Tear

He groaned, his arms coming around me, and then he was lifting me and twirling me in circles as he kissed me.

“Can we go?” I asked when he pulled back.

“Are you sure?” he looked nervous, his eyes glancing at all the people around us. I needed to be with him. Alone. I needed confirmation that this was right, what we were doing was right.

“Yes.”

“Your carriage awaits.” He tucked my arm within his and escorted me out of the gym. The late October air bit at my face and I hid in the safety of Demetri’s arms.

I jumped in the car and was ridiculously grateful that my boyfriend had heated seats. I turned mine on full blast and shivered.

“You look hot tonight, Nat.” Demetri gave me a seductive grin that I felt all the way down to my toes as we drove out of the parking lot.

“Where are we going?”

“Where do you want to go?”

I shrugged. “I just want to be with you.”

Demetri’s face relaxed as he drove down the street toward home. “Good, I want that too.”

The house was dark when we drove up. I looked for any other cars but Alec hadn’t come back from the dance yet.

Nervous, I unbuckled my seatbelt and followed Demetri up the stairs. He threw the keys on the counter and grabbed my hand.

“I heard you slept in my bed,” he murmured into my hair as he pushed open his door.

“It’s possible.” I grinned, shielding my mind from the memory of the nightmare.

“Did you wear my clothes too?”

“Yup.”

He groaned. “Ah, you are killing me, girl.” His fingers were threading through my hair. “You’re so damn beautiful, Nat. And you don’t even know it. You don’t see what everyone else sees. This beautiful, bright girl — you’re like the sun.”

“The sun?” I repeated.

“I want to revolve around you.”

Whoa, that’s bordering on very serious and possessive. Demetri stumbled a bit as he tugged at my hair. His mouth tasted like alcohol, had he been drinking before he sang? His mouth was on mine before I could protest. Nimble fingers found the back of my dress and began to unzip. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pull away or step further into his embrace. His tongue flicked my teeth and then plunged into my mouth, forcing me to either kiss him back or jerk away.

I kissed him back. I decided not to think as I curved my body into his and matched his kiss as best I could. Another moan escaped and I realized it was me. My dress dropped to the floor. I was freezing. This was too fast. What was I doing? He made me feel things, good things, but it was always so confusing with Demetri. I always had to think about it.

With Alec, it was easy.

And that was the problem.

With Demetri I had to rationalize, I had to plan ahead, I had to think. With Alec, thinking wasn’t even possible. It was instinct.

“No.” I pushed at Demetri’s chest. He backed up and cursed.

“Sorry, Nat. I didn’t mean to get out of control.” He looked almost horrified that my dress was off of me. Gone was the seducer of hundreds of women. “Nat, damn.” Demetri tugged the dress back up and quickly zipped me. I’m sorry, I’m just used to more. I’m sorry.”

Why was he apologizing so much? “Demetri, you’re fine.” I kissed him briefly on the cheek and pulled him into a hug. “It got out of hand, it’s fine.”

His eyes were filled with pain. He cursed and for some reason trembled beneath my touch. “What’s wrong?”

“I just promised, that’s all.”

“You promised?”

He nodded. “Myself. I promised I wouldn’t have sex with another girl unless I knew for sure.”

“Knew what for sure?”

Okay, these boys were beyond secretive.

He swallowed and looked away. “You like him.”

“Him?”

Demetri rolled his eyes and softly pushed me away. “Nat, I’m not stupid. We’ve alluded to this conversation many times before. It’s always the same. I feel like I’m fighting this invisible battle, and you make it that much worse when you pretend to be ignorant.”

“Alec,” I breathed.

Demetri didn’t look at me. “Has he kissed you?”

Goodbye, Alec. “Yes,” I mumbled, wanting to be shot on the spot. “But, he told me he wasn’t good for me, he pushed me away, we both decided we were better friends. It was a mistake.”

The words were flying out of my mouth so fast I wasn’t even sure he heard everything.

Demetri stared out the window a long time. “I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why it always has to be like this.”

“Like what?” Maybe he would finally tell me what was bothering both of them so much. Starting with why they were here.

He shook his head. “I need to change, Nat. My flight leaves in an hour.” He quickly peeled off his shirt. I gasped.

“What?” He braced my shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“Your, um, your tattoo.” Forget similar. The tattoo was identical to Alec’s. Hands held a heart within them and thought I didn’t know Latin, the words looked the same. Why would they have the exact same tattoo? What did that mean? I touched it. He flinched as if in pain. “What does it say?”

Demetri exhaled and looked away. “My heart will be yours forever.”

I choked back a sob as tears filled my eyes. “Just like Alec’s.”