Bad Romeo (Starcrossed #1)(63)
Author: Leisa Rayven

The effect he has on my body is instantaneous and powerful, and I take full advantage of him being shirtless. My hands roam everywhere. Across his broad shoulders and arms. Around to his back and up to his shoulder blades. Back down his sides and onto his stomach.

He groans into my mouth and explores me just as hungrily. “Jesus … Cassie.”

He kisses me unreservedly, passionately, and at last I feel that, after taking so many steps backward, we’re finally moving forward. Toward what, I have no idea, but just knowing he’s open to the experience is better than any other feeling I’ve ever had.

“I’ve wanted to do this all night.” He pants in between kisses. “Staying away from you was fucking exhausting.”

Somehow we start walking back toward the bed, still kissing, deep and frantic. Before I know it, I’m on my back with him between my thighs. I clutch at him as he grinds against me, slow and insistent.

“Oh, God. Yes.”

He buries his head in my neck, then he’s sucking. He moves along my throat and onto my chest where he cups my breasts as he continues to move against me, stealing my ability to breathe.

I angle my hips up to meet him and boldly grab his butt to push him against me more firmly.

“Fuck.” He groans into my shoulder as he freezes. The room is silent, apart from our ragged breathing.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, gripping his shoulders as my heart thunders way too fast.

“Nothing,” he says, still not moving. “Just give me a minute. Don’t move.”

I’m secretly thrilled that I affect him so powerfully. It’s good to know our attraction is definitely two-sided.

“Talk to me,” he says as he drops his head onto my shoulder. “Anything to distract me from your total fucking hotness.”

“Uh … well, I’m sorry about your dad tonight.” I gently stroke his back. “He was totally out of line. And I certainly wouldn’t let two years go by without telling you I loved you. That’s ridiculous. If you were mine, I’d say I loved you every day.”

I inhale quickly. “I mean, I’m speaking as if I was your dad, you know? If you were my son I’d say that. I’m not saying I love you. I’m not saying that. I just…”

“I didn’t think that you were…” He smiles. “Maybe you should shut up and kiss me again.”

I push him onto his back. “Well, if you insist.”

He pulls me down to him, and we’re kissing again, and it’s like I’m in a warm, aching dream I never want to end.

The kiss becomes more frantic, mouths and hands moving hungrily until we hear a distressed voice say, “Oh, God, you guys, come onnnn! Not in my bed!”

We look up to see Jack in the doorway, swaying like he should have stopped drinking about an hour ago.

“Did you not get the memo that no one’s allowed have sex in my bed tonight? That Star Wars quilt cover is vintage!”

“What do you want, Jack?” Holt sighs, while I suppress a laugh.

“You gotta come downstairs,” he says as he leans against the door and spills his beer. “The first critique of our show is in, and it’s … well … it says some really bad stuff about you two.”

Holt and I look at each other, panic and fear crossing our faces.

“Just messing with you!” Jack laughs. “It’s completely awesome. Get your asses downstairs so I can read it to everyone. Come on!”

He staggers out the door. Holt reluctantly climbs off me and grabs a T-shirt from the closet. He pulls it over his head and smoothes it down with a smirk. It has a huge red cross on it and reads, Orgasm Donor.

“Well, at least I got one that’s accurate.”

I shake my head and laugh as I straighten myself up.

He walks over and puts a hand on each side of my face before leaning down and kissing me.

“I’m not going to kiss you in front of them,” he says. “Or hold your hand. I just don’t want them talking about us. Assuming stuff.”

“Okay,” I say, disappointed I have to hide how I feel about him. “But isn’t Jack going to tell them that we were making out?”

He shakes his head. “The state he’s in, he probably forgot about us five seconds after he left the room.”

He kisses me again, and then we head downstairs, trying to ignore the whispers that filter through the crowd as we emerge together.

“Finally!” Jack says. He shushes everyone as he puts down his beer and holds up the pages he’s printed out. “Okay, listen up guys. This review is by Martin Kilver from Online Stage Diary. He’s notoriously hard to please, so keep that in mind when you hear what he has to say.”

The whole room goes quiet, and I can feel Holt tense beside me as Jack starts to read:

“With any production of a classic Shakespearean play, the actors run the risk of imitating and re-creating much of what’s gone before. In the most recent production of Romeo and Juliet by The Grove’s Dramatic Arts Academy, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The production is sparse and modern, which in itself isn’t groundbreaking. What is revolutionary is that after seeing countless productions over the years, I finally believe in the truth and power of two young people in love. To say it provided this reviewer with one of the most thrilling nights of theater I’ve ever encountered would be an understatement.”

There are murmurs of surprise and some light applause, and Jack smiles before continuing: “Director Erika Eden has shaped her young charges into a slick, powerful company of exciting players, and while they all show maturity in their performances, they lose nothing of the rambunctiousness of youth that is so central to the story.”

More hoots of agreement. I feel the light pressure of Holt’s hand on the small of my back.

“Okay, keep it down,” Jack says. “We’re getting to the best part.” He clears his throat. “Although the entire cast is truly exceptional, special mention must be made of Aiyah Sediki as the nurse, who brings a wonderful sense of dignity to the role, and Connor Baine as Mercutio, a role that is often played as two-dimensional in its brashness, but to which he brings a surprising and welcome sensitivity.”

There are huge yells of approval as Aiyah and Connor beam. I applaud them both, so proud.

Jack looks at us knowingly before continuing: “But the major triumph of this production is the casting of the two lead actors—Ethan Holt as Romeo, and Cassandra Taylor as Juliet.” The crowd whistles and hollers, and my face burns bright red. “In playing Romeo, Mr. Holt brings to the role a prickly vulnerability that plays directly against the acres of flowery prose the character has to utter. His intense, panther-like energy is a refreshing change from the foppish, wet-eared Romeos I’ve seen in the past, and I predict that if this performance is anything to go by, Mr. Holt will have very bright future on the professional stage.”