Read A Man of Honor (A Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (The Honor Trilogy) for Free Online Page A

she wants a drink.
    “K,” she says.
    “Like what?” I open my fridge and continue talking. “I got cola, water, and yeah, that’s it.”
    Tamlin laughs. “Water’s good.”
    I grab two waters and sit next to her on the couch.
    “How’s Honor?” The second I say the words, I know I shouldn’t have.
    “What is it with you two? You like her , like her, don’t you?”
    Inwardly rolling my eyes, I respond, “You just came from seeing her in the hospital, I thought I’d ask.”
    “You didn’t answer me though. Do you like Honor?”
    “She’s cool,” I answer, trying hard to keep my composure and not let on that I’m madly in love with her.
    Tamlin’s lips twist, like she’s biting the inside of her mouth. Then she shrugs.
    “Did you eat?” I am so bad at making small talk. “I have chips or something.”
    “No. I’m good.”
    Her hand grazes my knee. She bites her bottom lip and runs that hand up my thigh.
    Leaning my head back on the couch, I wrap my arm around her and draw her close. She meets my lips with a soft peck, but I part my lips and press more firmly, enjoying the sweet taste of Tamlin’s mouth.
    As her fingers run through my hair, my mind races with thoughts of taking this further. Her lips leave mine and find a sensitive spot on my neck. My breathing increases and the little hairs on my arms begin to tingle. Fingers aching with the need to touch her. There’s a fluttering in my heart that makes it feel like it’s popping out of my chest. Her hair smells like shampoo when I breath e in her scent, and that’s when I open my eyes and force myself back to reality. I’m with Tamlin. I want to be with Honor. Though I may never have that chance, taking advantage of her best friend is just wrong. I am craving to be loved, but if I’m only going to hurt her in the process, I need to stop this now. Before we go any further.
    Tamlin’s lips slip lower on my neck when I lay my palms on her shoulder and put space between us.
    “Tam,” I murmur.
    “Hmm?” Her eyes are still half-closed, and she moves to kiss me again.
    “Tam,” I say again, this time more forcefully.
    This grabs her attention, because she opens her eyes wide now and sits back, looking embarrassed.
    “I just think we should…” I put my hand on her knee, but I can’t think of what I wanted to say.
    “It’s Honor isn’t it? I knew you liked her.”
    “No,” I lie. “It’s not Honor. I just…I’m not sure I feel that way about you yet, and we should probably,” I take a deep breath, wanting so badly to continue where we were, “wait.”
    “I should go,” she says. Standing from the couch, she shoves her hands in her pockets and curls her shoulders forward.
    “No, Tamlin.” I get up to put my hands on her arms. Sliding my hands down her arms, I reach into her pockets and hold her hands. “I like you,” I say, trying to get her to look me in the eyes. “I’m trying to be honorable here, I know I don’t have much practice,” I joke.
    Pulling her hands out of her pockets, she moves away from me.
    “Can we start over?” I ask. “Be friends, maybe?”
    Now fiddling with the hem of her sparkly shirt, she shrugs, all the while keeping her eyes cast downward.
    “Listen, Tam,” I say, sitting back down on the couch, “I think I’ve filled my daily quota of playing nice. You want to curse me, go ‘head. Ya wanna be my friend, great.” Standing back up, because this really is new ground for me, and I’m totally uncomfortable now, I ask, “So, friends? Or you want me to take you home?”
    From the corner of her eyes she looks at me. “You’re an ass, you know that?” The grin on her face betrays her meek attempt at being angry.
    “Yes, actually, I’ve been told that before.”
    “Yeah, well…I’m hungry now. Where are those chips?”
    Though I know Tamlin’s probably not hungry at all, I don’t let on. “I can do better than that. How ‘bout I take you to the diner to get some real