Chapter 15 Chapter: 15
ADDISON
Shepherd kissed me! And I let him!
What the hell were you thinking Addison? I thought to myself as I stormed out of Shepherd's beautiful mansion.
The image of the beautiful blonde girl wrapped around him was fresh in my mind's eyes. She'd hugged him with such possessiveness as though he was hers.
Maybe he was, who knows. But then that didn't align with what I'd heard. In the weeks I've come to know him, I've realized Shepherd is the biggest man whore of Brighton Academy.
Although I'd never seen him being intimate with anyone. I've heard a lot about his conquest that I wouldn't be surprised if he'd slept with half the girls in this school.
Blondie might be one of his little groupies.
I wonder who she was. I don't think I've seen her before. Could she be a new student?
No, a new student wouldn't have acted so boldly with Shepherd. She's probably someone he knew intimately. My nose crinkled at that thought. What a man whore, he is and yet…. I shake my head.
It's none of my damn business what Shepherd does or doesn't do as long as he stays far away from me.
As if letting the asshole who bullied me steal my first kiss wasn't bad enough I also kissed him back. I'd like nothing more than to blame my lack of control on being drunk, but deep down I know I wasn't that drunk.
I was disgusted with myself. Clearly something is wrong with me, where's my dignity? My pride?
What made me more angry was the fact he didn't realize what he'd done. The jerk had the audacity to tell me to my face that it was just a kiss.
Just a kiss?
No it fucking wasn't. It was my first kiss asshole!
Ugh! Maybe I was overreacting but I hated the fact he'd downplayed it and now whenever I think of my first kiss it's always going to be his face in my memory.
“God why? What was I thinking?!” I kicked off my boots after I got inside our dorm room. My blood boiling even as images flashed into my head.
The way he'd looked at me the entire night, I'd felt his angry gaze like a living breathing thing on my nape as I pretended not to notice him.
He'd taken me by surprise when he pushed me inside his room but what shocked me and stole my ability to think or speak was the way he'd look at me, his grey eyes intense with something I couldn't translate.
And then when he'd admitted to watching me, something inside me had bloomed then burst out of control. The kiss that came afterwards was overwhelmingly intense, robbing me of any ability to think of the consequences.
My entire body warmed at the thought of Shepherd's lips on mine, his tongue tangled with mine, the way he'd placed open mouthed kisses on my neck, his hands mapping my body with expertise.
I shiver, goosebumps spreading over my body. I'd been wet and even now I could feel the stickiness.
“Stop it already. He's an asshole, you know that.”
Great! Now I'm even talking to myself over that jerk. I inhaled then exhaled and with surprising strength of will, I stripped out of my clothes. I changed into my pajamas, cleaned my face of any makeup, and then grabbed my Hemingway.
I'm not wasting another second thinking about Shepherd. Unfortunately that was easier said than done. I couldn't stop his thoughts from sneaking into my mind. I find myself touching my lips every once in a while.
And no matter how much I try I can't get into my book, I can't stop seeing the heat in his eyes and the flame he'd ignite inside me when he'd touched me.
I finally just gave up on reading altogether and just curled under my cover, thinking of every single detail of tonight.
When Jess stumbled through the door half drunk and humming happily, I was still wide awake.
“Addison!” she yelled and stumbled towards me. “You sneaky sneaky girl, I know what you did.” My heart hammered in my chest.
Please, please God, don't let her know I kiss Shepherd.
“I'm sorry I left without you Jess,” I apologize, pretending I hadn't heard what she said as I sat up when.
She perched her butt on my bed, her eyes narrowed. “I'm not talking about that, about you and Shepherd.” My heart pounded, I frowned as she grinned like she’d just discovered my darkest secret.
“What are you talking about?” I said quickly, grabbing my phone just to have something to do with my hands.
“Oh, come on. Don’t act all innocent with me. Everyone's talking about it at the party.”
“What?!” My stomach sank, eyes wide.
“Yes! We all know about you and Shepherd kissing.”
“What! How did they know? Who…?” My words stuck in my throat.
“OMG! So it's true?” she exclaimed. “How did I miss that?”
Anger churned inside me. He told everyone about the kiss? Did Shepherd kiss me so he could brag about it to his friends and the entire school? Somehow I don't believe that it's him. Must be Cole, he's the only one who saw us.
“It's…it's no big deal. Just a kiss, I was drunk and so was he. It's clearly a mistake. It won't happen again,” I muttered, even as another small part of me called me a liar.
Jess snicker. “Yeah right. Do you honestly expect me to believe that? I've seen the way he's been watching you the entire time, he's definitely into you. Don't forget we all watched him send Jake and his friends out of the party, Shepherd likes you.” I threw a pillow at her.
“Shut up, you’re exaggerating, he hates me and I hate him too.”
“Keep lying to yourself. But I don't believe there's nothing there. And when you both finally admit it, I'm going to say I told you so.” She smiled knowingly. I shake my head.
“I don't get you, aren't you the one who told me to stay away from Shepherd?”
“I was wrong, seeing how he was possessive over you, I believe you guys are meant to be. Now let me go pee,” she stumbles inside the bathroom.
Without waiting for my reply. The thing is I don't have one. I'd be a fool to believe Shepherd likes me. He just likes playing mind games.
But I don't know why my chest suddenly feels tight. I wanted to say it didn’t matter whether or not Shepherd liked me, that him throwing Jake out of the party had nothing to do with me.
Though a part of me is still there thinking about me and him in his room, our lips locked together.
Jess walked back inside the room and flopped onto her bed. “Good night Addie.”
“Goodnight Jess,” I said.
“I hope you won't be in the school gossip feed,” she murmured.
My jaw dropped at the reminder, something I'd totally forgotten about. I forgot how hot gossip like this thrive in Brighton. I just hope they forgot about it.
They didn't!
Jess was right by Monday, you'd think everyone would forget about it, except they didn't. Everyone stares and points at me, some glares, some throws out insults.
Charity case, Shepherd's little slave, scholarship chick looking for upgrade. Slave girl trying to make it big.
I ignored it all, kept my head down all day, avoiding stares and whispers. By the time the last period ended, I was ready to crawl into a hole and stay there indefinitely.
I would have ran back to the dorm and avoided everyone until the next day except there's cheerleading practice.
I don't know what I was thinking when I let Jess convince me into going for tryouts and I was shocked when I was selected, though unlike Jess who was a back spot.
I was just one of the side-bases. I had just changed into my cheerleading clothes and was about to go out to the field when I ran into him.
He was leaning against the lockers outside the classroom, right in my way. He looked like he’d been waiting for me.
“Hey,” he said. I blinked and looked around, relief courses through me seeing we were alone.
“What do you want?” I asked blankly. He grinned, his lips tilted into that lazy curve that usually irritates me and at the same time makes my heartbeat race like crazy.
“Nice outfit,” he said, running his eyes over me from head to toe. My stomach did that stupid flutter.
“Save it, go flatter one of your groupies and if there's nothing else just leave me alone,” I replied.
I need to stop whatever this is between us before he gets me in trouble. I don't need more drama in my life right now. I'm trying to avoid one.
Shepherd straightened up and started towards me, my heart stuttered its beats. I swallowed. How is he eighteen and so damn manly?
“Thought I’d check how you survived the day.”
“I survived just fine, and I hope for it to remain that way,” I said, hugging my hands tighter and wishing my skirts were a bit longer. “Next time, maybe don’t make me the headline in the school papers.”
“Wait, you think I did this?” He scoffed, his stormy eyes were intense.
“I hope you didn't think I deliberately spread the rumors about our kiss?” I snapped.
He leaned into me, I took a step back and my back hit the wall. “It wasn't a rumor when it actually happened now, is it?” he drawled darkly.
I blinked. “What? So you did tell them,” I accused. His face hardened.
“I don't owe anyone an explanation on who I kissed or didn't,” he growled. “But unlike you I don't care that they knew about it. I have nothing to hide especially when I didn't hate it.” He was too close now, his head bent over, his face barely an inch away from mine.
“What?” I whispered, swallowing. “...didn't you hate?” My breathing turned shallow.
“Kissing you.” His voice dropped, deep and so damn sexy. “I like it, love the taste of you.” He bit his lower lip suggestively.
My heart tripped over itself, my face flaming red. “Well, it's… It's never going to happen again,” I muttered, pushing him away.