She’s trying to lighten up the mood, encouraging me to open up. Instead, all she’s done is push me even closer to the edge. My head is pounding, and my heartbeat thunders in my throat.
“You don’t know me,” I grumble.
“Well, yeah. That’s why I’m trying togetto know you.”
Anger coils in my stomach. Why won’t she just let this shit go? “There’s no need.”
She grasps my arm and stops, turning to me. “I know what you’re doing.”
I should go back inside. Keep my distance. But I can’t make myself leave her side. So I turn to face her. “And what am I doing?”
Her gray-green eyes narrow on me. “Pushing me away. Building a wall between us.”
Pain lances my chest, sharp and quick. “That’s because it’s the right thing to do.”
Brow arched, she folds her arms over her chest. “Says who?”
“Me.” I clench my jaw. “You’re with my friend. End of story.”
“Can’t I have a say in it?”
I scrub a hand down my face, the warmth of my palm a shock. “I don’t think so. Did you forget that I’m an asshole?”
“Last night, I swore I saw something under this whole ‘I’m a superficial jerk’ exterior.” She looks me up and down. “Apparently, I was wrong.”
She turns away, but before she can continue on, I grab her hand, stopping her. “You. Don’t. Know. Me,” I tell her.
Our faces are inches apart. The proximity sends a zing of excitement down my spine, loosening the knot my gut was twisted into. At least a little. “I noticed you first. Me, not Logan.”
Eyes flaring, she yanks free of my hold. “Then why didn’t you say something? Why were you so damn rude?”
“Because that’s what I do, Yana.” I bristle, my defenses kicking in. “I push people away before they have a chance to do it for me.” My voice is sharper than I mean for it to be. “And you—God, you were too much. Too beautiful for a guy like me. Too fucking bright.”
“Nice try. You only said something after you heard me talking to Roman. It was your insecurities speaking.”
“What insecurities?” I wave a hand between us. “You came to our table and ignored the whole team, then started speaking in Russian. It was disrespectful.”
Head thrown back, she lets out a laugh. “I didn’t greet the team because Roman intercepted me before I got the chance. He stood up to talk to me. And you threw a tantrum because we had a two-minute conversation you couldn’t understand. That says a lot about your insecurities and about how much you value the opinions of others.”
My chest squeezes. “What fucking bullshit.”
“No. It’s not.” Chin lifted, she locks eyes with me. “Who cares what other people think? Who cares what they say? Why are you giving someone else’s opinion so much power? This is stupid.” She steps closer, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “I could switch to Russian right now and badmouth you all I want. I’d use the sweetest tone, and you wouldn’t understand me. That shouldn’t offend you. My words hold no weight. My opinion doesn’t matter. That’s how it should be. Especially when someone says something youdounderstand.” She pokesmy chest with her finger. “And now you’re telling me that you noticed me first, like I should feel bad about talking to Logan when he approached me that night. But that’s on you. Not on me, not on Logan. Onyou. Grow up, Camden. Being this salty is not sexy at all.”
I’m fucking fuming. Not only because every word she uttered is true, but also because I want her even more than I did a moment ago. Before I can second-guess myself, I grab her wrist, pull her into me, and slam my mouth to hers.
The kiss is wild. It’s teeth and heat and all the feelings I’ve been holding back. She kisses me back just as fiercely. I clutch her to my chest, and she fists my jacket. She traces my bottom lip with her tongue, asking for permission, and I let her in. Our tongues tangle and twirl around each other. I’m no longer cold. I’m fucking burning.
A moan escapes her, instantly sobering me up. Reality slams back into me, and I tear myself away from her, my chest heaving. “This is a mistake,” I mutter.
Her puffy lips part as she gapes at me. Then she blinks, a frown etched onto her face. “Idi na huyi?1, Camden.”
She spins around and stomps toward the cabin.
I should let her leave. It’s the right thing to do, but with every foot of space she puts between us, the ache in my chest intensifies. Fucking hell.
With a growl, I take off after her. I catch up just as she approaches her car and grasp her elbow, causing her to stagger back.
She yanks her arm away, trying to break free from my grip, but I slip an arm around her torso and press her to my chest.
