An Indecent Proposal
The entire car ride was astronomically awkward, and a new kind of torment.
Phillip didn’t seem at all worried about the fact that only an hour prior, our lips were merged in a way befitting all those damn love songs Kate forced me to listen to. Now I was forced to be alone with him in a small space—in a shared home, no less—and the jerk had the audacity to act nonchalant.
Bastard.
So many emotions assaulted my already confused thoughts. Too many to assign any single word to. It could only be described as a hormonal teenager’s worst nightmare, where nothing made sense and no amount of fidgeting or trying desperately to focus elsewhere would change it.
The only way to make sense out of the emotional turmoil was to work through it properly. I had some idea how to do that, but it’d involve surrendering myself to the physical; to give myself to him and find out if what I wanted was just purely to experience sex or if it was more.
The only thing that made sense to me right now was to jump in, feet first, body on the line. It’d release the tension and bring clarity. At least, that was what I hoped it’d do. Just have fun and regret it later if necessary.
I’m thinking like a teenage boy these days.
But the mystery of sex definitely played a role in my fascination with Phillip, enough to make me discard my morals to give into him.
Maybe sex was the only way to settle the tension between us. Maybe after it lost its clandestine presence in my head, I’d realize it was nothing more than that.
It wasn’t that I saved myself for someone I loved, at least not really, but I never really considered giving it away to some guy I barely knew.
Granted, Phillip wasn’t just some guy. He was my partner—my much-much older partner. The repercussions could be bad, but anything was better than living in this hell I’d created for myself with an attraction to two men at the same time.
I looked at my phone, wondering if Kate might have some insight. She wouldn’t judge me. My enthusiastic friend would encourage me to do what I wanted.
She’d already had sex with several guys and didn’t seem destroyed by it.
She’d talked at length about it and didn’t spare details, whether or not I asked for them.
And really, she made it sound like no big deal to have sex with someone you didn’t love.
Nobody cared whether or not you were a virgin anymore.
So, I shouldn’t, either.
It wasn’t a new thing, experimenting with sex. Teenagers did it all the time. Often younger than I was right now. Sure, not with their Biology teacher, but…
I’m not far from eighteen. It’s fine.
But it was too risky to ask Kate anything right now.
The chick wasn’t stupid. The only other guy I was around all the time was Phillip, because our relationship was well known now that it was public school knowledge I lived with him.
The student body spread it around like juicy celebrity gossip.
It was the torrid love affair out of everyone’s mouth, and I’d already made myself a target of their slanderous gossip by initially spending too much time after class with him.
I loved Kate, but she’d beg me for it to be true. She’d mean well and keep it to herself, but the chick was loud and someone would overhear her excitement if she ever connected the dots. So, I couldn’t risk her knowing anything.
“Something on your mind?”
The jerk knew exactly what was on my mind.
“That serum, do you have some of it already made?”
Phillip seemed surprised I’d ask. “And if I said yes?”
You got this, V. Be brave. Be cool. Don’t blush.
But I did blush. The heat in my face was sure to give me away as I pretended to be especially interested in the scenery outside the window.
“Who knows when we’ll have another minute to breathe before life gets crazy. I think I might want to try alcohol before I lose my chance.” I pocketed my phone with a small glance at the man driving next to me. “Just don’t want to regret not living a little bit.”
Phillip’s hands clutched the steering wheel, his strong jaw becoming impossibly tense. “So, you’re ready to be at my beck and call all day since this’ll mean you lost our bet?”
I sighed and brushed hair from my eyes before turning my gaze back out the window. “I don’t know. Something tells me you won’t ask me to do anything that’d put me in a weird spot.”
Phillip scoffed low in his throat. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were on something. What changed?”
Nothing. Nothing had changed, and that was exactly my problem.
After his kiss, I still hadn’t a clue what I wanted. No, in actuality, I wanted a reason to let loose with him.
A little liquid courage would give me the pluck I needed to feel this thing out between us.
Or maybe I was just desperate to feel something other than intense pressure on my shoulders from a future left dire and uncertain when I discovered I was a perfect genetic mutation.
But really, I just wanted to feel more like myself and less like a ticking time bomb. I needed to feel normal again.
Just for tonight, I’d live as a stupid teenager.
“Does it matter?”
Phillip stole a glance at me before pulling into the house driveway. Then he shut off the car and pivoted my direction. “Is this about the kiss earlier?”
I instantly reacted, spine straightening. “No—”
“I don’t regret it,” he said, voice dropping. “I want to do it again, and I’m not a nice guy like Nigel. I’ll take advantage if you’re drunk.”
I didn’t believe him.
I swallowed, body already shaking but from what, I couldn’t be certain. “If you really weren’t a good guy, you wouldn’t warn me about it beforehand. You’d just do it.”
Phillip laughed huskily and carded thick fingers roughly through his hair. “I guess that’s true.”
“I’m not afraid of what you’d do to me,” I admitted in a whisper, flushing. “Besides, you’ve never hesitated before.”
Phillip scraped fingers along his jaw, visibly thinking. “There’s plenty of time for you to try things out in the future. You don’t need to rush anything.” His chest tautened under his thin shirt. “You’re young, and the last few weeks have been…eventful. It’s easy to be swept up in emotions and—”
“Is that a no, then?” I asked, trying not to sound disappointed but doing a poor job of it. “Is it because I’m still not eighteen? You didn’t strike me as the type to be bothered by that.”
I internally berated my thoughtlessness.
Yeah, V. Go ahead and insult the dude you’re trying to seduce.
“No offense,” I added lamely.
Phillip groaned and threw his head back, jaw working. The arch of his neck made my mouth water. “Don’t tempt me, V. I’m the last person you should test.” He palmed his face. “You have no idea what goes through my head around you, and you’re not ready for it. You think you are, but you’re not.”
Goes through his head?
My heart pounded and my face was already uncomfortably hot. “So, a no.”
Why did it bother me so much that he’d say no? Anyone in their right mind would reject such a random-ass proposition. He may have teased me, but given the circumstances, his response made sense.
After spending time with him, Phillip wasn’t as inconsiderate as he first appeared.
In fact, I was almost confident it was because he cared so much he did the things he did.
Phillip, no matter what he did to pretend otherwise, was a good guy at the end of the day.
He may say a lot of things and be a real jerk about it, but he’d never do anything to hurt me.
Still, the pain of rejection immediately settled inside my chest and burned the length of my throat. It was excruciating. I should’ve been prepared for him to say no, but I wasn’t. And that was exactly how I knew I needed it so bad.
Needed him so bad.
“If you’re really sure, I’ll give you the serum. I’ll even call our bet a draw. I only ask that you take advantage of this moment and do everything you want tonight.” The older Hunter’s words carried weight. “And I’ll be taking the serum with you.”
Astonished, I stared at him. “Isn’t that a bad idea? Won’t that leave us open to attack?”
Sadly, I couldn’t hide my relief when he agreed.
Phillip brushed my cheek with his knuckles. “It’s not the smartest plan, no. It doesn’t last long. Maybe a couple hours if we’re lucky. But that works in our favor in this case. If you’re doing it to feel something, so will I.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I nodded, the spark of his touch softening my voice. “I’d like to get a piercing. Maybe two.”
“Where?” His gravelly voice dropped out and his fingers traced a line down my neck. “If we heal it before the serum fades, you can pierce anything anywhere. I’ve learned a few things over the years. You’re in luck. I know how to pierce things. Well, other than our foes.”
I laughed, the sound wispy. “Not terribly comforting, that.”
“So, drinking and a couple piercings? We’d have time for both. We could even do them at the same time,” Phillip teased, winking.
“I’d rather you not be drunk while puncturing a hole in my body, thanks.”
“I’ve done it to myself drunk, so don’t worry your pretty little head, princess.
” His signature smirk was back, and it comforted me to see it.
“You tell me what you want and I’ll grab everything we’ll need.
I want you to make the most out of tonight if you’re really up for it,” Phillip said in a way that suggested he thought I might change my mind.
I wouldn’t.
Maybe I wanted more than his kiss, and the only way was to take him up on his offer. Maybe I thought sex would help me figure out what this thing was between us—an attraction, a fascination, something more.
Maybe I’d gone full-blown crazy.
Very likely it was a terrible idea to do anything when I was like this. Either way, I didn’t want to waste any more time being confused.
“I’m sure.” I set my gaze on him, heart racing and my entire body hot with the very idea. “Something tells me I need to do this.”
“Then get inside,” he demanded, voice rattling sexily. “I’ll be right back.”
The serum was administered by way of shot, and honestly, afterwards I didn’t really feel any different. Phillip spent time serving up several types of drinks for me to try, and then he pierced my nose.
Used to pain, it didn’t really bother me to have it done. And after applying various healing tonics, it didn’t take long for the wound to heal, anyway. It did feel weird though, and I couldn’t help but absently touch it several times.
It wasn’t long before the alcohol hit, mostly because I didn’t have any tolerance to the stuff.
It took me first by surprise to be slow to speech and then to overall movement, but then I just enjoyed myself.
The thoughts in my head scattered and numbed.
I didn’t really do anything but smile and nurse the drink in my hand as a movie played in the background.
Sufficiently tipsy, a woozy feeling occupied my head as I laid out over the couch, shirt scrunched up below my bra while Phillip leaned in close, sat on a folding chair. His tattooed hand brushed lightly across my stomach before pointing to my navel.
“Your belly button, hmm?”
“I know, I know. Both piercings are totally what a teenage girl would do, but it’s what I want.” Lips rising, I giggled to myself. “And I’m also a teenage girl, you know?”
“What? Lies,” the gorgeous Hunter taunted with a sly grin. “There goes all my plans for the evening.”
“You’re such a jerk,” I complained, still snickering. “But that’s what I like about you. You just do what you want to do. You jerk even when you shouldn’t jerk.”
Phillip’s amusement gleamed in his eyes, and he pinched the tip of my nose in punishment. “And your tongue is very loose when you’re drunk.”
“Who’s drunk? I’m not drunk. I’m fine. Super fine. The finest,” I babbled, contorting when the other Hunter tickled my side.
“Rose is going to kill me,” Phillip mumbled to himself.
I put a finger up and cleared my throat. “Correction. She’s going to castrate you. You’ll still live, my dear sir.”
His scornful look only made me giggle. “Thanks for setting the record straight, V.”
“Anytime, you beautiful man-jerk.”
The Hunter’s mouth rose, the gentlest smile yet, and I quieted. “I didn’t think you could get any cuter, but I was wrong.”
Huh?
“Cute?”
Blue eyes dazzling, Phillip’s thumb brushed across my bottom lip. “Pardon. I should’ve said sexy.” I gasped and his thumb slipped into my mouth. “And enticingly vulnerable.”