Chapter thirty-six | Cynthia and Elias under a tree

Chapter thirty-six | Cynthia and Elias under a tree

Shock pulsed through my body as his lips met mine. The faint smell of his perfume filled my nose with his natural scent.

Why is he kissing me?

My mind repeated the question again and again. I didn't realize when, but my body froze in shock. My rigid body pressed against Eli's body, making him freeze too.

He pulled back from my lips and cursed under his breath. He had a guilty look on his face as his brows drew together in a frown.

"Fuck, Cynthia. I am sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you again without asking you. I am-" Eli tried to apologize, but his words drowned as my mouth replaced his.

Once again, our lips connected as I grasped his face in my hands. My heart thundered wildly, ready to burst out of its cage.

As I brought his lips against mine, our noses bumped, making me smile against his lips.

Tentatively, his hands came around my waist, pulling me closer to his body. My soft curves pressed against his lean frame as we aimed to mold us together.

His lips felt soft as the parking lot melted away. Every thought melted away from my mind, turning into a gooey mess.

I sighed in content as his lips pressed against mine in a soft passion, bringing my emotions to the front step.

Being a bit adventurous, his tongue slipped out of his mouth. Peeking from his lips and running over my lips lightly.

I opened my mouth as they traced the inner curve of my lips. It slipped into my mouth, and Eli's taste exploded on my tongue.

My mind went dizzy with euphoria as my eyes felt heavy. If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up.

Our tongues moved together in synchronization as a faint taste of bubble gum filled my mouth. Eli's tongue moved in my mouth with expertize I didn't know he possessed.

We pulled back as we felt breathlessness, literally.

His breath fanned my swollen lips as his dark eyes gazed down at me. Eli was tilting his head downwards as his arms remained around me, keeping me on my toes.

My fingers tightened in his hair, ready to pull him in once again, but a screech pulled me out of my daze.

It took me a second to focus my eyes on the blonde behind Eli, and another few seconds to recognize her.

Sylvia's blue eyes were blazing fire as her face turned an uncomfortable shade of red. She crossed her arms over her chest as she glared towards me.

"Why the fuck did you guys kiss?" she screeched in her whiny voice. I cringed a bit as her voice gained attention. The people in the parking lot stopped their movements and waited for the scene to unfold.

I averted my eyes and looked around me. There was a pang of sudden guilt, and it didn't sit well with my turmoil of thoughts.

A sigh escaped me as Eli pulled back from me, taking away his warmth with him. He stood on the step beside me and curled an arm around my waist. Awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, he looked adorable.

"Cyn, why did you kiss him? You told me you guys were friends!" Sylvia pointed her finger, accusingly towards our way.

Her face was turning more and more red, just like a fire hydrant.

A giggle erupted from my lips, making me choke as I tried to stop.

Eli gave me a look that said, 'Stop this nonsense and deal with your shit'.

I grinned her way and titled my head. "We kissed because we wanted to. He is not interested in you, and he is not committed to you in any way. I don't see a problem" My voice was patronizing as I released my inner bitch who was frustrated with her constant advances.

Snickers followed my words as she stomped on her spot. The sound was swiftly cut off as she pinned her friends under a cynical look.

Turning towards us her glare hardened, and she gave both Eli and me a vicious look.

"I should have known that Cynthia Crimson is never just friends with a guy. She fucks her friends too. Whore." Her words were bitter, but nothing new for me. It didn't mean that they hurt any less.

I kept my impassive face on and held Eli back as he took a threatening step.

"At the end of the day, Eli kissed me. So, I don't think your words matter," I leered, making her smirk drop.

"I hate both of you," Sylvia switched her eyes between Eli and I. Her glassy blue eyes gave Eli a look of longing while she gave me a murderous glare.

Her eyes momentarily trailed on my hand on his chest, and she sighed in dejection.

Sylvia's friends fussed over her as she walked away from us. Her shoulders were slumped, making me feel guilty.

She just had a crush. I was too harsh.

By now, the crowd had disappeared, continuing their separate ways. Eli shook me slightly as I stared after Sylvia.

He tilted his head slightly, motioning towards the car behind us.

I quickly took a seat and buckled up the seat belt. All the events from before flew through my eyes, making blush color my cheeks. Warmth exploded on Eli's cheeks too as he awkwardly cleared his throat.

Eli drove silently back home as I mediated on the upcoming in the silence. It was suffocating with tension from our kiss lingering in the air.

Why did he kiss me? The question once again lingered in my mind, making me bite my lip slowly.

If he likes somebody else, then him kissing me made no sense. While my heart cried in glee, it also feared the shadow of his rejection.

Eli wasn't under influence this time, so it wasn't a mistake.

It wasn't a mistake, right?

I wanted to voice the question out, but I was too scared of the answer I might have received.

The jittery nerves tingling through my body were more intense than the time when I lost my virginity, and that was saying something.

I was pulled out from my absurd thoughts as his words from earlier flowed through my mind, making me freeze.

Did he say again? What did he mean by again?

I turned towards Eli as he parked the car in his driveway.

"You earlier said, again. What do you mean by again?" I asked, not being able to reign my question.

Eli froze mid-movement as his hand around his seat belt tightened. He opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself at a loss of words.

"You remember the first time you kissed me, right? Then why did you lie to me?" I tried to coax an answer out from him, making him gulp.

He nodded and moved from his statue-like state.

"Let's talk inside," he muttered and stepped out of the car.

I sighed and followed him outside as his behavior from this morning returned. He stopped at the front door, waiting for me to get into his house before closing it behind him.

With long steps, he made his way towards his room.

I closed the door behind me as he settled on his bed. Kicking his shoes off, he leaned back on his arms and sat criss-cross style. I unstrapped my heels as my feet sighed in relief and sat on the empty spot next to him.

"Why did you lie to me, Eli?" I asked as silence filled the space between us.

My words slashed through the suffocating tension, making him turn towards me.

"I am sorry about that night. It was a mistake," he stated, breaking my heart with his words. My eyes turned glassy as I bit my lip hard.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but I kept my eyes fixed on him.

He noticed my slight slip, and with a sigh, he leaned towards me and cupped my face softly.

His icy eyes were a soft shade of blue. So different from his intense eyes half an hour ago.

His thumb lightly brushed along my cheek, trying to calm me down. The wildly raging emotions soothed to silent waves, lapping against the thoughts of my sane mind.

Eli's eyes flickered toward my lips as he hesitated with his words.

"I was a coward. Too scared to face the heat of my actions. So, I acted like I couldn't remember anything. It was the simple way out, and you played along too," he stated in a mere whisper. "But the truth is that night is still crystal clear in my mind. Along with the kiss."

My breath hitched, and one of my hands grasped the hem of his t-shirt. Unconsciously, both of us learned as our breaths grew irregular.

Our lips were almost touching when I murmured my doubt.

"This kiss isn't a mistake, right?" The vulnerability that I was storing away for weeks flashed through these simple words.

He gave me a guilty look and shook his head, lightly brushing his nose against mine in an Eskimo kiss.

Eli's arms drew around me protectively as he leaned his forehead against mine.

"I am sorry for ever making you feel like that. It was never my intention. The kiss we shared today, and maybe will share again, never were and never will be mistakes."

Tears of joy welled in my eyes, and I leaned ahead, removing all the traces of distance between us.

Sparks flew through my skin as his lips seared mine. A low moan slipped past my lips as the passion of our kiss heightened my senses.

My fingers combed through his hair, bringing him closer as he did the same along the nape of my neck.

His hands along my neck were like burning brands, flowing straight through my body with warmth unparalleled. Taking the lead, I nipped his bottom lip for entrance, which he gladly granted.

My tongue speared through his parted lips, eager to meet his.

Once again, the warm taste of bubblegum with a hint of mint filled with my mouth. My thoughts were haywire as our kiss turned up in intensity.

As our lungs screamed in protest, I pulled back from his lips. Even then, a disapproving noise escaped his throat.

"What about the crush? The girl you were trying to be a bad boy for?" I asked between harsh gasps, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

He grimaced at my question, giving me a guilty look. I maintained my intent to stare as he pulled me closer to him.

A gasp escaped me as Eli pulled me against his chest and stumbled back on the bed.

My heart went haywire as he landed on the small single bed with me on the top.

"What are you doing?" I asked, feeling flabbergasted.

His hand weaved through my hair, pulling the strands away from my face.

"I lied, Cynthia. The girl I liked was you, and I thought the only way I deserved you was when I became worthy of you. When I became a popular guy."

"Eli..." I trailed off, feeling pain crippled my chest.

The guilt I felt earlier increased its depth, staking through my heart and conscience again and again.

As if a dead weight landed on my shoulder, my eye turned glassy for another reason altogether.

I was the reason why he tried to change himself. I was the reason he lost his friends.

"You are amazing as you are. You don't need to change for anybody," I whispered, staring into Eli's icy eyes.

"Not even for the girl I love?" he asked, making my heart stutter.

I couldn't form words as joy and relief thrummed through my veins.

He loves me!

"I love you, Cynthia." His hand came up to my cheeks, tracing an invisible pattern.

I leaned my head against his warm palm, trying to get the confession out of me. Somehow, it became impossible as the weight of my guilt constricted the words in my throat.

His expectant blue eyes stared up at me, waiting for an answer.

So I did the next best thing and connected his lips with mine. Silently, hoping that he could feel the emotions when I couldn't form the words.