Backdraft - The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #2 (8 page)

“Love,” Trystan’s voice was deep and
determined. “It makes everything else seem trite.” He looked down,
unable to meet her gaze.

“You sound like a little hypocritical, there
Trystan. There can’t be one set of rules for you and another set
for me.” She sucked in air and added, “I saw you leave with her
last night. Ten bucks says you didn’t even bother to get her
name.”

Fuck. Trystan ran hands through his hair, his
heart sinking into his shoes, “You’re right. I didn’t know her
name. And the truth is, I didn’t know what I’d do until the moment
came.” It was a confession that he didn’t plan to give, but if fell
from his lips like drops of rain.

Mari’s hands fell to her sides, her gaze
locked on Trystan’s face. “Oh, and what’d you do?”

“Took her home. Said goodnight.” He glanced
up at her from under his brow, “She’s not the one I want.” His eyes
connected with hers and held. There were so many things he wanted
to say. Trystan’s body felt light and lithe. In that moment he
wanted nothing more than to lift his hand and feel Mari’s soft skin
under his fingers, and taste her lips. The longing in his gaze made
him feel exposed. He wanted her to see it. He wanted her to know
she was the one.

But for whatever reason, Mari was blind—or
worse—she didn’t care. Mari looked away and nodded, “I see.”

Trystan smiled softly, whispering, “No, you
don’t—but I wish you would.” Glancing at her, Trystan’s heart beat
wildly in his chest. Every urge he had was wrong. He wanted to wrap
his arms around her, pull her to him, and kiss her with all his
might. The way her eyes darted away, the way her lips parted like
she was disappointed, killed him. Part of him wanted to tell
her—no, to show her, how he felt—but his mind kept telling him not
to. There was only one chance for him to get this right, and now
was not the time.

Before he could say anything else, Mari
smiled weakly and leaned forward, her beautiful face coming closer
to his until her lips met his cheek. Her soft lips brushed his
face, pressing against his cool skin before retreating.

Shocked, Trystan stared after her, unable to
speak. Bewildered, he finally managed to ask, “What was that
for?”

Mari shrugged, and looked up at him out of
the corner of her eye, with a grin on her lips, “What? You’re the
only one who can steal a kiss?”

CHAPTER 10

~MARI~

My heart was pounding in my chest, beating
harder than I’d ever felt it as I leaned toward Trystan’s face. It
wasn’t a conscious plan. I didn’t think,
hey, let’s kiss Trystan
on the cheek and then grin like an idiot
. Instead, I found my
body moving without my consent. I was so happy he didn’t sleep with
her. I was so glad that it flooded my body like liquid sunshine
coursing through my veins. Before I could stop myself, I felt my
lips brush his cheek. Wildly fighting every urge within me, I made
sure it was just a peck. I made sure I didn’t take his gorgeous
face in my palms and pull his lips to mine. Breathing steadily, I
looked up at him when I stepped away, trying to ignore the jitters
that were making me giddy.

Trystan’s voice was airy and filled with
shock, “What was that for?”

The perplexed look on his face made me say
it. “What?” I asked, looking at him from the corner of my eyes. I
could feel the smile spreading across my lips and I couldn’t hide
it. “You’re the only one who can steal a kiss?”

Trystan blinked like he didn’t hear me right.
It was a moment that I’d play over in my mind again and again.
Everything about it was perfect. That look, that baffled look on
his face, made me want to dance. Unable to hide my giddiness, I
swallowed a giggle, but it sounded like a sultry laugh instead.

Trystan tilted his head to the side, eyes
wide, like he didn’t know what came over me. Before I could say
anything, he stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my
waist. The vixen, that seemed to possess me moments ago, fled when
Trystan’s fingers started tickling my sides.

His lips were next to my ear. I could feel
his breath wash over my neck as he teased, “Kiss stealer.”

I laughed hysterically, my knees buckling
from under me. Trystan scooped me up in his arms and tossed me in
the air. I shrieked as I fell straight down onto the couch. Before
I could breath, Trystan pinned me by sitting on my legs and
continued to tickle me.

“Kiss ninja,” I laughed, trying to get my
fingers to wiggle in a ticklish spot on Trystan’s lean body.

“Kiss ninja?” he laughed, moving his hands
over my sides, applying the perfect amount of pressure to make me
laugh the hardest.

Between hysterical giggles I managed, “Yeah,
because you sneak up all stealthy like a ninja.”

“Kiss thief,” he said smiling, his fingers
moving between my belly and my underarms. Laughter made me shake so
hard I couldn’t stop. The glimpses I got of Trystan were filled
with pure joy. His eyes sparkled, brilliant blue as he laughed.

“Kiss cowboy,” I blurted out. That one made
him chuckle really hard.

“Kiss bandit.”

Right then his hands were on both sides of my
waist, applying enough pressure to make me squealing with laughter.
“Kiss assassin! You’re killing me! Stop!” I laughed, certain I was
going to explode in a ball of giggles. As we wrestled on the couch,
Trystan leaned into me. From trying to pull away my hair was
covering my face, several curls stuck to my lips.

Panting hard, he stilled and brushed the hair
out of my face. “A kiss assassin sounds kind of sexy. I’d like to
see one of those.”

“Grab a mirror, because I’m totally looking
at one. He has bright blue eyes, a killer smile, and he’s a closet
musician.” A wicked grin spread across my lips. “All the kiss
assassins are—”

Before I could say anything else, his fingers
tickled me again. This time when I stopped laughing, something
changed. I was more aware that here he was, how he was laying with
half of his body on top of mine, on the couch—the nearness of his
mouth and his breath on my face.

Trystan looked down at me, still smiling
softly. My heart hammered in my chest, but this time it wasn’t from
tickles or silly words. His gaze pinned me in place, those sapphire
eyes stole my breath and my brains in one look. They swept over my
face, moving slowly from my eyes to my lips, and back again.
Trystan’s mouth parted like he was going to say something, but he
didn’t. He froze like that, watching me beneath him with an
unreadable expression on his face. Just when I thought my heart
couldn’t take another shock, the door above us banged open.

Tucker’s voice bellowed down the stairs,
“Scott, get up here. Now!”

As soon as we heard the door open, we shot
apart. Trystan pushed himself upright, and stood as I rolled to my
side and patted my hair, trying to make it look normal and not like
we’d been doing something naughty. I glanced over at him. Trystan
didn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he shoved his hands in his pockets
and walked away. Before he got to the stairs, he looked over his
shoulder. “Later, kiss thief.” He treated me to a dimpled grin and
I nearly died.

Ignoring the fact that my heart was half way
up my throat, I slumped back into the couch nodding and said, “You
know it, ninja.”

CHAPTER 11

~TRYSTAN~

“What are you plans after high school,
Scott?” Tucker asked him pointe-blank. Irritation made Tucker’s
face a reddish, blotchy color. He stood with his arms folded, eyes
narrowed, waiting for an answer.

“I’m enlisting,” Trystan replied. He didn’t
look away.

“How do you plan to do that when you’re
arrested for assault?”

Trystan blanched. “What?”

“You’re eighteen, Trystan. For chrissakes,
use your head. You’re not a child anymore. When you hit someone,
it’s assault. You should know this by now.” Tucker used little
restraint when talking to him. Trystan didn’t understand why he
wasn’t dumped in the principal’s office, why Tucker seemed to be
watching out for him, but it seemed like he was.

Before another thought came into Trystan’s
head, he blurted out, “Seth’s filing charges?” Worry and shock
pinched the spot between his brows.

Tucker sighed and his arms fell to his sides.
“What’s it going to take to get through to you? This isn’t a game.
You get one shot at life and if you screw it up now—” he trailed
off, not completing the thought. He let it linger there, allowing
Trystan to fill in the blank.

“I’m not playing games, Mr. Tucker.” Trystan
looked away. The anger he had toward Seth was still simmering below
the surface.

“Then what the hell is going on with you?
Seth’s your best friend. What did he do that made you react like
that?”

Trystan stared at the floor. A quick shake of
his head was the only answer he could manage.

Tucker’s stance shifted. They were standing
in front of the stage. The only light in the room came from the
recessed lights that hung above the exit doors. It cast a faint
yellow glow across the stage, illuminating the place where they
stood.

Tucker took Trystan’s shoulder in his hand,
“I can’t keep you out of trouble forever. I want you to have a
shot.”

“Why?” Trystan blurted out. He sounded
bitter, jaded. It was like he couldn’t believe Tucker’s words. He
felt his face pinch when he said it, and it didn’t matter how hard
Trystan tried, he couldn’t hide it. He couldn’t believe that
someone would look out for him.

Tucker dropped his hand. He blinked once,
slowly, his forehead pinching together forming rows of wrinkles
that made him look much older than he was. He sounded remorseful
when he spoke, “Someone told you wrong, Trystan. They lied to you.”
He shook his head sadly, as he said it and then turned to
leave.

“What are you talking about?” Trystan said to
his back. Turning, Trystan watched Tucker as he walked away up the
dark aisle toward the exit at the back of the auditorium.

When he reached the door, Tucker turned back
to Trystan and said, “You’re worth something, Scott, your life is
valuable. Right now, you have a chance to escape whatever you’re
running from, but if things keep up like this, you’re going to
blast your only escape route straight to hell.” With that, he
disappeared through the door leaving Trystan alone.

CHAPTER 12

~MARI~

I didn’t mean to overhear what I heard, but
when Trystan’s voice echoed from the other side of the stage
curtain, I stopped. I was no longer interested in exiting the stage
door in front of me. Instead, I lingered, listening.

Did he say he was enlisting?
My throat
tightened. I couldn’t breathe. I had no idea what Trystan planned
after school. I assumed he would go to college, but now that I
thought about it, I hadn’t heard him mention applications and
admission interviews. It felt like someone was crushing my heart.
Frozen, I stood behind the curtain and heard everything.

Tucker’s warnings rang in my ears. I peered
through the stage curtain to see Trystan sitting in the first row
with his face in his hands after Tucker left the auditorium.
Trystan leaned forward so that I couldn’t see his eyes. The light
spilled onto the curve of his back before it mixed with shadow.
Dark hair hung forward, blocking his face.

Paralyzed by fear, I stood there staring at
him. If he enlisted, I’d never see him again. The thought made me
shiver. Sickness crept up my throat and soured in my mouth. There
were only a few months of school left. Then, he’d be gone.

Forever.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I
didn’t think. I walked down the stairs, quietly making my way
straight toward him. I didn’t care if he loved someone else. I had
to tell him. I had to say it before he left or I’d regret it for
the rest of my life.

Trystan lifted his head when he saw me
descending the stairs. His eyes seem hollow, like he was weary and
broken. He didn’t speak. That dark brooding gaze followed my
movements. There was a hardness to his gaze that usually vaporized
around me, but this time it remained in place. I knew that he’d be
angry that I heard. Trystan never told me he was running from
anything, but Tucker seemed to have figured it out. Trystan looked
like he’d been sucker-punched with the truth. Knowing that I was
standing there, knowing that I’d seen it happen, made it worse. His
eyes said it all.

Heart pounding harder, I reached the lower
landing and stepped onto the floor. I didn’t know what to do, what
to say, so I didn’t say anything. There were no words to comfort,
no words to explain how I felt or what I wanted. Walking toward him
with my shoulders back, my long hair swayed gently with each step.
Trystan gazed at me with a desperate look in his eye, like he was
drowning and I wasn’t welcome to watch.

When I was two steps in front of him, Trystan
abruptly looked away. He pushed out of his seat, making us stand
nose to nose. “Mari, I don’t think now is a good time—”

I didn’t stop moving toward him. I didn’t
answer him. I didn’t speak. Pulse pounding in my ears, I lifted my
hands and curled my fingers in his shirtfront. Surprised flashed
across his eyes, as I pulled his face to mine. I yanked his shirt
hard, pulling him closer to me, fast. His lips pressed into mine
and I kissed him.

I kissed Trystan Scott. And it was a real
kiss. I didn’t hold back and I wouldn’t apologize for it later.

My lips moved against his and this kiss was
my doing, not his. His hands lifted and tangled in my hair. I
flicked my tongue against his lips until he parted them, and let me
deepen the kiss. His arms tightened around me, embracing me harder.
Breathless, I kissed him more, feeling every curve of his mouth and
tasting every inch of his soft lips. My hands released his shirt
and tangled in his silky hair. I didn’t want it to end. The moment
was perfect. The kiss was perfect and I knew without a doubt it was
my kiss, that it was real, and that I meant every bit of it.