Текст книги "The Line Between"
Автор книги: Tamsyn Bester
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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 20 страниц)
Ashley’s comment caused me to giggle, and had somehow broken through my nervous haze. Both her and Jade had spent over an hour helping me get ready, and when they were done, the girl in the mirror was unrecognizable to me. My blonde hair hung in loose curls, reaching just below my shoulders, and I’d borrowed a pair of Jade’s nude Steve Madden platform heels. My eyes weren’t as dark as Ashley’s, but she’d somehow managed to still make my irises pop, making my green eyes, brighter.
I had a faint rose blush on my cheeks, and a nude gloss on my lips. Aside from my nude clutch, the only other accessory I had was the silver heart-shaped pendant hanging around my neck.
I’d thought twice about wearing it, worried that I’d lose it, but then I realized that having it with me was important. It made me feel like the two people who were safely nestled inside were here with me, and I took comfort in that. I hadn’t been able to wear it until now, the memories it came with still too raw and painful to think about. But tonight was the perfect occasion, and I chose to treat my birthday as the proverbial turning of a new leaf.
“Promise me one thing,” said Jade. She took my hands in hers, and leveled her gaze.
“Okaaaay,” I replied, drawing the word out.
“Forget about everything, and have some fun tonight. You deserve it.”
She didn’t have to explain what she meant by everything. I already knew. I’d been carrying the weight of circumstances beyond my control and their consequences for over a year, and I wanted to forget the cloud that had been hanging over my head since then.
“I’ll try,” I replied. “I’m sure you have something up your sleeve though, which should take care of that.”
Jade’s mouth formed a wicked smirk, and I was almost too afraid to know what she had planned.
“We’ll get into that later,” she replied. “But first, we need some birthday shots.”
“Yes!” Ashley threw her hands in the air. Her excitement was palpable, and highly contagious. “I’ll buy the first round. Tequila?”
Jade replied with a ‘hell yes’ before I could protest, and then Ashley disappeared into the crowd. It must have doubled in the thirty minutes since we’d arrived. Shortly after Ashley returned, we’d downed our shots, and Jade introduced me to some of the friends she’d invited. It was her way of getting me to meet new people, and I was instantly grateful for the way the tequila made me relax. I found I was slightly more approachable when plied with alcohol – liquid courage and all that.
Reid approached us, and my brows shot up in surprise. I started looking around, worried that Dane would be here too.
“He’s not here,” Jade whispered in my ear. “But I didn’t think you’d mind if I invited Reid.”
Just then, Reid stopped in front of us, and immediately pulled me into a hug. “Happy birthday, Kenny.”
I blinked, and then returned his embrace, ignoring the way his nickname poked at the embedded pain in my chest. No one had called me that since…
“Thanks,” I replied. “I’m glad you came.”
He dipped his head once, and then looked at Jade. Something flashed in his eyes, and I felt Jade straighten at my side.
“Jade.” His voice rumbled, and took on a huskier timbre.
“Reid.” Jade’s voice was impassive, but I caught the slight tremor. They stared for a moment, and it took someone bumping into Reid to break it.
Jade turned her gaze to me, a look of panic in her eyes. “You want to dance?” She asked me.
“Let’s do it,” I replied. She needed the escape, and I was ready to have some fun.
We grabbed Ashley, and piled into the middle of the dance floor. The DJ started playing a remix of Bastille’s ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’, and I allowed the music to carry me away.
CHAPT ER SIX
Dane
THE DOORS OF Kolony opened as students walked in and out, and the music from inside spilled out onto the sidewalk. Being here was a bad idea, and Reid had told me to stay away, but I just couldn’t. It was a Friday night, and the last thing I wanted to do was sit on the sofa or in my room like a scorned child. Granted, he had a good reason to tell me not come, but I had an even better reason to show up uninvited and unannounced.
Before I could turn my truck around and go back to our apartment, I found an open spot and parked. I walked towards the doors, greeted Bobby and tipped him when he lifted the velvet rope. Inside, strobe lights flashed, washing the place in brilliant light and revealing the sea of bodies filling the club.
The air was euphoric, and it seemed everybody was in a trance, either induced by dancing or copious amounts of booze. I spotted Reid in the VIP section, and headed in his direction.
He caught sight of me and grimaced.
“Just couldn’t stay away, could you?” He said. I smiled, greeting some of our other friends. Adam was on the football team with Reid, as was Carter. We met them both in our first year, and they’d turned out to be awesome guys.
“I’m always down for a party,” I replied. “You know that.”
I flagged down a waitress, and ordered a Corona. When I winked, her cheeks flushed and I noted that she was kind of cute. Her brown hair was piled on the top of her head, and her matching eyes were bright. I knew that look well, and when her tongue snuck out to wet her lips I knew I’d be seeing her later.
Reid grumbled, and I ignored his pissy mood in favor of a conversation with Adam and Carter about which girl they’d planned on taking home with them. The waitress came back, and handed me a piece of paper with her number on it before handing me my beer. A little too obvious for my taste, but I wasn’t about to turn a willing body down. I’d been tense for a few days, and she looked like she’d be real good at helping me get rid of it.
Classes had been frantic for the first few weeks, and it took me a little longer to find my stride. I had too much riding on this semester to let anything fall at the way side, and that included more studying and less partying, with tonight being an exception. I liked to think of it as extenuating circumstances, and nothing to do with the blonde firecracker that lived next door to us.
“Good Lord, that girl is damn fine,” said Adam, his comment dragging me back to the present.
Reid shot him a glare, and for a second I thought Adam had been talking about Jade. Reid had never verbally expressed his feelings for her, but the look on his face right now was pretty damn obvious. I had yet to see her, or Kennedy, but when I followed Adam’s gaze it became apparent I didn’t need to look.
Kennedy and Jade were in the middle of the dance floor with their friend, Ashley. I’d met her in the hallway a few times, and learned that she was their roommate. She was hot, but my eyes were fixated on Kennedy.
Her hair was curled, and bounced with her movements. My gaze traveled down, stopping at her hips where her dress bound itself to her curves. It ended a little way below her taut ass, exposing the perfectly toned muscle of her thighs. She had on a pair of ‘fuck me’ heels, and the very sight of her would undoubtedly be my newest material in the shower. God, she was breathtaking.
“Man, I wouldn’t mind getting me a piece of that,” said Carter. He had a predatory glint in his eye, and I felt my body become rigid in response. I was a fucking hypocrite, because I was looking at her like I wanted to eat her too, but the thought of any man touching her jolted something inside me. Something that I’d been careful to conceal from the first time I’d seen her in a bikini at sixteen.
“No way, man,” replied Reid. “She’s off-limits.”
“Why?” Carter chuckled. “You already tapping that?”
My fist tightened around my bottle, and I gulped the remainder of my beer to keep myself from tearing into him. Luckily, Reid came to my rescue. Or in this case, to Kennedy’s rescue.
“Nah, man. I’ve known Kenny a long time, and I know a dickhead like you has no fucking chance with a sweetheart like that.”
Carter looked affronted, and my gratitude for Reid’s comment was surprising. When I looked back at the dance floor, I found some guy wrapped around Kennedy, pressing his body too close. Before my brain registered what I was doing my feet were moving, and I was pushing my way through the thick crowd to get to her. Jade and Ashley were both too preoccupied to notice Kennedy’s discomfort, and I decided to do what was necessary to get the random guy as far away from Kennedy as possible. I tapped him on the shoulder, and was met with a scowl when he looked back at me.
“Can’t you see we’re dancing?” He asked, his words slightly slurred. He was clearly the kind of drunk that forced himself onto women, whether they were willing or not. The words tumbled from my mouth sooner than what I could prepare for their consequences.
“Too bad, man. I’ve already paid for her services for the night.”
Kennedy’s eyes widened, and the guy looked between us. I stepped closer, sure to get in his face. “Step away. She’s mine for the night.”
With a frown, he stepped away, and resorted to finding another body to cling to instead. Kennedy was glaring at me, and then her hand flew up, making contact with my cheek. For such a little thing she sure packed a punch. My cheek stung, and I tightened my jaw as the pain traveled over my skin and into my bones.
“You asshole!” She shrieked angrily. “You just told that guy I’m a fucking hooker!”
The familiar exhilaration that pulsed through my blood whenever I got a rise out of her made its presence known, and my lips tipped into a dark smirk. “You keep dancing like one, and I’m pretty sure people will come to their own conclusions, baby.”
Her mouth dropped in shock, and her eyes glazed over. She was hurt, and I waited for her to fight back. I needed her to fight back. I needed her to yell at me, tell me she hated me. But it never came.
She spun on her heel, and ran through the throng of drunken college students. Jade noticed, and looked between us before frowning. I shrugged, and turned my back, walking towards the bar to grab a drink. I had no idea why I’d said all that, and I knew I was an asshole for it, but fighting with Kennedy was a drug to me, my own personal brand of cocaine. It was twisted. But it was us.
After my third Corona, I needed to take a leak. On my way out of the men’s room, a small body collided with me from the side, and I flung my arm out to steady it. I looked down, and my eyes collided with pale green orbs that had made my world stand still on more than one occasion. Even red and puffy from crying, Kennedy’s eyes still hypnotized me, pulling me closer with her gravitational pull.
“S-sorry,” she hiccupped. Her voice was small, and a little wobbly. Her lip trembled, catching my attention. I suddenly wanted to know if they were as soft as they looked.
My body responded to the thought without much provocation, and my grip tightened on her arm as I pushed as her against the wall. There were people around us, the music making the walls vibrate, but I didn’t care. Not enough to stop me anyway.
“Dane,” she whispered, her warm breath touching my face. “What are you doing?”
I stared at her, long and hard, hearing nothing but my own heartbeat thumping in my ears. Or maybe it was her heartbeat. I wasn’t sure anymore.
I leaned in closer. “I don’t fucking know, Kennedy. I don’t fucking know.”
I pressed my lips to hers, gently at first, testing. When her initial shock wore off she pressed harder, coaxing me. She sucked in a breath, and I took the chance to sneak my tongue into the hot contours of her mouth. The taste of strawberry’s, and caramel goaded my senses into an uncontrollable frenzy.
I laced my arm around her back, and pushed my other hand into her soft hair. Her response was immediate. Her body aligned with mine, and her hands slid up my arms, her nails digging into my biceps. I swallowed her moan, and sighed into her mouth when her tongue slowly danced with mine.
It was dangerous. She was dangerous. But I couldn’t bring myself to care enough to stop.
It ended too soon though. She pushed me away, breathless and wide-eyed.
“Dane, you…we can’t…you shouldn’t have…”
Her voice dragged me from my lust-induced stupor, and the stupidity of what I’d done hit me square in the chest. I was supposed to hate this girl, and fuck it I did, but the opportunity to taste her, to touch her, was more than I could handle. Hell, it was more than any man could handle when they were anywhere near her.
“Fuck.” I pulled my hands through my hair. “That…I’m…”
I was tongue-tied, unable to find the right words. Explaining myself out of this wasn’t possible.
Remembering what Kennedy meant to me, and how she could interpret what I’d just done, stirred me into action. I left her against the wall, and walked away.
I needed to find that fucking waitress.
Now.
** ** **
“OKAY BOYS, RUN through the play one more time, then you can hit the showers.” The guys in front of me groaned. It was hot out and they were tired, I could see that, but we were two weeks away from a game against Auburn University’s Tigers, and I didn’t want us to be caught unprepared. Our Saturday morning practice had run a little longer, and it didn’t help that most of us were nursing hangovers after a wild night at Kolony.
“Great job Winters. They’re looking good.” Coach Ford clipped me on the shoulder, and I turned to watch him head towards his office.
“Thanks Coach,” I yelled back.
As part of my attempt at ‘cleaning up my act’, my father had arranged an Assistant Coach position with Brighton University’s football team. I was already familiar with Coach Ford and his coaching philosophy, and had things turned out differently for me in my senior year of high school I would’ve been starting quarterback for his team. But a busted knee, and some torn ligaments ended that dream in one night, taking my scholarship with it. If it weren’t for my mother and her need to still take care of me, I’d be working to pay for school myself.
A red Audi A1 pulled into the lot, and I was surprised when Jade hopped out. She turned towards the field, and when her eyes locked on me, she started stomping in my direction. Judging by the tight line of her lips, and the furrow of her perfectly shaped brows she was pissed. Great.
I knew the exact moment her eyes landed on Reid. Her shoulders straightened, and her walk became a little more purposeful. It didn’t matter that there was football team in the middle of practice. She waltzed right into the center of all the chaos, and grabbed Reid by his helmet. The guys all stopped, and took notice.
“What the fuck, Jade?” Reid’s face was contorted in anger, but Jade didn’t flinch.
“We need to talk,” she replied. “Now.”
“That’s not possible,” I said, raising my voice. “We’re in the middle of practice. You can wait until we’re done.”
Jade scowled, folding her arms across her chest in defiance. With a shake of his head, Reid looked back at me, and let out an exasperated grunt as he dragged Jade away from the team. They were out of earshot, and Jade’s lips started moving too fast for me to catch anything comprehensible. It was when she threw her hands in the air, and hit Reid on his chest that I realized she was the angriest I’d ever seen her. Granted, she had always been a hellcat, and I was sure it had everything to do with her Spanish heritage, but this? I’d never seen this side of her. Ever.
She got in Reid’s face, and stood toe-to-toe with him, even when he spoke harshly. They’d fought before, and most of the time it was fueled by repressed sexual tension, but this time it was different, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had something to do with it.
After five minutes Jade stormed off back towards her car, and Reid shoulders collapsed. He rubbed his face, looking up at the sky.
“Okay, boys. That’s enough for the day. Hit the showers,” I shouted. Reid cut his eyes in my direction, his jaw rigid. It wasn’t often that Reid got mad, but when he did, he had just cause. He walked towards me, and stopped less than a foot away.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
He regarded me carefully for a moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but hard.
“You know Dane, you are my brother in every way but blood. I’ve stood by you through everything, I supported you when you blew out your knee, and I watched you drink yourself into oblivion when Jewel died. But in all that time, I’ve never been disappointed in you. Until now.”
A stone lodged itself in the pit of my stomach, and despite knowing the answer, I still asked, “What is this about?”
“Kissing Kennedy at the club last night, and then fucking that waitress while Kennedy could here you in her room? Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you Dane? It was Kennedy’s birthday, for crissake, that’s why I told you to stay away.”
My face fell, and any residual annoyance I may have felt when Reid started his little ‘pep talk’ vanished.
“Reid, I – ”
He put his hand up, and cut me off. “Save it, man. I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses regarding that girl anymore. That shit you pulled last night is the lowest thing you have ever done, and I’m a little disgusted. Not even I would stoop to that level. Kennedy is the last person who deserves your bullshit, and you need to remember that she’s lost just as much as you have, if not more. This was just a step too far, and if you keep pushing, I’m going to lose Jade too. I can’t have that. Make a choice Dane, hate Kennedy quietly, or keep acting like a dick, and lose everyone that cares about you for good.”
With a heavy breath, Reid walked past me, leaving me rooted to the ground. I hated the way his ‘speech’ affected me because it unearthed something I’d never felt towards Kennedy before.
Guilt. Remorse. Contrition.
As hard as it was to explain, Reid understood my feelings towards Kennedy, but what he didn’t know is that I had no idea how else to express how I felt about her. Fighting with her had always been the easiest, and until now Reid had never said anything.
But maybe he had a point. Maybe he was right.
I’d gone too far.
CHAP TER SEVEN
Kennedy
ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, I walked into our apartment, and found Jade on the sofa exactly how I’d left her earlier. She was still wearing her pajama’s – which consisted of light grey three-quarter sweats and a plain black tank – while munching on a bowl of Lucky Charms. Her hair was messily tied up on top of her head, and her black-rimmed glasses sat perched on her nose.
“What’s cookin’ good lookin’,” I greeted, throwing my bag next to the door. I was exhausted, and an evening on the sofa with my best friend watching trashy television sounded like a perfect plan.
“How was class?” Asked Jade.
I shrugged, and dropped onto the sofa next to her. “It was okay. At least I had a total hottie sitting next to me in my English Lit class today, although I think he bats for the same team we do.”
I’d met Grady a few times in my English Lit class, but it was the first time I’d had the chance to talk to him. He was gorgeous in that Abercrombie & Fitch kind of way, with his blond hair coifed perfectly to the side, and his light green eyes that were always smiling. He could have easily passed for a model, with his six-two frame and slender build, but what I liked about him was his easy sense of humor, and laid back attitude. I could really do with some of that in my life.
“Oh, you totally have to invite him over when we do our Mexican night here again. I think a sexy gay guy would be the perfect addition to our little group, and far easier to deal with than the straight guys right now.”
Jade sighed, and I knew what she meant. We’d both spent the entire weekend moping around after my birthday fiasco. It took me two days to grab my newest pair of big girl panties – theoretical of course – and move on after what had happened with Dane. Not only did he kiss me like I was the last meal he’d ever have, he then proceeded to screw someone as loudly as possible so that I could hear.
Karma had pulled her best trick yet when it turned out that Dane’s room was next to mine, and the walls were anything but sound proof. The sad thing was that I’d been thinking about his kiss all night afterwards, I’d even touched my lips a few times when I’d remembered what his felt like. Sadly, the confusion, and desire had been doused with an ice-cold bucket of water when the noises from next door started up.
I realized then that it was all a game to him. He was purposefully trying to mess with me, and after what sounded like orgasm number three for mystery girl, I felt sick. Literally.
It was when my head was slung over the toilet seat that I’d decided never to have anything to do with Dane ever again. I was done with him, whatever that meant.
“You and Reid still not talking?” I asked, snatching up Jades’ bowl of half-eaten cereal and taking a bite. She’d filled me in on what happened with Reid on Saturday morning, and I felt guilty because their friendship was suffering on account of Dane being a total dick. I appreciated Jades’ loyalty, but I never expected her to lay into Reid about what had happened the night of my birthday. It was between me, and Dane, and I wanted to keep it that way. Too bad Jade was as stubborn as I was, and after hearing what Dane had done, she immediately got involved.
“He sent me a text,” she replied. “But I haven’t replied. I’m not sure I’m going to either.”
I placed the now empty cereal bowl on our coffee table, and turned to face her. “You have no reason to ignore him, Jade. He’s been your best friend for too long for you to be pissy about a situation that has nothing to do with you two.”
Jade’s head whipped in my direction, her perfectly shaped brows dipped in a frown. “Nothing to do with us? You’re one of my best friends, Kennedy, and what Dane did was so disgusting. I told Reid to keep Dane away from you on Friday night, so I blame him for all the shit Dane pulled.”
“It’s not Reid’s fault,” I argued. I felt bad that he had to deal with Jades’ wrath when it wasn’t his fault. I didn’t blame him. It was all Dane, and his asshole-ish ways. “He can’t control what Dane does or doesn’t do.”
“That might be true, but he’s been standing around while Dane treats you like shit for no goddamn reason, and in my books, that makes him just as guilty.”
“Jade,” I groaned, feeling irritated with her rationalization. “You have to talk to him. I won’t allow you to drag my problems into your friendship with Reid. You know it’s stupid, and you love that boy too much to let it come between you.”
For the most part Jade’s expression remained annoyed, but understanding sparked in her eyes. I knew she loved him, despite never having said it, and I knew how devastated she would be if Reid was no longer in her life. I couldn’t be responsible for that.
“Just think about it, okay?” I pressed. “Reid must be going crazy. This is the longest the two of you have gone without some kind of talking.”
Slumping back into the sofa, Jade stared up at the ceiling. “I’ll call him.”
I smiled, and clapped my hands like an overzealous cheerleader. “Good. Now what are we doing for dinner?”
I stood up, waited for Jade to respond, and quickly walked to my room to put my phone on charge. When I saw the most ridiculous bouquet of red roses on my desk, I froze. Jade must have been following me, because her front hit my back as soon as my feet stopped moving.
“Oh that,” she muttered. “I forgot those came by for you while you were on campus.”
“Who are they from?” I asked. It couldn’t have been my father, and as far as I knew I didn’t have a secret admirer.
“I have no idea. They were delivered by a delivery boy from the flower shop, and I didn’t want to read the card.”
I moved towards my desk, racking my brain trying to figure out who would send me such an exquisite bouquet for no rhyme or reason. I plucked the card from between the rose stems, and pulled it out of the envelope.
I read over the note a second time, working through the uneven blend of emotions crashing inside my head. I was confused, and even a little surprised, but the feeling that reigned supreme was indignation.
Most girls would have melted on the spot at his gesture, but I wasn’t most girls. I wasn’t some game that needed to be won or a conquest that needed to be overcome or defeated.
“Never saw that coming,” murmured Jade.
It only took me a moment to decide what I was going to do. I looked at Jade over my shoulder. “Can you please text Reid, and find out where they are?”
“What are you going to do?” She asked, her voice laced with worry.
“I’m going to give Dane Winters exactly what he deserves,” I replied. After eyeing me with suspicion, Jade grabbed her phone and it only took five minutes for Reid to reply. The goofy look on her face after seeing his name flash on the screen didn’t go unnoticed, but I reserved my comment, archiving it for a later date, preferably one that didn’t include knocking a certain asshole off his pedestal.
“They’re in the Union,” said Jade.
“Perfect.”
And it really was perfect. I’d planned on doing this wherever he was, but having an audience was even better.
“You coming?” I asked, taking the ridiculous bouquet out of its vase.
With a sigh, Jade replied, “No. I have a feeling this is something you need to do on your own. Besides, I’m sure Reid will fill me in.”
I nodded once, walked out of our apartment and headed straight towards the student Union. It was a three story building, the bottom floor being the cafeteria, the second floor housing several campus stores, and the third was where the campus radio station had its studio. It was already 3p.m but the cafeteria was still bustling with activity.
The glass doors shut behind me, and I searched the sea of faces until my gaze zeroed in on Dane. He was sat at a table with a group of bulked up meat heads who I could only assume was the football team. On his lap sat a leggy red head, her legs tangled with his, and her breasts pressed against his chest. My traitorous heart jumped, altering my regular heartbeat into something more turbulent. He looked hot. Not even I was too proud to notice.
His grey V-neck t-shirt looked as if it was painted on, exhibiting the fine lines of his biceps, and his pecs. His hair was messy, his eyes bright with laughter. He looked comfortable, like an animal completely at ease in its own environment.
Sadly, that wasn’t going to last much longer.
I put one foot in front of the other, and strode towards Dane and his ‘peeps’. The roses he’d been so generous to buy me were perched on my arm, but as I got closer, I moved them and grasped onto the thick collection of stems with my hand.
Reid saw me first. Uncertainty darted across his face, and he tapped Dane on the shoulder, alerting him of my presence. Our eyes met, and he stopped his groping session with Red long enough to register that my visit wasn’t at all a friendly one. His eyes bounced between mine, and the roses in my hand.
“Kennedy,” he said, standing up. I stopped a foot in front of him, trying to calm my nerves. My empty hand was fisted against my thigh, and I could feel my nails digging into the flesh of my palm. Seeing Dane, being face-to-face with him, and standing so close only coaxed my anger.
Time passed as we stared at each other and we paid no mind to the people around us who had suddenly grown quiet.
I ended it with the first swing of my hand, hitting Dane in the chest with the bouquet. Collective gasps sounded around me, but I was too blinded by fury to care.
“What the fuck, Kennedy!” Dane yelled, lifting his arms to shield his chest. I swung again, feeling a sick sense of satisfaction when Dane flinched.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I shouted between hits. Petals hit the floor, and the thwack of the stems echoed around us. “You are a disgusting human being, and a pathetic excuse of a man. I’m not one of your fucking groupies, and I’m not someone who can be bought with a bunch of overpriced fucking flowers.”
“Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you?” He grunted, and stepped back. I matched his movement and moved forward.
“What’s wrong with me?” I laughed harshly. It was empty, and yet still carried a sardonic tone. “What’s wrong with you? You told some random guy I’m a hooker when we were at Kolony, then you kissed me like you meant it, and to top it all off, you then took some trashy waitress home and fucked her all night knowing that I could hear it through the walls of my bedroom. So I’ll ask you again, Dane, what.” Wack. “Is.” Smack. “Wrong.” Thwack. “With you?”
My chest heaved from exertion and my arm dropped to my side. Dane glared at me, his eyes hard and cold. His arms were red from where I’d continued to hit him, and I could make out a few welts from where the thorns had caught his skin. The cafeteria was completely soundless, save for my heavy breathing. Who knew hitting someone with a bouquet of roses was so damn tiring?
“Kennedy.” My name came out of his mouth as a growl, but instead of being menacing, it made my skin prickle with carnal awareness.
So not the time to be turned on, you idiot.
“I suggest you turn your ass around and leave,” Dane continued, “before you make an even bigger spectacle of yourself.”
With quivering muscles, I closed the gap between us, and looked up. “I’m not leaving until every single fucking person in the room knows what an asshole you are,” I replied. “I am done being your punching bag, and the ass of all your crude jokes. I let you get away with your childish bullshit in high school, but we aren’t in high school now, and I am not that girl anymore. I fucking hate you, Dane. You make me sick to my stomach and I swear to God, if you never speak to me again, it will be too soon.”
On the outside Dane’s expression was stoic, and I knew he wanted the world outside to think my words had no effect at all. But they couldn’t see his eyes – the way they billowed with every emotion he was feeling, ranging from his own anger to a heat so scorching it warmed my skin.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said. The timbre of his voice was low, and grave. Threatening.
“No,” I replied. “That’s what you don’t understand. This isn’t a game. Not anymore. I’m done.”
