Chapter 13: Fleur

FLEUR

Chapter

Thirteen

The second Van's lips land on mine, everything around us slips away. I feel his arm come around my waist, pulling me flush against him, making my breath hitch. My lips part enough to allow his tongue to slide right inside me.

I let him kiss me. I want him to. There's nothing I want more at this moment. His tongue strokes me softly and sweetly. He's taking his time as though he's savoring every second of it.

"Kiss me, Red. I'll beg if I have to."

"No." I'm shocked I managed to get that response out. Even though it's going against all of my instincts. I want nothing more than to kiss him back, to wrap my arms around him, for this to be real. To believe that he's feeling the same way that I am.

"Please." He nibbles my lip. That soft plea coming from him has me giving in.

This time it's me that takes his mouth. I quiet all the thoughts that keep running through my mind. For once, I want to do something for myself even if it's only for a short period of time. To be wanted by someone. To really be seen by someone. Not just anyone—Van. I want him more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.

That thought alone should have stopped me, but I'm lost in him. The way his mouth moves over mine. The sounds he's making as he once again devours my mouth with me kissing him right back.

Heat floods all of my body when his hard cock pushes into my stomach. I slide my hands up his chest to wrap around his neck, trying to get closer so I can feel every inch. A small moan escapes.

When Van lifts his head, he smiles down at me. "I have to tell you, Red. I thought when you got your hands around my neck, it was going to be so you could choke me." I can't help but burst into laughter. Van slips his own hand down to grab my ass.

"Okay, we get it! You guys are dating," someone shouts, rocking my whole world right back to reality. This isn't real. It's all for show. I don't know why I continue to allow myself to forget that.

"Fuck off," Van shouts back, his smile dropping. I release my hold on him to step back, but he keeps his firm on me, not letting me get an inch away. His eyes drop back to mine. "Don't do it, Red. Don't pull away from me."

"Everyone is staring."

"When did you start caring about what other people thought?" I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, not having a smartass reply on hand. I'm still flustered from the whole kissing thing. Only Van can get me tongue-tied.

"Let's get out of here." He grabs my hand, leading me back out of the kitchen.

"Hey! We were playing a game," Sadie calls. I'd forgotten about that too. I forgot everything when Van kissed me.

"Your sister." I try to tug on his hand.

"Got Dunc."

"Your brother." I correct with a smirk.

Van's hand shoots out and shoves someone back that almost knocks into me. They spin around to say something but close their mouth when they see Van and mutter an apology.

"When are you going to start seeing that you trying to piss me off only turns me on more?"

"So, masochism is one of your kinks," I tease him as we weave through the people. Most step out of the way for Van. He keeps me close.

"Got one kink, Red." He glances down at me. "You."

My heart gives a stupid flutter like I'm in some romance book. He's making this all too hard. It's fake. We have to stop at the door for Van to get his keys.

"At least they're responsible," I say as Van blows into the machine.

"You drink?" Before I can answer, he keeps going. "I didn't taste it on you."

"Oh my God." Van opens the passenger door for me.

"You're even more pretty when you blush." He swipes his thumb across my warm cheeks.

"Van. Fuck, wait up," Dunc shouts. Van turns. He and Sadie are headed right for us.

Shit.

"Let's go. We can go make out somewhere."

Van glances back at me, his brows furrowed in suspicion. "What's going on, Red?"

"Can we just go?" I try again, but it's too late. They've made it to the car.

"We need to talk," Dunc tells him.

"You don't want to talk to him. You don't even like him," I quickly remind him.

"Fleur, we've gone to school together since kindergarten. I might be an asshole—" Dunc says.

"Might?" Van glares at Dunc.

"Someone better tell me what's going on." I can hear the frustration in Van's voice.

"When I picked your girl up, her mom's boyfriend was there." Crap. I wish I could silence Dunc.

"Yeah, he has a key. Boyfriends go to their girlfriend's house." I try to downplay it.

"Spit it out, Dunc." They all ignore me.

"Fleur answered the door, and I could tell she was freaked out. Then I saw the man and the way he was watching her. Plus—" Dunc shrugs. "She didn't put up a fight about coming to the game. I only got her to the party because I said I'd take her or hand her over to you."

It appears Dunc had accomplished both. The outcome was always going to be the same. Van's quiet for a few seconds, which is a lot for him. At least when he's around me.

"I got it. Thanks, man." He gives Dunc a chin nod. Oh, now they're bonding. More like ganging up on me. I know I shouldn't be mad at Dunc or Sadie because they are trying to do the right thing. And what Dunc said is the truth: I was uncomfortable. I'm just not ready to admit it out loud.

"Sorry." Sadie gives me a small wave goodbye.

Van pulls me toward him then closes the car door.

"It's really no big?—"

"Don't." He traps me between the door and him. Now I see why he closed it. "You're being flighty about it, so that means there's a problem. I thought maybe I saw something when I asked you who he was, but I was driving." I chew on my bottom lip. A wave of unexpected emotion rolls over me. I am pissed about everyone being in my business or caring. "Shit. Don't cry."

"I'm not!" I blink quickly, trying to stop my eyes from watering. He pulls me into his chest, dropping his chin to rest on the top of my head.

"Stay with me this weekend."

"What? I can't stay with you." Why is that offer so damn tempting?

"Yeah, you can. You're eighteen."

"You live with your parents." I shake my head.

"Like they have room to talk. Mom got knocked up at sixteen."

"Oh, no. I'm on birth control so—" I trail off. "Why do you make words come out of my mouth that I don't want to?" I huff into his chest. Why does he also have to smell so good?

"Good information to know."

"That is not information you need to know." I put my hands on his chest to push him away, but instead my fingers grip it.

"Stay with me. You think Dunc isn't always sneaking into Sadie's room?"

"We wouldn't be sneaking. I'd stay on the couch or something, but that's beside the point."

"What's the point? You keep giving them, and I keep knocking them out."

"I don't know! It's just against the rules or something. Girlfriends and boyfriends can't spend the night together at their parents' home."

Van lets out a sigh. "Well, this is all fake. Remember?"

There he goes knocking down another point. Thank God my face is still in his chest because that burned, and I'm sure my face shows it. "I was rude to your mom, I think."

"Trust me. She'll love you."

"Can I trust you?"

"Every damn time."

I hope that's not fake too.