Branded (Fall of Angels #1)(13)

“Thought you looked like the brooding type,” she says. The grin on her face is infectious.

“I’m just kidding,” I add. “Those UFOs would never show themselves here in the middle of nowhere.”

“I’m surprised you believe in aliens,” she says, and we both laugh.

She ogles the cig I put out on the tiles, and says, “Thought I smelled something.”

“Yeah, sorry.” I scratch the back of my head. If I’d known she was coming to my house, I would’ve never lit one up. I know some people hate the smell.

Instead, she holds her hand out, and says, “Got one for me?”

With a smirk, I pull out my pack and take one out for her. When she takes it from me and slips it between her lips, my eyes focus on her mouth. For a second, all kinds of images run through my mind. What I wouldn’t give to touch those lips. What would they taste like? Cherries? Strawberries? Sweet apple pie?

Fuck.

I fish my Zippo from my pocket and light her cig.

“A Zippo? Where’d you get that?” she asks.

“My papa sells them in his shop,” I reply. I kinda stole it, but I don’t tell her that. I don’t wanna sound like a delinquent.

“Nice,” she says, grinning. “My brothers would probably kill for something like that.”

I wonder if she’s serious. It wouldn’t surprise me if they end up becoming murderers. Not that I’d ever say that out loud in front of her.

She takes a good long drag without coughing.

“You’ve done this before, haven’t you?” I say, impressed.

“Couple of times,” she replies. “You smoke regularly?”

“On and off.” I shrug and put the pack of cigs and lighter back in my pocket. “Whenever I feel like it, basically.”

She takes another drag. “Same for me, but mostly when my brothers are being dicks.”

“You must smoke every day then.”

She laughs out loud. “I’m surprised I don’t, to be honest.”

“Because you know what’s good for you,” I say, which makes her face light up.

I’m normally not the type to easily dish out compliments like that, but I know she appreciates it.

“Do you think sitting up here in the dark, smoking a cig with the school outcast is ‘good for me’?” she taunts, making quotation marks with her fingers. I’m sure she heard the term from Derek. Now I know what he calls me when I’m not around.

“Maybe not, but maybe you like going off the path a bit,” I say, and we both snort again.

It’s quiet for some time before I can’t stop myself from asking the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for ages. “So what happened to Derek?”

“Well, you were there, so you know …” she says. “He was acting like a total douche again, so I finally kicked his ass to the curb.”

I laugh, but she scrunches up her face at me.

“What’s so funny about that?”

“Nothing. I’m just amazed it took you so long.”

She shoves me so hard I have to push back against the tiles so I don’t fall.

“Damn, you’re strong.”

“Damn right I am,” she says, blowing out the smoke of another drag. “And I don’t need any more boys toying with me.”

“I won’t. I promise.” I hold up my hands in defeat.

She pushes out the bud of her cigarette against the tiles of the roof. “Good, because I really like you, Brandon.”

I stare in disbelief.

Did she really just say that, or am I imagining things?

The awkward smile that follows has my head spinning. She turns away, embarrassed. “Sorry, I don’t kn—”

Before she can finish her sentence, I grab her face with both hands and press my lips onto hers.

She tastes like smoked sweet corn and honey. Of everything I could imagine and more. And she smells divine, like cotton candy mixed with roses. And I want to keep kissing her all night long.

I’ve never felt this way, this … excited.

I’ve wanted to kiss her for so long; I couldn’t stop myself.

And I still can’t stop myself from inching closer, from letting my hands drift down her neck, from pushing up against her.

I feel like an animal.

“Wait,” she says, nudging me away with one hand.

I’m still merely inches away from her beautiful lips, wanting to ravage her right here on the rooftop of my house. But judging from the look in her eyes, I overdid it. Too quick, too soon.

“Sorry,” I say, leaning back and clearing my throat.

My whole face is probably red by now. I’m an embarrassment to myself. My dad was right … I’m letting my teenage hormones take over.

She readjusts her jacket, and we sit in silence, both staring into the distance. I wonder what she’s thinking. If she’s contemplating whether to slap me or run away after what I just did.

For a brief second, I glance her way, only to find her staring right back at me.

Taken by surprise, I look away again.

I don’t know what to do or say, and I feel like an idiot because of it.

Whoever said being a teen is easy was lying. Nothing about this is easy.

I’ve never had the courage to approach her, especially with Derek breathing down her neck. But right now, all I can think about is how I want her to be mine. In this lonely town, she makes me feel alive. Like I’m accepted.