“Does it really matter?”
He shakes his head. “Only if it doesn’t matter to you.”
Now I can smell the alcohol on his breath, the sweet hint of sin and gin that toys with his tongue. It’s a playful mixture that draws me in closer.
He touches my hip and I don’t stop him. That’s on me.
Then his grip tightens just a little, like he’s claiming me but doesn’t have my permission.
The drug surging through my veins screams for more, and before I can stop myself, my lips are on his, begging for attention, needing him to erase my Wesley-filled thoughts.
He pressures me against the wall, hand gripping my hip possessively, pinning me in place so I can’t fight back.
I try to pull away, but he stops me, his kiss coming in harder and punishing.
“Don’t,” I breathe against his lips.
His hand works its way up my thigh, then settles on my breast, squeezing it hard.
This isn’t what I want.
“Stop it,” I say with less strength than I have.
He frowns. “Relax, darlin’. We’re just getting to the good part.”
His hand manhandles my breast again, and I snap, ripping it away.
“I said, don’t touch me.” My voice cracks, the sweet flirtation gone and replaced by something bitter and terrifying. I try to step back, but he has me pinned against the wall, boxed in by his arms, my heart hammering inside my chest like it’s building a frame.
His expression sours. The charm drains out of him like someone pulled a plug. “I don’t like it when girls tease me like that,” he growls, stepping forward again. “You don’t get to wind me up and then shoot me down. Let’s not play around here. We’re both adults. You want it. I want it. So, let’s get it done.” He grabs me by the arm again, and I freeze.
“Please, let me go,” I beg, trying to push him backward. We’re all alone in this hallway. Nobody’s really paying attention. In all honesty, he can push me back into the bathroom and do whatever he wants to me, and no one would see.
Damn it, Poppy. Why do you do this to yourself?
He grips my throat, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, darlin’. Either way, I’m gonna know what your mouth feels like on my dick tonight.”
Wesley’s voice hits the hallway like a gunshot. “If you want to keep those fucking hands, I suggest you let go of her.”
The guy sneers in Wesley’s direction, his hand quickly dropping to his side. “This ain’t your business.”
Wesley inches forward, fists clenched, ready to prove him wrong. “Everything about her is my business, asshole.”
My heart soars at the thought.
Stupid heart.
The guy’s jaw tightens, eyes flicking between us, then he laughs bitterly. “She should learn to not flirt if she doesn’t want it.”
Wesley doesn’t move. “Well, you should learn to stop touching a woman after she says no.”
The man abruptly turns, facing Wesley with pure vengeance in his eyes. “Didn’t I see you tongue fucking that hot little redhead on the dance floor? Why don’t you go bother her and leave me and the library girl alone?” He grabs me by the waist, making me screech.
The second it leaves my mouth, I know I’ve messed up, because Wesley springs into action, tearing across the hallway until the guy is grabbed by the collar and thrown against the wall.
“You motherfucker!” the guy shouts, rushing at Wesley until he’s tackled him to the ground.
A punch is thrown.
