Ella’s pace slowed as she reached the doors—which I purposely left ajar to catch her off-guard—and after a few seconds, she shoved them open and sauntered into the dark library like she owned the place.
The doors swung back and clicked shut.
Ella was a few steps inside when I snagged her wrist from behind, pulled her back into my front, and swiftly turned us around until we were pressed against the wall.
She screamed bloody murder. “Holy—”
I covered her mouth with my palm to muffle the sound, letting the warm metal of my silver rings graze her glossy lips.
Her scent—orange blossoms and jasmines—shot through my system like an aphrodisiac. Ella was my very own walking, talking drug. One inhale and the addict prancing inside me felt satisfied after weeks of need.
My lips journeyed to her right ear, brushing the gold hoops. “Guess who, princess?”
I relished the shiver cascading down her back as realization sank into her bones. She straightened with awareness in my hold and I barely contained my smirk. When I knew for certain she wouldn’t scream again, I dropped my hand to her neck, my body keeping hers plastered to the hard surface.
A flash of disappointment hit me. She wasn’t wearing the necklace I gave her. Knowing Ella’s temper, she probably incinerated it with a flamethrower.
“Cade,” she spat my name like a curse.
I nearly groaned from how perfect it sounded on her tongue.
“Surprise, surprise,” I taunted, brushing two fingers over her pulse to feel itthump, thump, thump. “Missed me, baby?”
Ella shoved her elbow into my rib with vicious strength. I stumbled back with a breathless, “Fuck.”
Pain—because shit, that hurt—and pride—because I’d taught her how to fight—unfurled within me. I would have praised her if the circumstances were different.
Ella whirled around, thrust me against the wall, and dug her forearm into my throat.
In a silent threat, she pressed her limb harder against my jugular. Just enough to drive her point across: she didn’t appreciate me sneaking up on her.
“You asshole.” She seethed, eyes burning with intensity. “What are you doing here?”
Starved, my eyes desperately ate up the sight of her. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. My hands flexed by my sides. Wanting so badly to grab her. Wanting so badly to crush her to my chest and beg her, once and for all, to never let me go.
Instead, I grinned smugly and chucked her under the chin. “Don’t you know?” My voice was strained. “Initiation Night is my favourite holiday of the year.”
“Liar,” she fumed, her elbow creating a divot in my skin. “Answer me. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?”
I decided to go with the truth, lest risk suffering asphyxiation. Although dying by the hands of the love of my life may not be the worst way to go. “I wanted to see you, Ellie.”
You’d think the nickname drove into her like a stake with the way she dropped her arm and staggered back in shock.
Ella composed herself within seconds. “Well, you wasted a trip,” she sneered. “I don’t want to see your face ever again. I thought I made myself abundantly clear the first time.”
The searing insult burned, no less hurtful than all the jabs she’d hurled my way in the span of three months. But Iexpected it. Accepted it. I would take this version of her over the insouciant one any day.
“Tough shit. You’ll be seeing my face a lot for the next three hours, so better get used to it.”
She barked a humourless chuckle and retreated another two steps. “Yeah, that’s not happening. I’d rather stab myself in the eye with a pencil than be in your presence.”
“You always wished we’d get paired for Initiation Night.” I smirked despite the ache spreading through me like poison. I couldn’t stand the look of revulsion on her face as she glared at me. “Now’s our chance, Ella.”
“That was before I found out you had a community dick, you piece of shit.”
My nostrils flared and my smirk fell, her words lashing my insides like a whip.
Ella thought I cheated on her during Josh’s nineteenth birthday party this summer.
