Love Me

“I want to beat everyone. So let’s see if this will work.”



He puts his hands onto the ground as I grab his legs and pull them up to my sides. He’s heavier than I expected, but I say, “Go.”



We move quickly for about ten steps and then his leg starts to fall out of my grip. When I try to fix it, I drop the other leg and he goes down, but deftly flips himself over and pulls me on top of him in the process.



I can’t help but laugh. “We suck. I’m better at croquet. We shoulda chosen that.”



“I don’t care if we suck. I’d play anything with you.”



“Maybe I wanna play a kissing game.”



“Like I said, anything,” he says as he kisses me. It’s a powerful lips-touching kiss. I keep thinking the more I’m around him, the more I kiss him, the less power his lips will have on me. But the opposite seems to be true. My kisses seem to be making him stronger. The more my lips touch his, the more powerful the kisses become.



Or, maybe, the more meaningful.



He stares into my eyes for a few seconds before he flips me over, lies on top of me, and kisses me again. I get brave and let my tongue graze the outside of his lips. His lips stay soft but his mouth stays closed.



I’m starting to think his tongue is cursed or something. Like Medusa. If he uses it on me, I might turn to stone.



We compete in a few more games, lose badly, chat with some perspective students, and then I take him to get checked in for today’s big event. The Gods of Olympus competition.



Whitney is sitting at the check-in table with Cooper Steele. She checks Aiden’s name off a list, then hands him his wardrobe. A teeny pair of white shorts, a gold braided rope, and a green laurel wreath.



Aiden holds the shorts up. “Are you serious? No way I’m wearing these.”



Whitney grabs them out of his hands. “Then you won’t be competing.”



He grabs them back from her.



I give her a thumbs up and as we’re walking away I say, “You’re brilliant,” which causes her to give me the biggest smile she’s ever directed my way.



She leans across Cooper to high five me, her boobs landing directly in his face. “Social Committee now officially rocks. I’ve been telling Mr. Steele here how he needs to wear one.” He flinches as she runs a hand across his shoulder. “He’d put these boys to shame. But don’t worry. I’ll have him in one soon.” She gives me a smirk and says, “Or maybe he’d prefer it was later.”



“I don’t think any of the faculty will be wearing them, Miss Clarke,” Cooper replies.



Aiden is still looking at what he’s supposed to wear and muttering. “How did she ever get this approved?”



“I don’t know. But she got one thing wrong.”



“Yeah, half my shorts are missing.”



“No.” I grab the laurel wreath from his hand, place it on his head, and study him. “Definitely wrong. Come on. You can’t compete like this.”



I drag him into the back of the auditorium where all the stage supplies are kept and find some gold spray paint. I grab some newspaper and lay his wreath on it.



When I finish painting it, I stand back up and let it dry. Aiden puts his big hand on my waist, and one of his fingers somehow ends up touching the skin under my shirt.



It’s just one finger. Totally unplanned. Just one finger touching my bare skin that causes my stomach to flip.



“So, why gold?”



“Do you remember that time we went for ice cream and I tried to tell you my dream? About the guy I married and we were—you know—consummating things when he lifted the veil and I saw his face.”



“Yeah,” he says, grinding his teeth together.



“It was you. And you were wearing a gold laurel wreath on your head. That’s why it has to be gold.”



Aiden grins. “Wait? You were dating Dawson. Reliving something the two of you had done and you thought it was him but it was me?”



“Right. I didn't know who it was that I was marrying.”



“Why didn't you tell me it was me?”



“Because you drove off like a maniac and wouldn't talk to me. I even asked if you wanted to know and you were like I decided I don't care.”



“So you've been dreaming about marrying me?”



“Not on purpose. I just thought it was funny that something you said affected my dream like that. Step behind the screen and put your costume on.”



“No freaking way I’m wearing this.”



“Whitney will have you disqualified.”



“I don’t think I want to be a god anymore.”



“If you change, I’ll tell you a little secret.”



“Fine.”



He goes behind the screen, changes, and then walks out in the skimpy costume.



“Wow.” And wow is an understatement. He looks like a real god. His skin looks tan, his muscles tight. He should be shirtless all the time. I place the golden laurel leaf wreath on his head. “That’s perfect. Good luck today.”



He pulls me close to his mostly naked body and says, “Is Dawson competing?”



“No, he said it was lame.”



“So you’ll be cheering for me?”



“Well, you, Jake, and Riley, for sure.”



He puts his lips to my neck. “Who do you want to win?”



“You.”



He smiles at me. “Good answer.”



“You better get going. You don’t want to be late for your first race.”



“You didn’t tell me the secret.”



“When I first met you, before I knew your name, I had a nickname for you.”



He smirks. “Oh, really? What was it?”



“I’m not telling. That was the secret. I had a nickname for you.”



He does that thing. That thing where his lips graze my neck.



“I want to know.”



“Stop talking on my neck. I can’t think.”



“I like when you can’t think,” he replies, his lips staying put. “Tell me.”



I want to pull away, but I can’t.



“The God of all Hotties.”



I feel a smile form on my neck. He doesn’t move. Instead, those amazing lips kiss my neck hard. He sucks his way up to that spot right underneath my ear. Something about that spot makes me squirm. In a good way. His lips continue to move across my cheek and then to my waiting lips.



I smell cotton candy.



2pm



All of the Gods of Olympus competitors are on stage getting introduced by Whitney. Peyton tried to get me to go up there with them, but I wanted to be able to sit with Embry and the girls.



Peyton announces, “It’s said that the Olympics were started to entertain the newborn Zeus. They had wrestling, jumping, and running competitions. Our contestants will do the same. They will all compete in the 100-yard dash and a team relay. Points will be tallied and the field will be narrowed by half for the second round.”



“The second round is the jumping competition. Potential Gods will compete in the long jump and the 100 meter hurdles,” Whitney continues. “After that round, points will be tallied by our new teacher, Mr. Cooper Steele.” She puts on a big grin and claps for Cooper. Cooper flashes his dimples in a way that doesn’t look fake.



Peyton finishes for her. “And the field will be cut in half again. Then we’ll move into the gym for the final wrestling matches. Everyone, be sure to get your goodie bag. In it you will find trinkets for luck and golden coins that you can use to bet on who you think will prevail.” She points to a table set up in the corner. “Shark is our oddsmaker and bet taker. You could win an iPad, a dress down day for your dorm, pizza parties, and other great prizes.”



Whitney clears her voice. “The competitors are warming up now. Place your bets and get some snacks. The competition officially begins at two-thirty. Good luck to all the contestants. We look forward to feasting in your honor tonight!”



Braxton and Dawson wander up.



Braxton throws his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t care about the competition. Odds are that we’re getting it on tonight.”



Dawson punches him in the shoulder. Hard. Brax removes his hand and rubs his shoulder. “Oww.”



“Pussy,” Dawson says with a grin as wraps his own arm around my waist and whispers in my ear. “Speaking of that . . .”



“Dawson! You’re bad.”



“Yeah, I am. Want me to show you just how bad?”



“You know that I’m hanging out with Aiden today.”



“Why do you think I chose not to do the competition?”



“Because you’re over all this high school bullshit?” Braxton replies.



“That, and it means Aiden will be busy. While I’ll be sitting with you.”



Braxton stops smiling and looks at his brother in awe. “I worship you. That’s fucking brilliant.”



“I’m going to get some goodies. You’re welcome to come sit with us.”



“Who’s us?” Braxton asks.



“Um, me, Maggie, Katie, Annie, Pressley, Embry, and Maggie’s student, Alicia.”



“I haven’t met her yet. She a redhead, by chance?”



“Stop with the trio. You’re going to be sitting with the video trio. Consider yourself lucky.”



“I wanna get lucky,” Dawson whispers in my ear. “Brax, go place a bet or something.”



Braxton rolls his eyes but does as he’s told.



“You have to help me watch out for him at the party tonight.”



“You’re going to have to watch out for me tonight,” Dawson says, sliding even closer to me and grabbing my ass.



“Dawson!” I say, pulling away from him.



“Keatyn,” Cooper Steele says loudly behind me. “A word, please?”



I jump slightly, knowing he probably just heard what Dawson said to me. “Uh, sure.”



Dawson doesn’t let go of me right away though. He kisses my cheek and gives me a meaningful, “Later.”



Cooper motions for me to follow him over to the registration table. “What was that all about?”



“What do you mean?”



“Are you sleeping with Dawson and Aiden?”



“Not that it is any of your business, but no. Why? You jealous?”



He rolls his eyes. “Not funny. Keatyn, I know guys.”



“One would assume, since you are one,” I say in a smart-ass tone.



“Trust me. That’s not going to work. You’ll push away the better man and end up with the one who’s willing to settle.”



“There’s no reason I can’t date them both if I want to. Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? My sex life?”



He cringes. “You should not have a sex life. You’re seventeen. You have your whole life ahead of you.”



I stare blankly at him. “You know as well as I do, if Vincent finds me, my life might be very short. I’m going to enjoy it.”



He shakes his head. “We’re getting off track here. Did you think about what you’ll do if you can’t run?”



“Yes.”



“And?”



“I’d have to stay and fight. Can you teach me?”



He smiles. “I was going to suggest that, but I thought you’d argue with me.”



“I can’t start until I’m done with rehearsals.” I study him. “Just so we’re clear, I’ll never argue with you when it comes to my safety. This might be just a job to you, but it’s my life. ”



He grabs my arm and gets in my face. “I understand that probably more than anyone you know. Why do you think I’m here?”



“Because you’re getting paid well and you want a career with Garrett’s company?”



“Those are perks. Garrett has hundreds of specialists on his staff. Why do you think he went out of his way to find and hire me?”



I search his face. His tight, determined expression has turned to a sad, haunted one. “I don’t know.”



“My sister was murdered by her ex-boyfriend turned stalker.”



My heart drops into the pit of my stomach. I cover my mouth with my hand. I leap toward him, throw myself into his arms, and hug him tightly. “I’m so sorry, Cooper. I didn’t know.”



He pushes me gently out of the hug. “I’m not going to let it happen again.”



“What the hell is going on with you two?” Whitney says loudly, startling me, and causing me to react in a way that makes it look like something is going on.



“Nothing,” Cooper says eyeing me carefully. “Miss Monroe twisted her ankle. It’s painful.”



“I didn’t see you fall.”



“I just rolled it,” I lie.



Cooper bends down and pretends to examine my ankle. “It doesn’t look too bad. If it doesn’t loosen up, get some ice and elevate it.”



“I will,” I say, fake hobbling away. I stop, sigh like I’m in pain, and rest my weight on the check-in table. While I’m pretending to check out my ankle again, I notice a green marker on the table and grab it.



I figure I better still limp a little and not look miraculously healed. Like when Gracie says she has a tummy ache. You give her a piece of chocolate and she’s patting her stomach and telling you it’s all better before she’s even swallowed it.



As I limp back to the field, Aiden runs up to me. He’s a little out of breath, and there’s a shimmer of sweat gleaming on his sexy shirtless body.



Which makes my whole body feel a little limp.



“Are you limping?”