Touch Me While I Taste You

39 Arabella Rivera Admittedly, I've been shocked many times before and indeed, whatever stunnedalways yieldedspeechless. But what Christian just uttered, concreted my tongue so hard that alarm rang in my head like a siren.

| knew | may have looked utterly ridiculous just standing there wide eyed, frozen in place as | stared at him, like he was ssort of ghost. But unfortunately, my mouth refused to utter a word and my limbs decided to not work with me.

Seeing how his words had affected me, Christian peered at my stunned face and decided to speak. Which | was very thankful for seeing that | could not seemt o murmur anything at the moment.

“It's not that big of a deal honestly.” He shrugs, breaking eye contact to look ahead. “We should probably be heading t o the lockers before the bell ring.” | could hear it in his voice, he didn’t want to give Daway much.

away much.

Not a big deal he says? The tone of his voice and the stiffness in his posture said otherwise.

Sadly for him, | was annoyingly nosey unfortunately when it has anything to do with Haiden Cross. | could not even if my life depended on it, nfive students in any of my classes. But with Haiden, | seem to be latching on to anything that has to do with him.

| gave a stiff nod, already calculating in m y head how to ask him questions that could unravel his secrets about Haiden.” Yeah, we should.” | finally got my mouth t o work with the promise of feeding it warm cocoa when mother is not around.

If what he said is true, then why had I not seen him at Haiden’s before. Not even on holidays? Was my basic nosey skills that lacking? Christian and | continued our way through the bustling halls, side-stepping many desperate teens who eyed us in intrigue and confusion. OO REDMIN “So uh where are you from?” | asked trying to ease him in a conversation that Po uh, where are you from?” | asked trying to ease him in a conversation that could potentially have him let out what | wanted to hear.

I didn’t exactly know what, but | had a need to know why the two step-brothers seem to not like each other. At least from what | witness mere minutes ago showed their dislike for the other.

Christian stiffens, eyeing me.” Somewhere far away from here. Is it so bad that | want to stay mysterious Ella?” The quick flash of teeth from the smirk h e had on nearly blindfrom how bright it was. Mere seconds ago it was only but a frown, now it was anything but.

| shrugged. “Being a step-brother to Haiden wouldn't have you mysterious for long. The guy has a reputation around here.” | jutted my chin out.

por “You'll only last a day before his many acquaintances, which are girls by the way, unravel you like a Christmas present. They'd do anything and | mean anything, to know everything about you and Haiden. So your dreams of being OO REDMI Noysterious I'm afraid, won't cto Al QUA fruition.” | was not even in the slightest ition.” I was not even in the slightest kidding.

Those girls are ruthless when it comes to Haiden. | suppose the more a guy treats you like dirt the more they like it. Or perhaps it’s the saying that he’s good in bed that has them panting like female dogs in heat.

| was such a hypocrite though. | was doing exactly what those girls would do. Unravel Christian just to know about Haiden Cross. But, | guess mine can pass since | only just wanted to know why the brothers were hostile towards each other.

That's still being nosey Bella. My conscience reprimanded me. Of course, | noted that | had called myself Bella, the very nickn| claimed to hate. Haiden had gone too deep inside my mind | feared.

“Wow, that sounds scary. | guess | should stay away from those girls huh?” Christian asked. His voice pulledout o f my convoluted thoughts.

You should probably stay away fromREDMI NOU, Snsidering how | wanted to dissect your brain just to know about you and your brother. Of course, | do not say that out loud, not if | want to be deemed as a crazy and psychotic chick.

| walked towards my locker and motioned him to his, which was a locker away from mine. “You probably should.

But then again, | don’t think it will be fruitful, especially when word gets out that you are by any chance related to the bad boy of this school.” | pointed out.

He opens his locker, the sound of the metal screeching loudly. He turns toand snorts. “I could see why he’s labeled a s a bad boy but as I've said, we're not in any way related by blood.” He starts throwing sbooks in.

“My dad and mom split when | was two. My mom took full custody ofand with her job, she traveled a lot, with me. | never really knew my dad until weeks ago when my mother wantedto stay with him.” He sighs.

“Honestly | didn’t know about Haiden and Charlotte until a few days ago. From what I've heard, Paul isn’t married to Charlotte, so it explains why she still has REDMI NOTE e deceased husband's surname.” Al QUAD CAMERA GALIULLC, OU IL LAPID WHY JELL OLIE deceased husband's surname.” Christian shrugged and took out a glasses case.

| am stunned to see him put on black rimmed glasses and throw the case back inside his black bag. He turns to me, his eyes now peering atthrough the clear lenses. “Apparently my mother hated that she hadtraveling with her. She said she was keepingback from having a stable life where | can have friends without worrying about leaving them soon.” He sighs and turns back to his locker, furrowing his brows in concentration.

“If it were up to me, | wouldn't chere seeing that it wasn’t quite welcoming.” H e turns toand grins brightly. “Well except for you of course.” | was stunned by every word that left his mouth. | wasn’t quite ready to know so much yet even though my previous questions said otherwise. In fact, | wasn’t expecting Christian to tellsuch personal information so soon. Still, | couldn't help but realize that even though REDM he toldso much, there was so much more he kept under wraps. That was just more he kept under wraps. That was just fragments.

| smiled softly, scanning my eyes over his face. He was friendly and the glasses framing his face made him look adorable. “You wear glasses. ” | murmur.

“Yep. | can’t see that well honestly and | need this sucker.” He points at his black frames and smirks. “I can’t complain oothed gloya’s look even prettier.” Al QUAD CAMERA