The Naughty List (The Naughty List #1)(49)

“I’m sorry, Christian,” I said. “But I can’t do this with you. And I’m done with SOS. I quit.” Wow. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever said the word quit in my life.

“You can’t,” he said. His eyes were wide. He took a step closer to me. He was now entirely too close.

“Tell everyone if you want,” I said, uncomfortable with his proximity. I didn’t care about SOS anymore. I needed to get my life back. Things had gotten too mixed up, and if the school hated me, fine. I couldn’t be perfect anymore. It was just too hard.

“Tessa,” Christian said softly, tilting his head. “I’m not going to tell anyone. I’m not trying to hurt you.”

My face was tingling. “Then what are you trying to do?”

Christian closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he focused on my mouth. “This,” he said, reaching out to put his palms on my cheeks, pulling me toward him. He pressed his lips to mine, forcefully, passionately.

And for a second, I stood there, shocked, stunned, guilty. His mouth felt so foreign to me that it was almost like they weren’t my lips he was sucking on. It was like an out-of-body experience. At least it was until he tried to put his tongue in my mouth.

“Stop,” I said, bringing up my hands to try to push him back. He was resistant at first, still going for it, so I pushed him hard enough to make him stumble. John Deere tractor! He’d just kissed me. He just… kissed me! “You’ve gone batty,” I shouted. “You can’t—”

“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I couldn’t help it, Tess.” He licked his lips. Ew. Was he trying to still taste me? My stomach took a violent turn.

“I’m not going to tell Aiden about this,” I said, holding up my finger to him. “Because if I did, he would seriously cream you. But don’t effing touch me again. Got it?” The adrenaline pumping through my veins was making my entire body shake. And my mouth tasted like spearmint. Leaping lizards! I needed Aiden.

I turned around and yanked open the passenger door with a creak. I’d never kissed anyone other than Aiden. Ever. This had been a huge mistake. A big, ginormous mistake.

Christian ran around the car and got in, looking unsteady, sort of shaky. He should. He’d just assaulted my mouth with his. So what if his lips were pillowy soft? It was still wrong! He didn’t even ask.

We were silent as we drove back through the streets of Washington toward my house. I stared out the window, happy the night was over but worried about its consequences. Surely Christian would out the Smitten Kittens now.

After he’d turned on my street, Christian pulled into my driveway, bumping the curb on the way in. I looked over at him, not sure if he was mad or flustered. He killed the engine and turned to me, his eyes lowered.

“You were completely out of line,” I said. I should have slapped him. That’s what a real Smitten Kitten would have done.

“I know,” he said, his brows pulled together. “I’m really sorry. I promise it’ll never happen again.”

“It sure as heck won’t! Because we’ll never be alone together again. Understand?” This was the tone of voice I used when the Smitten Kittens were distracted while I was trying to teach a routine. I sounded very authoritative.

“So you’re not going to let me have my second mission?” he asked, sounding like a stubborn child.

Blazing saddles! Was he was serious? “Uh … no. You made it clear that it wasn’t the missions you were trying to accomplish. It was me.”

He tilted his head. “So? Is that wrong? Did you not like it at all?” Christian looked worried, and I appreciated his insecurity about his kiss. It was vulnerable, and I understood that. But it didn’t mean he could walk around putting his mouth on mine.

“I have a boyfriend. I do not want or enjoy anyone’s lips other than Aiden’s.”

“Does he follow that same philosophy?”

My heart stopped. “Excuse me?” I glanced toward my darkened house, feeling like that comment deserved a swift walkout and a car door slam, but I couldn’t really move.

“You don’t think your boyfriend kisses other girls?”

I glared at Christian and held up my hand for him to stop. “Zip your lip, buddy. Aiden doesn’t touch anyone but me!” I waited a second, feeling my nostrils flaring. How dare he? How flipping dare he?

Christian’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t open his mouth. Shoot, why would he? It wasn’t like he was trying to stick his tongue down my throat. He’d already done that. Jerk.

“Stay away from me,” I hissed, grabbing my backpack off the floor. I got out of his car and slammed the door as hard as I could. I smiled to myself, proud of my bravery, as I stomped toward my house. Then, just for good measure, I tossed my hair over my shoulder one last time before I went in.

Nobody was home. I noticed how Christian’s cologne seemed to be clinging to my clothes. I needed a shower and maybe some mouth rinse. But as I walked toward my bathroom, I grabbed my phone off the side table. No missed calls.

Oh, my. Aiden hadn’t called. Not since he’d hung up on me. I glanced at the clock, and it was late. But after my shower, I had one other mission. To make up with my boyfriend.

I paused at Aiden’s lattice, looking up at his window. Hm. It was closed. I couldn’t call the house, not without waking his mother. But I needed to see him. I needed to be with him.