Read Twisted Stars (Hardest Mistakes #3) for Free Online Page A

intake of breath.
    “I don’t think I’ve ever been this close to anyone,” he whispers, closing his eyes.
    “Me either,” I admit. “Not like this.” And it’s true. This feels like something more. We haven’t known each other long, but something about this feels so right. I can’t ignore it.
    He sighs softly and pulls his hand out of my grip. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
    I frown. “Then don’t.”
    “No, you don’t understand. There are people…bad people looking for me.”
    I should have known…of course he’s in trouble. “Who? What do they want?”
    “It’s not important. The point is…” He doesn’t finish. My lips press against his softly. He’s still for a moment, and then his hand is in my hair, and he’s pulling me closer. The way he kisses me back is almost desperate. He rolls us over until he’s on top of me. All I can feel is his body around mine. Cocooning me. His hand cups my cheek softly, his thumb running down my chin. I draw him closer until there’s not a single millimeter of space between us. The need grows, smothering me until I can’t hold it in anymore.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    I wake to a feeling of warmth and safety. I don’t remember falling asleep. Jayden shifts his arm underneath my neck as he rolls to face me. I look up and meet his searching gaze.
    “Good morning.” My voice comes out soft, almost scared.
    “Morning,” he whispers back. He lifts his hand and runs a finger down my face. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling. “I don’t know how you did it, but thank you.”
    I scrunch up my nose, keeping my eyes shut. “Did what?”
    Instead of answering, he presses his lips to mine, igniting a fire within me.
     
    ***
     
    It’s much later in the day when I stretch, rolling over on my bed…and over. Shouldn’t there be a warm roadblock on this side of the bed? I open my blurry eyes and frown. I’m alone.
    Where is Jayden?
    I get up and wrap my robe around my body. He’s not in the bathroom or any other room on the top floor.
    I tiptoe down the stairs and find…nothing. He’s not here. Maybe he had to run an errand? I shake my head and head back upstairs to shower.
    Jayden doesn’t return that night or even the next for that matter. I wake up on the third morning alone and throw back the covers with unnecessary force. He used me, plain and simple. I feel like punching something, namely his stupid, pretty face.
    Taking a deep settling breath, I get ready for class and stomp down the stairs in the loudest possible way I can.
    Brooke picks up on my bad mood as soon as she spots my face.
    “What’s happened?”
    I grunt at her and sit down at my desk with a heavy thump.
    She raises an eyebrow at my flattering behavior. “That bad?”
    I throw her a glare she doesn’t really deserve. “Yes. That bad.”
    She glances toward the classroom door then back at me. “Where’s what’s-his-name? Jayden? Isn’t he living with you?”
    I narrow my eyes. “He used me. Then threw me away. Nobody throws Ashlee Reynolds away. Nobody.”
    She barely stops herself from laughing. “Oh, honey, it’s okay. Do you want to skip class, come home with me, and trash-talk him while binging on chocolate and ice cream?”
    I pause and take a deep breath. “Yes. That actually sounds amazing.”
    “Come on, then. Let’s go before you hit somebody and I have to bail you out.” She drags me down the hall and out to her car. We drive to her place in silence, and when we walk through the door, Kelly is already waiting with a table full of chocolate, ice cream, and marshmallows. I grin and sit down across from her.
    “You guys are awesome.”
    “We do try,” Brooke answers, leaning in to give Kelly a peck on the cheek. “That was quick.”
    “So what happened?” Kelly asks.
    “This guy was staying with me, and we were beginning to get close. The other night we kind of…” I lift my eyebrows. “You know, and then I woke up alone. I