I straightened. “What do you mean?”
“I have access to you twenty-four seven now. You asked me to spend the night in your room last night, and I have a feeling tonight won’t be any different.” He traced my bottom lip with this thumb. “You’re my greatest temptation, Chloe.”
“Oh.” My face heated at the meaning behind his words. Other than his father, there weren’t any other adults here to separate us, to tell us not to do something. “Right.”
He smiled.
“So, where’s the food?” Wyatt asked as he walked past the living room and into the kitchen. “Or did Jax eat it all?” He laughed.
“He might have eaten it all,” I said.
“Figures.” Wyatt opened the refrigerator and stuck his head inside.
“You boys should make a run to the grocery store. Us girls will stay here and bond, right, Chloe?” Whitney grinned at me as she walked by the couch.
I looked to Trent, fear stealing my words. He once again wrapped his arm around me and held me close. “Actually, I think I’m going to stay here with Chloe. But you two can go.”
Whitney stared at Trent, and then finally nodded once. “Sure.”
When they left, Trent asked, “Have you talked to your family?”
“Not since before I left. I should probably call Abby. And I have to check in with Aunt Beth. I don’t want her to call my dad’s house.” I frowned.
I could only imagine what my father would say to her if she called. I doubted he’d tell her the truth, but no matter what lie he told her, she’d be upset with me for not calling her myself.
“That’s probably a good idea. You should do that.” He captured my lips in another kiss, this one long and searing hot. Before I knew it, I was flat on my back on the couch, and he was over me. “Later, though.”
My laughter was cut off when he eased his tongue between my lips, exploring my mouth as if he’d never kissed me before. I wiggled beneath him to get more comfortable, and he groaned. My ears rang at the much too sexy sound. Suddenly very aware of what he’d meant by being his greatest temptation, I ran my hands through his hair and held him to me.
Trent eased his hand up my shirt, and instant goose bumps rose up on my flesh. He left my mouth to trail heated kisses along my jaw. “You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered and scraped his teeth down the column of my neck.
Trembling, I tilted my head, granting him access. If Jax had been telling me the truth earlier and red meant lust, then I probably looked like I was on fire. My eyes snapped open.
I pushed against Trent’s chest. “Trent. Your brother is still here.”
“So?” He didn’t so much as move, except for his lips, which continued to tease my neck.
“So, I don’t want him walking in on us like this. Again.” I pushed harder against his chest.
Finally, he eased off me and stood. I shivered from the lack of contact.
“Wanna go upstairs?” He held his hand out.
I stared at his open palm, then up at him before my gaze dropped to his outstretched hand again. Going upstairs meant no interruptions, and I wasn’t ready to take that step with him. Not yet. Not when we were both currently lying to each other. When I was finally ready to be that intimate with Trent, I wanted it to be honest and pure and without regrets.
“I think I should go call Aunt Beth.” I stood and patted his chest before rising up on my tiptoes to give his cheek a kiss. Then I headed upstairs.
By the time I reached my room, my heart had only just started to slow to a normal rhythm. I closed the door and leaned against it, blowing out a heavy breath. My lips tingled from his kisses, and my skin still burned from his touch. Why did things have to be so complicated between us right now?
I crossed the room to the closet and retrieved my backpack. Just touching it made me feel dirty. Part of me wished I had never brought the proof of my ancestry with me. I should’ve burned it the second I realized what it was.
Flinging it onto the bed, I unzipped it and grabbed my phone from the front pouch. Then I immediately returned the bag to the closet, hiding it in the farthest corner. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I dialed Aunt Beth.
She didn’t answer, so I left her a quick voicemail. “Hey, Aunt Beth. It’s me. Just wanted to say hi and miss you. Call me back when you can.”
Ending that call, I dialed Abby. No answer from her, either, but rather than leave another voicemail, I texted her.
Me: THANKS FOR NOT ANSWERING MY CALL!
I added the emoji with its tongue sticking out, then hit send. Well, that was a bust. I chewed on my bottom lip. How was Ellie doing? I dialed her number, and she picked up on the second ring.
“Hey,” I said with as much cheeriness as I could muster. “I was thinking about you. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry I haven’t called back.” But her tone said otherwise. All her normal enthusiasm was gone. “Just been trying to deal with stuff.”
“It’s okay. Are things with your parents any better?”
“Not really,” she said.
I blew out a breath and glanced around the room. Clearly, Ellie was in no mood to talk, but she sounded so sad, and I didn’t want her to think I didn’t care. Then again, I remembered how upset I’d been when Dad had left. I kept asking Mom when he was coming home, and she kept telling me she didn’t know.
I now realize she’d been lying to me, trying to spare my feelings. She’d known he was never coming back, and she knew why. At seven, the hurt was soul deep. I couldn’t imagine being older and knowing more; the
