Hero & Josephine (Hardin and Tessa) *Preview Below*
This book follows the events, highs and lows of the After co-stars Hero and Josephine; providing insight into their world as they navigate their way through a global lockdown
*pictures included*
"...
"Nope." He replied calmly, making himself comfy on my chest.
"Hero!!?" The sudden urgency to know who was calling gave me enough strength to move out from under him and pin him in one move.
"Twice in two days?! You're spoiling me." He smirks.
"Ugh!" I try to make a shocked face but it's kind of hard to where I'm smiling so much.
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The phone is still ringing as he moves my hair out of my face.
It's only when it starts to ring a second time that I realise how close I have gotten to his face.
"Ok, ok.." Hero huffs and flips me over so that we have switched positions again and he is back on top of me.
"Jo's phone?!" Hero answers impatiently.
I clasp my one free hand to my mouth as I hear my mum shrieking from the other end of the line.
As if he just did that?!
"Hero!!" I whisper hiss.
"What?" he shrugs holding the phone out to me. "Could be worse.. We could be face timing. But then that would mean she would see that I'm in between your -"
"Mum! Hi.."
Hero smirks so devilishly that I can't help but let out a hearty laugh despite being mortified and annoyed with him, all at the same time.
I try to focus on calming her down but it's hard to keep my attention on her when I can feel Hero's hands slowly moving down my sides.
"Hero don't you dare." I mouth at him as his finger tips hover over my most sensitive and ticklish spots.
He tilts his head thoughtfully and raises his eyebrow with a grin as if saying "Do you dare me?"
"Don't!" I whisper shout at him while attempting to cover the speaker on my phone.
"Or what?" His big green eyes become more hooded and daring than ever.
"Josephine?" I hear my mum call my name.
"Josephine!!" She says my name again even more angrily and rushed this time.
"Think you'd better answer her." He smirks. "Don't you?"
After freeing my other hand, I use it to try and push Hero off but it's no use. Nor he or the massive grin on his face are budging.
I sigh loudly and close my eyes.
"Charming!" My mum complains.
"What? Oh.. Sorry. Mum, now is really not a good time." I say, trying to take control of the situation.
"Well if not now, then when? Josephine!!.." My mum counters.
"I know, I'm sorry. I'll work something out with you soon, okay?"
"You'd better!" My mother scolds.
"I will." I try to ignore Hero's wandering hands again. "I promise."
Snapping the phone shut, I turn my attention to Hero who has made himself at home, smiling at me in the most guilty and yet innocent way.
Innocent..
Was this innocent? What we were doing right now, it was normal wasn't it? It's what close friends did.. Right? And the fact that I was starting to feel a bit.. Turned on is a totally normal, understandable reaction too, right?
"Jo?"
"Yeah..?" I answer reluctantly.
"What are you thinking?" He asks calmly.
"Nothing." I respond a little too quickly.
"Well that's a lie."
"No?" I counter.
He laughs, bowing his head and allowing his chin to brush against my cleavage before lifting his head to look at me again.
"Tell me." He half grinned.
"No!"
"Tell me. Or I'll make you."
"Hero?!.. Fine. I was just thinking.. I mean, I was just feeling a little bit.. Breathless. That's all." That wasn't technically a lie. I did feel breathless but it wasn't because of his weight, it was because of the tension between us. It was so ridiculously intense that I could barely breathe.
"Oh, shit. Sorry." He immediately sat up and left me feeling strangely exposed without him there against me.
It was the same feeling from last night all over again, that same feeling of loss when we had gotten off me.
These days it was beginning to feel more natural when we were close together. I know we probably have the filming to thank for that but even so, though I don't like to admit it, I know that a small part of me really liked having him so close.
"It's fine.." I tell him, sitting up while managing to avoid eye contact.
"I'll um, leave you to it then?" He says standing and rubbing the back of his neck.
What? No..?!
"Yeah.. Okay." I go along with his suggestion, already regretting it and wishing I could be more honest and open with him.
If I could, then I could have told him the truth that.. Deep down I think I wanted him to stay.
"See you down downstairs then." He said with a tone of annoyance.
