His Reverie (Reverie #1)(49)

We’re quiet for a moment. I almost feel like I’m holding my breath, waiting for the knocking to start up again. But it doesn’t. Whoever was at my door must’ve left.

“I don’t have your number,” she finally says, her voice almost as soft as her fingertips on my skin. She’s tracing circles on my chest and it’s driving me crazy. “You’ve never given it to me.”

Surprise fills me. “I didn’t know you had a cell. We’ve never talk about it.” Kinda weird. She’s a girl. I thought they all lived on their phones.

“That’s because my parents took mine away. I begged my mom to give it back for my birthday but she didn’t. Until a few days ago. She called it a late present.” She’s silent for a moment and then she continues hesitantly. “She said I-I finally earned their trust back.”

She sniffs and dread fills me. I slip my finger under her chin and tip her face up. Her eyes are luminous and her lower lip trembles. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel guilty.” She shakes her head, a tear falling from the corner of her eye and sliding down her cheek. I stop it with my thumb. “I earned back their trust when really I’m being s-so b-bad. I’ve committed a sin, Nick. My parents would be so disappointed in me if they ever found out.”

Guilt fills me too. We’ve been almost borderline obsessive with each other these past few weeks. Sneaking glimpses of each other where we can. Kissing behind the stables, behind the house, in the woods, in my truck, on the beach…

And now she’s spent the night at my place. We’ve gone farther than we ever have before. Our fooling around is putting her relationship with her parents at risk. Putting her relationship with God and herself at risk too. Making her question her morals…

I didn’t have a religious upbringing. I know about right and wrong but I never had the fear of God put in me. I have no idea what that’s like, to have such strong beliefs.

“I should take you home,” I say firmly, moving away from her so I can sit up.

“Okay.” She scoots back until she’s leaning against the wall, freaking adorable wearing my T-shirt, her face bare of makeup, her hair a disheveled mess around her head. “I-I’m sorry, Nick.”

“For what?” Shit. Is she sorry we got involved? Sorry that she spent the night? Sorry that she’s going to have to break it off? My mind is awhirl with possibilities, all of them terrible.

“I don’t know. For being such a good girl? I can’t even rebel properly I swear.” She climbs out of bed and starts pacing. Her legs look amazing and I wonder exactly what she has on beneath my T-shirt. “You must think I’m completely ridiculous.”

I run a hand through my hair, then scratch my chest. “I think you’re completely normal. I’m not surprised you feel guilty. You never rebel. You’re always the good girl.” Until she met me. And that means I’m no good for her.

“Good girls are boring.” She throws her hands up in the air, which makes the T-shirt rise. Her back is to me and I catch a glimpse of her ass cheeks and my body instantly reacts.

Well. That confirms she’s wearing nothing under the shirt.

“You are definitely not boring,” I tell her, my voice low, my thoughts dirty.

Reverie whirls around, her hair flying out behind her as she faces me. “Do you like me, Nick?”

Her abrupt question surprises me, knocking aside my dirty thoughts. “Well, yeah…I like you, Reverie.”

“How much do you like me? I know you said before you don’t want to see anyone else but…what are we doing exactly?”

“I don’t know,” I admit quietly. “I like you. I love spending time with you. We’ve had a lot of fun together. But you’re going back to L.A. at the end of the summer. Going back to school. And I’ll be here. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“So what you’re saying is this is temporary.” She crosses her arms in front of her, the T-shirt riding up and my gaze drops.

“How can it be anything else?” I ask, my eyes locked on her upper thighs.

She emits an irritated noise and dips down, plucking her dress off the floor before she storms out of my bedroom and into the tiny bathroom down the hall, slamming the door behind her. I flop back on the bed and stare at the ceiling, blowing out a harsh breath.

I was honest with her. What’s wrong with that? This is for the best, I tell myself. I care for her. What we’ve shared these past few weeks has been…mind blowing in the best way possible.

But it’s not meant to last. It can’t. No matter how much I don’t want that to be true.

I crawl out of bed and shuffle through the apartment, the sound of running water coming from the bathroom telling me that Reverie is taking a shower. I go to the front door and open it, surprised to see a taped folded note fluttering in the breeze.

Tearing it off the door, I open the piece of paper and read it.

You wouldn’t answer your door. I’m guessing you were too busy with the pretty blonde who stayed the night? Who’s the lucky girl? Maybe all three of us could have a little fun sometime…

xoxo

Krista

I crumple the note in my hand as I slam the door, fury racing through me. Fucking Krista. When did she see us? Is she spying on me? What the hell is wrong with her?