“Whatever. Can’t have us showing up for the big party with black eyes.”
A muscle ticked in Jay’s jaw, any hint of amusement instantly disappearing. He glanced over at Daniel, who was officiating tonight, and jerked his head.
“Okay! Who’s ready for a death match? Presenting Jayesh ‘Banks’ Attwood, versus Kane ‘The Destroyer’ Worthington! Who’s gonna win?”
Kane rolled his eyes at the random nickname Daniel had bestowed on him—one of the many ways Daniel liked to amuse himself when it was his turn to officiate the fights—but then he settled, his expression going completely blank. I shuddered internally. His eyes were almost as empty as my brother’s.
Daniel raised his hand in the air and then slashed it downwards.
They were on each other instantly, Kane throwing himself at Jay with a snarl, Jay responding with a vicious uppercut that had Kane staggering backwards before he came at him again.
I couldn’t look away. They were evenly matched, both going hard, but holding themselves back from doing true damage.
As I stood there, watching, unable to tear my gaze away, I realised something. Ever since Jay had invaded my space, something had changed between us. Something infinitesimal, but crucial. Something inside me that had thawed a tiny part of the wall of ice around all things Jayesh Attwood.
Something I didn’t want. I needed to build my defences back up.
In the shadow of the library building, I forced myself to take deep, even breaths, trying to compose myself. Watching Jay shouldn’t affect me this way, especially not when he was fighting.
At least it was over now. All I needed was to go to the barrow so I could be alone and get my head together. I slipped around the side of the building, needing to get away, but I was yanked backwards into a hard body.
“Going somewhere, princess?”
No. How was he here?
“Leave me alone,” I hissed, tugging at Jay’s arm.Where had he come from? He’d just been fighting Kane.
“I don’t think you want me to, do you?” he purred, low, right against my ear, and I…I stopped struggling. He hummed, his lips skimming over my lobe. “Thought so.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” My words were angry, and I was angry—with myself. I didn’t want to like the feel of him against me, to wish that instead of the bare brushes of his mouth on my skin, he was kissing me until I lost my breath.
Heexhaled sharply. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. You’re going to be an engaged woman tomorrow, and I can’t—” Cutting himself off, he dipped his head, his fingers curling around my hood to pull it back so he could press his lips against my throat.
“Can’t what?” I whispered.
“Do this.” He pressed another kiss against my skin. His hand slid under my hoodie, with just the thin fabric of my T-shirt providing a barrier between the warmth of his palm and my stomach.
“W-why do you even want to do this? You hate me. I hate you.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue, my bodybetraying me as I pressed into his touch. “I’m promised to Anton.”
Withdrawing his hand from my hoodie, he covered my mouth. “Don’t speak his name. Just pretend. Pretend we don’t hate each other.”
My head fell back against his broad shoulder. Curling my fingers around his, I tugged, and he slid his hand off my mouth, circling my throat instead. His thumb stroked over my pulse point, and a soft gasp fell from my lips before I could stop it.
“Fuck, Jay. I don’t think it’s possible to pretend.”
“Try.”Squeezing my throat, he pulled me closer to him, and I felt the hard length of his erection against my lower back.
My body was on fire.
“Please,” I whispered, not even knowing what I was begging for. That one word seemed to break what was left of his resolve, and with a low groan, he spun me around, pushed me up against the wall, and kissed me. Sparks erupted all over my body, my hands curling into his hoodie, needing him closer. Palming my ass, he dragged me over his thigh, back and forth, the friction sending waves of heat through my body. I gasped, and he groaned, his mouth at my throat, vibrations spreading across my skin.
“You turning your knife on me was so fucking hot,” he rasped. “I want to see every side of you, Nova. The good girl and the bad fucking girl.”
I shuddered. “Jay. I’m not—I’m not?—”
“You are.” He bit down on my throat, grinding his thigh upwards as his fingers pressed down on my clit through my clothes.
“Ohhhh,” I moaned. My underwear was soaked, the hotdrag of his hard muscle against my aching core making my breath catch and stutter in my throat.
