"No," I huffed. "He isnotwho I'm trying to impress."
"Oh..." She made an overly-dramatic thoughtful expression. "So it must be Keir."
"Wench!" I laughed, rushing out of my chair just to grab her around the waist and pull her up against me. "Not Keir either!"
Aspen simply pressed into me, guiding me backwards until I bumped my ass into the door. "No?" she teased. "So who?"
"You." The word came out as a breath.
Fuck, but she was gorgeous. From her full lips to her long and lean legs,this girl was absolutely perfect. Aspen's silver hair not only looked like silk, but felt like it, begging me to push my fingers into it, so I did. Immediately, those glacial eyes of hers slipped closed.
Yeah, I liked that look on her too. My pulse was pounding harder - and dropping lower - but we were supposed to be getting ready. The guys were coming to pick us up soon. And yet, I didn't want to let her go.
"Hey," I breathed. "This is still ok, right?"
She lifted lids that looked very heavy. "Which part?"
"That I asked Keir to kiss me."
"Oh!" She leaned back, but not enough to pull out of my arms. "That? Yeah. The fact that you haven't kissed me yet? Not so much."
"Maybe I prefer to get kissed," I countered.
Those icy blue eyes hit mine and held me trapped. Pale but electric. Powerful. Framed in pastel lashes without mascara to darken them. Looking in Aspen's eyes was almost like its own spell, and I was completely captivated.
Taking her time about it, she slowly leaned in. Yep, my pulse cranked up another notch, but I waited, loving the way she made me feel. One part excitement, a bit of nervousness, and three parts passion. That was the best recipe I had for explaining the rush of emotions she always gave me.
Then our mouths met. The kiss was soft. Her lips gave instead of demanded. When her tongue bumped with mine, it was gentle and seductive, encouraging me to press in. Clasping the back of her neck, I held her to me, savoring the sweet taste of her, the delicate feel of her body, and the shape of her that I was still not used to holding.
And we kissed. Slowly, taking our time about it and caring about nothing else, our mouths moved. Her fingers traced my cheek. Mine teased the short ends of her hair. With my other hand, I reached down, pressing her lower back enough to pull her closer. That earned me the softest sound I'd ever heard, and for the first time, I understood exactly why guys loved it so much.
Then she tipped her head. "Makeup," she whispered breathlessly. "They'll be here in a minute."
"Yeah." But I didn't let go. "Remind me again why we have to keep this secret?"
"Because you'd get moved to a different room." She stole a quick kiss, then stepped back, putting a little breathing room between us.
"Even though my dads are ok with it?"
Aspen just nodded. "School rules. Until we graduate high school, it's not allowed. Something about minors and sexual conduct being illegal."
I groaned, but also turned back to my desk where I had a mirror set up. "Fucking stupid rules. You know you should be the one kissing me at midnight."
"How about I leave that for your boyfriend? I'll take the morning kisses in exchange."
I claimed my chair then glanced at her deviously. "Is this where I agree and make sure of it?"
"Wench," she laughed, using my term against me. "I'm also not stopping you." But she did head back into the bathroom to use the mirror there.
"You know," I said, raising my voice a bit so it would carry to her, "I still don't know what happens if you break a deal."
"Well,wecan't. But for those who can? It gives power to the one who kept to the terms," she explained. "The kind that binds the breaker, becoming a sort of control. If you don't do what you agreed to, I then have not only the social right to make you repay me inanyway I choose, but also the magical power to ensure it. To force you, Rain. That's why making deals with our kind is such a bad idea."
"And yet it's worked so well for me."
"Rain!" Jack agreed.
"Hush!" Aspen told him, clearly joking. "No one asked for your opinion, Highness!"
