Cross’s temples flicker back and forth, the grinding of his teeth louder than my pounding heart. “I’m going to let that slide,” he forces out. “Now tell me more.”
I bite the inside of my cheek before giving in. “We were seeing each other. Nothing serious.” My voice begins to quiver, so I look away, staring out into the dark gym. “We kissed a few times, and then he invited me to a party. We danced throughout the night…and he was the perfect gentleman. I’d heard nothing but good things about him, but…” I shrug. “I guess I wasn’t putting out quick enough.”
Cross quickly steps away from me. His back is the only thing I see as he furiously makes his way across the cage. I exhale loud enough for him to peer at me over his shoulder, and when our eyes connect, he’s spinning back around and heading for me again.
“That fucking bastard,” he growls, grabbing me around the waist again. “When he made the comment about you, I didn’t think–”
Shock flickers throughout. “What comment?”
“He told me to get you drunk so you’d open up your legs for me.”
My vision blurs. “That fucking asshole,” I mutter. “I hate him.”
“Good,” he bites out. “Use that fire I see in your eyes, and take it out on me. We’re not leaving this gym until I feel that you’re capa–”
Suddenly, my lips are on his.
Something dangerously intoxicating explodes, and I’m doing exactly what he said to do: I’m using the fire burning from the inside out, and I’m taking it out on him. My tongue dives past his lips, moving against his with an urgency. The grasp he has around my waist tightens, and my breasts press against his hard chest, my heart beating a million miles a minute, like it’s going to charge right out of my chest.
He deepens the kiss as my back slams against the cage, his taste blinding me from everything. I’ve never felt this wild before. My entire body is in a frenzy. The way his mouth seals over mine is life changing. It’s like he’s trying to suck the soul right out of my body, and I’m willingly letting him.
One hand disappears from my hip, only to grab a hold of my wandering hands. He pins them above my head, the metal cage biting into my skin.
God, this is hot.
Pleasure rushes to my breasts, my nipples pleading for him to take my shirt off.
Cross tears his mouth away. “What the fuck–”
My eyes open as soon as he steps away. I exhale sharply and try to steady myself on shaky legs. Cross’s face is filled with horror as he wipes the back of his hand over his glistening lips.
We stare at each other for a few seconds, but a thousand thoughts move across his face.
I shouldn't have kissed him.
His regret is painfully obvious, and I should be feeling the same way.
What was I thinking?
“I…” I shake my head. “I–”
“Save it,” he snaps. “We’re done for the day.”
Cross strides across the cage and hops on agile feet to the floor. I follow after him quietly, the guilt and embarrassment following after me like a shadow.
I can’t believe I kissed him.
It was like something came over me, and I couldn’t be stopped.
I climb inside his car, and right then, I decide it’s best to just pretend it never happened. I refuse to look in his direction. Instead, I stare out the window at the blurring yellow lines until we pull up in front of the house.
I’m out of the car before he even manages to turn the engine off, and I don’t fully breathe again until I’m tucked away safely in my bedroom.
I flop onto my desk chair and fiddle with my protractor as I stare at myself in the mirror with disappointment. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and quickly do a double-take.
“What the hell–” I turn my head to the side, and my jaw falls.
My hand instinctively flies up to my neck to cover a red-and-purplish mark that resembles a bite. Heat bursts across my cheeks with the faint memory of Cross’s lips on my throat.
