Secrets

Chapter 12

"Rose..."

"Come on, Shorty, time to wake up!"

Moaning in protest, my eyes flutter open, and Lance's blurry face slowly comes into focus just inches away from mine.

"L...Lance?" I whisper, slightly confused.

Then the previous night comes back to me, and I pull the blanket up over my head.

"Go away."

Chuckling softly, Lance tightens his hold around my waist, pulling us closer.

"My room, my bed...I think I have the right to stay where I'm at."

"Your...wait, what?!"

Pushing against Lance's chest, my head pops back out from under the blanket and I realize that I don't remember falling asleep.

And I really don't remember falling asleep with him.

"W-when did you, and I mean...what?!"

Practically crying with laughter, the jerk ignores me until –brimming with an embarrassed rage- I start pounding my fists against his bare chest.

"Okay, okay, Shorty! Jeez, I give!" Lance gasps, releasing me without complaint as I roll away from him, out of the blanket, and stumble to the other side of the dimly lit room.

Glancing over, I spot a window just above the dresser that I hadn't seen last night.

"Probably because of that mess, Mt. Random Pop Cans!" I mentally sigh.

"You do remember that we've shared a bed before...right?" Lance asks, smirking when my eyes reluctantly return to his. "You don't have to- what's with that look?!"

As he falls into another fit of laughter, my cheeks burn warmer, and with a huff I stride to the door, tare it open, and step out into the kitchen.

"Jerk!"

Turning toward the living room, I just start to wonder how far we really are from Rose City -and how long it'll take me to walk back- when Lance's arms wrap around my waist and pull me flush against him.

"Take. It. Back." He whispers, voice deep and a thousand times scarier than the last time he made me take back what I'd said.

However, this time I don't see any reason to do as told.

"Why should I? You constantly laugh at me, and then-"

"I don't care alright, just take it back!"

My body goes stiff at the raw emotion, the desperate tenor in Lance's voice, and my protests die in my throat.

Turning me slowly, his silver eyes bore into mine, and he leans so close that I can feel his breath on my cheeks.

"You can call me a lot of things. You can tell me you hate me if you want...but don't call me a jerk."

"I-"

Yet again the words die in my throat, though this time it's not because of fear.

It's shock.

Pure, heart stopping, mind blowing and...absolutely wonderful shock.

My eyes go wide, as I try to cope with the realization that Lance's lips are on mine.

Soft but firm, and slightly forceful, the kiss is so much more than I ever imagined.

So much more than Elise ever described from her own experience.