the side that I kept locked away. There was a calmness that settled in me whenever he was near, taming the wild beast that I had become. He wanted me…Paige Jacobs…and there was no escaping him.
Taylor shook his head. “Stay away from my friend.”
I had every intention in staying away, but the thought of him demanding I did anything angered me to the core. Being told what to do had become a problem now that I was old enough to make my own decisions. I could smell defiance in the air as I felt the urge to retaliate. I wanted him angry, just like I was, and I knew exactly what I had to do to make that happen.
I smiled. “Okay.”
I stood up from the floor and pushed Eli back on the chair as I straddled him. His body tensed as he was momentarily caught off guard by my sudden actions. With my lips eager and hungry to taste his, they came crashing down on his mouth. Still recovering from shock, he didn’t kiss back right away, but when he did, he took hold of my face and slipped his tongue in my mouth as our lips tangled together. Fireworks blasted in my head as excitement rushed through my stomach.
A strong grip hooked my elbow, tearing Eli and I apart as I was pulled off his lap. I quickly recovered my balance as I pulled down my skirt.
Fire shot out of Taylor’s glaring eyes. I winked at him as a smile so smug found its way on my lips.
“Don’t worry, pumpkin; I don’t do the love thing. He’s going to be perfectly fine.”
I walked away, feeling my phone vibrate in my hand. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.” I know I will.
I read the message as I walked out of my home, telling me to hurry my ass up and get outside. I walked down the driveway, smiling as Andie, in a strappy, asymmetrical, jersey white dress, jumped up and down, beaming as she waved
“Yeah, tell me about it,” Taylor said dryly as he looked at me.
I glared at him.
The room fell silent as all eyes landed on me.
“Okay, so what are we watching?” Eli asked, purposely taking the attention away from me.
As our eyes met, he gave a smile and winked at me.
“I’m in a Bruce Willis type of mood. I’m thinking Hostage. One of my favorites,” Chelsea said.
“Wait a second, what was that?” Taylor asked as his curious eyes shifted from Eli to me.
“What was what?” I asked.
“Are you flirting with my sister?”
I glared at Taylor. “So what if he is. He isn’t allowed?”
Eli bowed his head, smiling. “Over-protective brother. I like her and I am interested.”
“I’m not protecting my sister; I’m protecting you from my sister.”
My stomach dropped. It hurt to know that Taylor didn’t think much of me, but I tried my best to remain impassive. Despite how I felt, he was right. If I was Taylor, I would have protected my friend as well, especially with my messed up past.
“I think I have it under control. I know you mean well, but I don’t think you actually truly understand her,” Eli said.
My brows rose as I was completely taken by surprise by his words. He understood me? “And you do?”
“Yeah, I do. Trust me; I know the type of girl you are. I saw a glimpse of it last night. I can handle you.”
I felt naked. My soul felt bare. I had laid everything out on the front line for him to see, and I was completely afraid. I didn’t want the attraction…I didn’t want him to like me. Because I knew that if I let him in, I would leave him broken just like I was.
He had no idea what I did…the hurt that I caused…the pain that tore me to pieces, reminding me of that night. I was the self-destructive, wild child with a haunted past, who ruined lives and pushed people away. I was out of control and no good for him, but he still looked at me as if I was light when all I was, was darkness.
His strange, unique orange eyes lingered on me, as if he could see deep into my soul. It was as if he could see the real me; the side that I kept locked away. There was a calmness that settled in me whenever he was near, taming the wild beast that I had become. He wanted me…Paige Jacobs…and there was no escaping him.
Taylor shook his head. “Stay away from my friend.”
I had every intention in staying away, but the thought of him demanding I did anything angered me to the core. Being told what to do had become a problem now that I was old enough to make my own decisions. I could smell defiance in the air as I felt the urge to retaliate. I wanted him angry, just like I was, and I knew exactly what I had to do to make that happen.
I smiled. “Okay.”
I stood up from the floor and pushed Eli back on the chair as I straddled him. His body tensed as he was momentarily caught off guard by my sudden actions. With my lips eager and hungry to taste his, they came crashing down on his mouth. Still recovering from shock, he didn’t kiss back right away, but when he did, he took hold of my face and slipped his tongue in my mouth as our lips tangled together. Fireworks blasted in my head as excitement rushed through my stomach.
A strong grip hooked my elbow, tearing Eli and I apart as I was pulled off his lap. I quickly recovered my balance as I pulled down my skirt.
Fire shot out of Taylor’s glaring eyes. I winked at him as a smile so smug found its way on my lips.
“Don’t worry, pumpkin; I don’t do the love thing. He’s going to be perfectly fine.”
I walked away, feeling my phone vibrate in my hand. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.” I know I will.
I read the message as I walked out of my home, telling me to hurry my ass up and get outside. I walked down the driveway, smiling as Andie, in a strappy, asymmetrical, jersey white dress, jumped up and down, beaming as she waved
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