Precious Thing? That was the last thing I could ever imagine him calling me. But something about him saying it in the strange low, gravelly voice made pleasurable shivers ripple over me.

But his next question ended those in their tracks.

"Do you even remember why we stopped being friends?" He was inspecting the short flat nails of one callused hand, overly thoroughly.

"Yes, you became a jerk bully."

His hand dropped. "I became a bully when I tired of your constant rejections."

"Rejection!"

"Every time I tried to talk to you, you'd be nasty."

"I wasn't nasty! You were!"

"Now's the time for honesty, Allie Kat. Really think about what I'm saying. Think back and remember how it really went. Instead of just your sordid version."

I did remember!

He started being a jerk to me. While I was trying to come to terms with dad being gone. Which had been the worst time possible!

Sure, I was probably crabby a few days here and there. I had a sudden memory of pushing him out of my way as I turned out of my locker while he was holding one of the books I'd dropped out to me. I saw the flash of hurt on his face but at the time I didn't care.

A few weeks later he'd sat down with me at lunch but I'd been mad at him about something.

What was it? I couldn't remember.

So, I'd stood up and dumped my tray when he sat down. I'd heard him calling behind me to ask what he did but I'd been too aggravated to answer.

What was I so mad about? I frowned.

"Now you're remembering." He pointed at me. "Keep thinking Allie. I wasn't the bully first..."

***

I was giving him a panicked look, feeling like my heart was jumping in my chest. I spoke fiercely to hide my anxiety. "What exactly is the point of this discussion, Eric."

His answer was dull and instantaneous. As if stating only facts. "To make you admit you're afraid of me. Of being close to me. Of human contact in general. That you have been since your dad left and you took it out on me heartlessly."

"Eric, you and I both know you have lines of girls wanting to crawl into your bed."

"Yes, I do." His chin dropped and he eyed me through lowered lids. "But they're not you."

"Because I don't want you! You're going to put me in this position."

"If you don't want me, it should be easy enough to prove."

I reared back as though he'd slapped me. Then my eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How?"

"Kiss me, Allie Kat. Let's see what happens."

***

"You want me to kiss you?"

"Yes, if I try and kiss you, you're just going to fight me off because it's what you're used to doing around me. I want to see what happens in your head when it's you coming to me..."

I have no idea what'll happen! I realized instantly. Feeling a strange fear welling through me. This is not good.

I swallowed hard.

"Told you, you'd be scared..." But there wasn't taunting in his voice. Something more akin to understanding.

Odd.

"What do I do?" I winced, surrendering. Annoyed that my voice cracked as I asked.

He gave me that cocky lopsided grin, revealing perfect, square teeth. He lifted his hand from my knee to curl a finger at me. Beckoning me to him.

I stared at his body tilted back as it was and knew I'd have to crawl over his lap and along the flat plane of chest and abdomen in that black t-shirt to get up to his mouth. My gaze landed there and looked at his full, mobile mouth. Feeling suddenly very intimidated.

"Which disconcerts you more?" Curiosity brightened his gaze.

"Touching me of your own volition or all, this, talking?" He emphasized the last few words, knowing they were killing me.

"The talking."

But I haven't kissed him yet.

It could be worse...I was still eyeing him like a scared animal.

"How long you going to stare at me deciding?" There was taunting laughter in his voice for damn sure now.

"Oh, I hate you." I growled through my teeth. Putting one hand on his blue-jeaned thigh to lunge over him to get to his mouth before I could talk myself out of it. I slammed my lips down on his and he met me with equal ferocity.

Kissing me back, though he wasn't touching me with anything other than his mouth. His tongue slicking out to tease around mine and taste me.

I hadn't meant to, but my body suddenly eased, and I dropped down over him. Moving my hand from his muscled thigh to rest on his chest just below his collar. I could feel his chest tightening under me and his arms tensing but he kept the couch clenched in his grip rather than me. I pressed his head back with my mouth and drug my body further up his.

***

I had no idea what kind of kisser I was. I wasn’t even sure if I was doing it right.

As far as I could recall I had been kissed approximately three times ever.

This being three.

The first had been when I was still in elementary school and boy who always followed me around had put a quick peck on my lips and grossed me out.

Actually, come to think of it, that’d been Eric when we’d first started being friends.

Then there had been the time a few days later when one of my friends had been sitting next to me on the swings and had edged over to give the corner of my mouth a quick kiss.

Also, Eric.

And now this one.

All my kisses had been him.

Well, this’ll be the last one he ever gets from me. I promised myself.

But for some reason it hadn’t occurred to me to pull away. I was still kissing him and had no honest plans to get away from him.

His tongue felt like satin. Coaxing further into my mouth and I could feel his mint flavored breath entering my mouth. Feel the heat of his skin under my palm, getting warmer by the minute.

I was enjoying this. But after this one ended…

No more…