Read Online Playing With Fire by Ashley Piscitelli - Free Book Online Page A

her arms around my neck and pressing her body into mine. “Carter, this is the nicest thing that anyone has ever done for me. How did you know it was my birthday?”
    “Nicole told me about it on Thanksgiving. Why didn’t you tell me?”
    She let go of me and went to sit on the couch. “I haven’t celebrated my birthday since I was three. My mother died on my fourth birthday and my father always blamed me. A drunk driver hit her when she went to get my birthday cake. When she didn’t come home that night, my father told me I killed her. He started drinking after that and couldn’t even bare to look at me. Then when I was put in the foster homes, no one cared. I eventually just stopped celebrating it myself. When I started dating Chris, I thought maybe he would want to celebrate it with me. He told me I was already used to not celebrating it so why change it now.”
    I hated him with every fiber of my being . I don’t understand why she ever stayed with him. I needed to talk to her about this.
    “When I walked out here and saw all this, I thought I was dreaming. You are the most amazing person I have ever known.” She leaned in and kissed me again. I would never get tired of this. Maddy had been through so much; all I wanted to do was make everyday from now on special. She started to look around and that’s when she saw the presents. “You got me gifts?”
    “Yeah. When I stopped by the mall yesterday, I gave Holly some money to get you some stuff.” I heard footsteps coming towards us. My dad, Ant, and Holly came in the room. They all said happy birthday to Maddy and gave her hugs. “Is everyone hungry? I made breakfast.”
    Ant looked at me and scowled. “I’m not trying to get sick, dude. I’ll pass.”
    I heard Maddy giggling. “I have to say, he made me breakfast before and it was really good.”
    I put my arm around her waist and pulled her against me. “See, the birthday girl likes my cooking.”
    “Hey, all I said was your breakfast was good. I don’t know anything about the other stuff.” Everyone starting laughing. I loved how well she fit into my family.
    After we ate breakfast, we all sat in the living room and gave Maddy her gifts. Holly did really well; she picked Maddy up a new pair of boots, two shirts, a jacket, and a pair of jeans. I have never seen her smile this much. She thanked us and gave out hugs to everyone.
    I helped her carry her stuff into my bedroom and as soon as I shut the door, she shoved me against it. She crushed her lips against mine, and I was so surprised and turned on that I let out a groan. She slipped her tongue in my mouth and started playing with my hair.
    I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her up a little. She wrapped her legs around my waist; the sounds that she was making were turning me on so much. If I was this turned on just from kissing, I don’t know what I would do whenever we decided to have sex.
    I carried her over to the bed and laid down with her. I started kissing her all over her neck. I needed to stop this. She wasn’t ready, my family was down the hall, and I had a major case of blue balls. “Hey, where did this crazy girl come from?”
    She looked up at me and smiled. She was adorable. “I have never felt so cared for by anyone, Carter. I always shied away from people because I thought all they would do is hurt me. I have been scared to let someone touch me ever since I was a kid but, with you, everything just feels right. You make me feel like it’s enough to just be who I am.”
    I didn’t know what to say to her. I was so glad that I had that effect on her. “It is enough just to be who you are. I want you to feel safe with me. I’m not going to judge you or try to change you.”
    She wrapped her arms around me and we just lay there for a while.
    “Hey, I have one more thing to give you.”
    She looked up at me, “Carter, you have already done so much.”
    “The day isn’t over yet, baby. We are going out tonight.”
    “We