Allure

Chapter 17

"Welcome home." Tristen smiled as she took in my dirt stained attire without questions.

"Thanks." I try hard to control my smile while I kick of my boots. I feel her eyes as they observe me.

The water from the shower stings as it hits
my skin, I try to ignore the fact that Richards touch still lingers on my skin. The shower wakes me up completely. And when I get out, Tristen is curled up on the couch with a book.

"What are you reading?" I sit beside her and she pulls her feet closer and places them on top of me. I can't help but notice her perfect pedicure.

"The alchemist." She looks up from her book.

"I hear it's a good read." I smile.

"Just started it." She shrugs and returns to her book.

I feel guilty as I admire her legs. They have the softest shine to them, the most perfect and barely noticeable scars. Part of my wishes I'd put shorts on as well, to feel her legs against mine. I shake the thought out of my head and grab my phone to keep my hands at bay, scrolling through old pictures and text as usual.

There's no one else that could've made this day seem so confoundedly infinite and perpetually momentary. Thank you, Ryon. I wish you the sweetest dreams. (:

My heart takes off at his text. Catching up with it was surely going to be difficult.

"I wonder who's got your attention at one AM." Tristen teases; I force myself to stop smiling.

She closes her books and scoots closer, and before I can react she's almost in my lap.

"Seriously, that smile... god that smile. It's reserved for someone special." I try not to focus on the pleasant and subtle weight of her as she talks, or the smell of vanilla that dances on her skin, or the warmth that her body radiates. I say nothing. She smiles and her eyes drift away for a second.

She clears her throat. "Tell me more about him?"

"What do you want to know?"

" Are you official?"

"I don't know." I smile at my hands, which still cling tightly to my phone.

"Hmm. So can I do this?" her voice is almost silent, She lifts my head with her finger and the gentlest touch, and places her lips over mine and for a moment everything freezes but her lips. That moment was short lived because the part of me that i;d been denying kisses her back, and that was all the conformation she needs to straddle me, not once breaking the kiss. I'd never once kissed a girl, and my mind and my body was in over drive. What do I do with my hands? Where do I touch her? Where would I want her to touch me, I place my hands on her thighs-which are as soft as I'd hoped- and I let them explore her legs a. She finally lets her entire weight rest on me and it drives me crazy. The blazing look she gives me when she stops for air is penetrating.

She jumps off of me and her hands fly to her mouth. I was both disappointed, and relieved.

"I'm sorry." She mumbles. She looked just at lost and full of lust as I was.

I blink away my dumbfounded expression. But I couldn't think of anything to say to her. Can you sit back on my lap? That would be nice. I Beat down the though. NO. "Um." I smile and wipe my mouth, I stare at her. Not at all upset. She retreats to her room and I follow suit.

"

I tried to imagine Richard, Being with Richard, kissing Richard. But kissing Tristen has tainted my thoughts. I can't focus on him without her grasping my attention. I feel guilty, I feel like I've done wrong by him. I love Richard. And I lust for Tristen. I can't have them both and that I can't take. My state of mind settles on anger right before sleep.