I hated her.
I hated that she saw through me.
I hated that I wanted her anyway.
My hand tangled in her hair, and I crushed my mouth to hers. The kiss wasn’t sweet. It was a clash of teeth, heat, and fury. Her hand fisted my kutte, dragging me closer, answering me with fire instead of retreat.
When I tore away, we were both panting. My forehead pressed to hers, every muscle locked tight to stop myself from losing it completely.
“What about Gabby?” she asked, her tone mocking.
“Fuck Gabby.”
“Thought you already were.”
“Not anymore.”
She smirked. “Really,Pres? Wonder what’s changed.”
“You keep pushing like this,” I growled, “you’ll burn everything down.”
Her glare never wavered. “Good. Let it all burn.”
For a second, I almost let it. Almost let her drag me all the way into the fire.
But I forced myself back, creating enough space to breathe, to remind us both who was supposed to be in control.
Chapter 22
Lucy
Itried to take a step back, but my shoulder hit the wall. Jay didn’t touch me again, but I could feel his heat pressing through the air between us, his gaze sharp enough to slice through every secret I’d buried. That kiss flashed in my mind, not soft, not imagined, but raw and fierce, and there he was, closer than ever. My lips tingled from memory alone, and my core pulsed.
“Stay away from Link.”
Fury shot through me, dampening any desire I’d felt. “So, that’s how it works, huh?” I snapped. “I can’t so much as look at another man without you losing your damn mind, but you get to fuck Gabby and pretend it doesn’t matter?”
His whole body went rigid, his jaw tightening like he’d swallowed broken glass.
“Don’t,” he said, voice raw with warning.
But I didn’t stop. “What are the rules, Jay? One set for me, another for you? You think you get to own me and still shag her on the side?”
Something cracked in his eyes. He surged closer, and his hand fisted in my hair, dragging me up until our mouths were a breath apart. His chest heaved as heat rolled off him in waves.
“This isn’t about Gabby,” he snarled. “Don’t you get it? It’s about you.”
My pulse roared in my ears, but I shoved against his chest, forcing space between us even though his grip burned my skin.
“You don’t own me, Jay,” I hissed. “I’m not here for you. I’m here to get closure on Caleb. That’s it.”
“Why did you come here? Just to hurt me?” he asked.
Before I could answer, his hand closed around my arm, firm but not rough, and he dragged me farther into the back hallway. My boots scuffed the floor as he shoved open a door and forced me inside.
“Find what you were looking for?”
I swallowed, shaking my head. “I wasn’t?—”
