Hooked (Hooked #1)(12)

And then; I saw myself. On screen. My blonde hair was glinting in the sunlight, and—on screen—my mouth was open in wonder. I turned swiftly toward Drew, who was already prepared. He came toward me, his mouth open, his eyes closed. And I leaned into it as well. He started kissing me deeply, so much like he had the evening before. His tongue flipped against mine intimately. I could feel a hint of beard on his cheek. I heard the people around us begin to cheer, “YEAH. GET IT!” as we kissed and kissed. Drew’s hand was on my shoulder before he moved it up to my cheek, playing with my ear. An internal desire to f*ck him sprang up in me; it was such a surprise, those feelings. I wanted to mount him there, in front of everyone, in front of the entire stadium.


But then, Drew pulled back. He nipped at my lower lip one final time before looking at me with slanted, bedroom eyes. “Wow,” he murmured. “You are a really good kisser.”

I just blinked up at him, still hearing all of the people around us. “What I would do to be her right now,” said a woman a few rows back, eyeing Drew and I tightly. I smiled, leaning my head against Drew’s shoulder. I daydreamed for the remainder of the game, watching as the ball flew through the air—and feeling as high as that ball. I felt butterflies brimming in my stomach; I felt the lurch of nerves every time Drew spoke to me, asking me if I wanted another dog, another beer. Always I spoke to him in a low, husky voice. There was an intimacy forming between us; I felt it so starkly, then.



CHAPTER SEVEN

After the game, we walked through the dense crowd toward the street. All horns were honking; the people were swarming. The Cubbies had won. I was caught up in the excitement; I felt like my heart was in my throat. I clung to Drew’s hand as we skirted across the street, watching people making out in the streets, watching a drunk person fall off a curb. I watched as people saluted each other. We were all on the same team in that moment. We were all together.

A few blocks away from Wrigleyville, everything started to calm down a little bit. I turned toward Drew, looking up at his shadowed face—so high up there, six foot four. “That was incredible,” I murmured to him. I rubbed my hand across his chest.

He nodded, then, turning toward me. He showed his teeth, illuminating such light toward me. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I loved sharing it with you.”

I nodded, pulling my blonde hair around my ear. I didn’t know what to say. I felt so unlike myself—so much like a rich girlfriend, a successful person. I wondered if this was the sort of life I would have had if I would have been successful as a dancer.

“Hey. Do you want to walk around a bit more? I know we’re close to your place, but.” Drew paused. He looked around at the streets, the people. “God, I love this city. And I love walking around with you.” He turned toward me, touching the spot directly behind my ear. “I want to talk a little bit more, with the backdrop of the city behind us.”

I nodded, feeling his hand reach around my back.

“So. What about your life,” Drew began, clearing his throat a little bit. “I mean. Have you had very serious relationships in the past? Or you just sleep around?” He grinned at me for a moment, flashing his teeth. “I don’t mean to be so forward.”

My eyes were wide with surprise, but I decided to go with it. What did I have to lose? I really liked this guy; he was the most attractive man I’d seen in a long time. And his hand was around my back; his kiss had been for me alone. “Okay. Okay. I’ll answer you,” I said coyly, raising my eyebrow. “I have had only one serious boyfriend, actually. In college. Kevin.” I rolled my eyes at myself for a moment. “He was a business major, until he dropped out. He wasn’t—hmm. He wasn’t driven in the same way that I was.”

“And you were driven for PR, yeah?” Drew asked me. I had forgotten already that I had lied to him about my career, about my life. I went with it, though. I wasn’t ready. I nodded my head. “So. Just one serious boyfriend?”

“Yeah. What about yourself? I mean. I hope I’m not being so forward. But fair’s fair.” I winked at him.

He put up his hands in the air, like he was defending himself. But his eyes were full of humor. “All right, all right.” We were walking down unfamiliar streets, jetting further and further away from my apartment. Where were we going? “So. I travel nearly constantly. I grew up here, moved there—and still never felt like I had a home anywhere, you know?”

I nodded, keeping eye contact with him. I had slipped my hand into his. “So. I haven’t had any really serious relationships. Not for a while, at least. Of course—“ Here, he paused, looking at me with a glimmer of sarcasm in his eyes. “I do play the field.”

I punched him lightly on the side of his arm. “Oh, whatever, Drew,” I said, my cheeks growing hot. Why did I feel like I already knew him, like I had known him my whole life?

“Anyway. It’s just been too hard to hold down a real relationship with someone. To grow close to someone.” Drew stopped, then, and pulled me close to him. I felt my body grow hot as it leaned up to him, closer to him. I could feel his penis, strong in his pants. I nearly shuddered as his eyes looked deep into mine, his fingers laced around my left ear. “You are truly beautiful. You know that?”


I wanted to shake my head, to run away. I felt like a deer, nearly hunted. He kissed me, then, in the center of the street. And I knew; in that moment. I knew I was his. That he could do whatever he wanted to do to me. That this was my destiny. At least for the day. At least for the night.