Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (10 page)

Jordan extended his hand. "Jordan Mason, sir."

"
Mason?
Marli's Jordan Mason?" My father's brusqueness diminished somewhat. "The Porsche—yours?"

"Yes sir, guilty on both counts." Muffy nuzzled her head under Jordan's arm. "I'm just glad I didn't run over either of your girls, sir."

"Drop the 'sir.' It's Rick and I owe you an apology." He leaned into the kitchen counter, asking the inevitable. "So what happened with Sam?"

My face twisted in agony, but before I could confess, Jordan answered. "He walked in on me kissing your daughter, sir—I mean,
Rick.
"

"What
?
Marli!" Rick morphed from friendly to warden status, giving Jordan a dark glower. "You were making out with my daughter? In my kitchen?"

"We weren't
making out
," I defended. "One kiss Sam saw and then he wouldn't even let me explain. He just stormed out."

"Do you blame him, Mars? Walking in on your girlfriend kissing someone else would push any boy over the edge."

"
Girlfriend
?" Jordan piped in, his brows pulling tight. "Sam's your
boyfriend
?"

Technically, dating outside of The Program was forbidden, even if Jesse thought differently. I checked my contract. However I hadn't officially been "activated" until I accepted the interview with Jordan. Up to this point, I considered myself a normal teenager, limiting my future to the day I currently lived and my destiny to the weekend.

I didn't need this argument with Dad, especially in front of Jordan. "I don't have time to explain Sam to either of you. I need to get ready for school."

"Marli?" Jordan hesitated, his accusing tone gone. "Can I wait and give you a ride?"

"No, I can drive myself, but thanks."

The voices in my head argued immediately.
Have you lost your mind? Of course you want him to take you to school.
However, if Sam saw me with Jordan again, things could worsen. I feared Jordan might already have second-guessed his decision to find me.

Dad placed a hand on my shoulder. "Your car is still in Andy's shop, remember? But I can take you, if you want."

I sighed partially in surrender, the other part secretly thrilled. "No, I'll let Jordan take me. I'd like one ride in his Porsche before he runs from this drama scene."

The inside of Jordan's Porsche smelled like his cologne—spicy, with a hint of citrus.
Sexy.
I wished I lived hundreds of miles from the school so I could breathe the sensuous scent for hours, not minutes.

Jordan's finger tapped my hand from the shifter knob. "Hey. Sorry I questioned your relationship with Sam. Your life before today isn't my business."

I tangled my fingers in his, helping him shift gears. "And, now it is?"

"Only if you say so."

A breath stalled in my throat, a debate ensued in my brain. If I said
yes,
I surrendered a little bit of the control I wanted to keep. If I said
no,
I ran the risk of pushing Jordan away—something I did not want right now.

"I think I say so."

When we pulled in front of the school, Jordan's Porsche summoned an immediate gathering of wide-eyed gawkers. I slumped in the passenger seat hoping the dark tinted windows hid me from faces I recognized—ones who knew Sam.

"Great," I scowled. "Guess I'm not slipping into school unnoticed."

Jordan's arm dropped around my shoulders, easing me closer. "Not a chance. You'll have to get used to this, I'm afraid. 'Fast and flashy' cars. Remember? "

I caressed the collar of his shirt, avoiding his eyes, but wondering if he could feel my pulse racing in my breath. "So you're a show-off? What are you covering for?

"At this moment, my obsession with wanting to kiss you again."

"I think that's an obsession I'd like to work on."

Jordan tipped my chin up and pressed a gentle kiss to my mouth. "You better go before you're late." One last kiss ended with a promise for a ride home.

Passing through the front entrance security barriers, I felt light as air with the taste of Jordan on my tongue. Heads whipped my direction and whispers followed me down the hall to the locker cubes where I found Sam. I recognized the faded blue jeans draped over worn sneakers, and the shiny mop of dark hair edging the open cubicle hatch. I nervously watched from behind as he angrily tossed his digital pad inside. Cautiously, I touched his arm.

"Sam?"

He turned, head tilted to the ceiling. His soft gray eyes were wet and my heart sank, realizing I caused his pain. He spoke so quiet only I could hear him.

"He's the one, isn't he? The guy you're assigned to."

"Yeah, he's Jordan Mason."

"Damn! I knew it!"

Sam's angry kick dented the metal wall below his cube. A group of his friends passed by, eyeing the two of us. I wondered how far the gossip train had already traveled, carrying the news of what happened this morning.

"Let's get out of here. First period's a bust anyway."

When we reached his jeep, Sam hugged me and I stiffened in his arms. "What?"

I don't want you to touch me.
"Nothing," I lied.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, I caught a glimpse in the side mirror of a white Porsche sliding into traffic. I held my breath hoping Sam didn't notice. We usually went to the park on the edge of town, but Sam headed the opposite direction. Suddenly, he veered the jeep off the pavement and onto a gravel road.

"Let's see if he follows us in that fancy car now."

He noticed.

My head bounced against the back of the seat and the restraint scraped my neck. I yelled at Sam to slow down, seriously contemplating how to jump from the jumbling vehicle, when he brought the jeep to an abrupt stop. Clouds of dust covered us.

"Stop acting like this, Sam."

"I can't!" His knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel so tight. "Damn. So this is how it's going to be now? You, me and
him?
Not quite the threesome I've fantasized about."

"Knock it off." I leaned back into the seat. The bright sun beat hot on my head through the open roof and I covered my forehead with my hand to shade my eyes.

Sam's tone softened. "What happened to your knee?"

I inhaled a deep breath long enough to last through a recap. "Sam, Jordan thought he helped a stranger. He didn't know it was me."

His eyes narrowed, "Looked like he was getting to know you pretty fast, or at least your mouth."

"Shut up about the kiss! It just happened and I feel bad you saw us."

"But you don't regret it, do you? The kiss I mean."

My guilty reply slithered out. "No."
Not then, or the several times since.

Both of us glanced elsewhere, unable to face each other. An uncomfortable silence settled between us. I shifted in my seat, trying to look around without being conspicuous.

"He's parked under the trees at the turn off."

"Oh," I muttered, searching the side mirror until I saw the Porsche tucked in the shadows.

"Do you want to get out of the sun and go sit under that tree over there?"

"I don't know, Sam."

"Ten minutes, Marli, is all I'm asking for. He can wait. Hell, you've been in my life for two years and he's been in yours what—maybe an hour?"

"It's not that simple."

"It
is
that simple. Give me some respect, would you? Don't walk away like I never mattered."

Sam's statement hurt, but my don't-tell-me-what-to-do attitude ruled the moment. I shoved the jeep door open and dropped onto the gravel. The jarring pain to my knee shot to my teeth.

"Fine. You want to talk? You got it. Ten minutes!"

I marched towards the tree in the middle of the field. Sam cursed and slammed the driver's door, running to catch up to me. He grabbed my hand, halting my angry steps. His arm hooked my neck and he nuzzled my hair.

"I'm sorry."

I wound my fingers through his and tugged his hand under my chin. "You matter, okay?"

We dropped at the base of a tree and I curled between his long legs, resting my head against his chest. His voice cracked.

"What happens now? Tell me how I'm supposed to let you go?"

"Sam, we knew this day would come."

"Did we? You've talked so much about dropping out of The Program I guess I hoped you'd follow
that
plan."

True, I'd thought about leaving, but when I read Jordan's portfolio after viewing the pod and realized I'd been matched with someone who shared my likes and dislikes on silly things like no lettuce on hamburgers, and strawberry shakes rocking over chocolate ones, my future suddenly didn't seem so grim. When I kissed him, I knew for sure.

Sam's calloused finger lifted my face and he lightly touched my mouth. "Your kisses taste different."

"That's ridiculous."
Could it be true?

He kissed me again, long, easing me down in the deep grass. I'd wrapped myself in his Sam's arms almost every day over the past two years, but at this moment what once felt right, now felt wrong
.

My head swirled with thoughts of how Jordan's lips felt on mine and how his arms felt around me. Then, as if a channel switched in my head, my thoughts flipped to
Jesse's
lips
, Jesse's
arms.

I shut my mouth tight against Sam's and pushed him back. "No more." He pulled away and my breath hitched when his purposely brushed over my breast. "Sam!"

He propped himself on his elbow, his other hand pressed to my stomach. "What?" A grin curled the edges of his lips, his hand sliding under the edge of my shirt. "It's not like we haven't played this teasing game before, Marli."

I pushed his hand away. "Don't."

Sam bent for another kiss, his fingers brushing up my thigh and snaking under my skirt.

"Stop it!"

His mouth stifled my protest, the kiss rough and territorial. And he didn't quit. He reached further, tugging at the sides of my panties
.
Panic-laced anger consumed me and I slapped Sam's face—
hard,
the sharp snap echoing across the field. I rolled out of reach, scrambled to my feet and smoothed my skirt down.

"Fuck! What's gotten into you?"

"Me? Where do you get off groping me?" I stomped toward the jeep, my knee throbbing from thrashing through the tall grass, the palm of my hand smarting and hot. Unshed tears tightened my throat.

Sam grabbed my elbow and whirled me to face him. "I know where the damn line is drawn.

"Do you? Is the
line
inside or outside my underwear?"

His answer came out in a low growl. "Lay off! I'd never damage the precious 'candidate.'"

He rubbed the side of his cheek where a definite red print of my hand glowed. My feet slid defiantly across the gravel when Sam yanked me closer. His jaw clenched tight and a bead of sweat glistened along the heavy ridge hooding his intense glare. I'd never seen Sam this angry.

"Sam, let go. You're hurting me."

His hands clamped my shoulders and he shook me. "You hit me!"

I cowered, waiting for the strike back, but the sound of a racing engine stopped anything from happening.

Gravel pinged metal fence rails sounding like machine gun bullets, and billows of blue smoke smelling of burned rubber snaked over the Porsche's tires. Sam released me when Jordan leaped over the fence. My stomach knotted with fear. This would end badly.

Jordan pushed me safely behind him, squaring to Sam. I clenched Jordan's shirt in my fists and pressed my face into his back, feeling the vibration of the hefty warning he leveled.

"Don't.
Ever.
Touch. Her. Again." Jordan's arm folded around me, keeping me tight against him. I gripped his forearm, peering around his shoulder.

Sam didn't budge, maintaining an arrogant stance.

"Or what 'Mister Blue-Band?' You'll hurt me?" He attached a menacing chuckle to his dare and raised his fists. "Come on, 'boy wonder,' let's see what you've got."

"Do
not
underestimate me. I don't want a fight, but—"

Sam swung his fist and I screamed, jumping back. Jordan blocked the blow, thrusting a balled hand into Sam's gut, dropping him to his knees. When Sam started coughing violently, the blue sky overhead swirled in my vision and white puffy clouds spiraled into each other.