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"Whoa!" he howled, probably surprised by my sudden appearance "Take it easy!"

As soon as ere away frout The skin on my knuckles stretched, but Madoc caved to the punch, and I knew his pain would be a hell of a lot worse

Coughing and hunching over, he fell back against the wall as I hovered over hiry I was a little pissed, but otherwise, I was in coot hit, and now he kneasn’t bluffing about not touching Tate

"You heardhis eyebrows together and looking nauseous as he held his sto my way to my next class, I picked my phone out of my pocket and texted my boss that I wouldn’t be at work this afternoon He was a friend and let me off the hook on the rare occasion I needed a surprise day off

The job was noise and distraction Now I had Tate, and she was keeping my head pretty occupied lately

I passed the rest of the afternoon in a euphoric hunger for as to coetting hit twice in one day We took off after school so he could nurse his wounds with a late lunch, or early dinner, at Sonic Personally I think the chicks on roller skates cheered him up more than the food

At about four-thirty, he drove home, and I headed back to school Tate had cross-country practice this afternoon I’d checked with Jess Cullen, the captain, earlier today, and Tate was supposed to be trying out for her place back on the cross-country teairl’s locker roo ainst the wall, I enjoyed the calm before the storm

God, I’d missed this

My father crossed my mind briefly, but he aliven hiirl walked out, hair wet and carrying a gy up, but they should be done with their showers at least

Not that they had anything I hadn’t seen before, some of theetting h the door, I turned left and rounded the corner There were several rows, just like thein every line of lockers and scanning for the sunshine blonde

I heard hair driers going and talking coetting dressed

But there were definitely soirl jerked her shirt up to cover her bra but then lowered it again when she registered who I was Her lips twisted up as she scanned me up and down I did a double take, since she looked like she knew me Like knew me knew me, but I couldn’t remember at the one back for seconds with anyone I could’ve tapped that She was hot I probably would have, but I wouldn’t be able to say if it was aup on the next aisle, I halted,

Tate was at her locker, nad except for a towel

For a second, I thought I couldn’t have planned the ti better And then I re My dick was like a goddaplace

"Get out Tatum stays," I ordered the room

Everyone squealed or sucked in a quick breath, and Tate’s head snapped up, eyes wide She clutched her towel like I had the power to rip it off of her with rateful that they cleared out without draive us soone, and Tate didn’t have a lifeline

She was isolated

"Are you kidding er as I approached her slowly

"Tatus "I wanted to make sure I had your attention Do I have it?"

She licked her lips, breathing through her teeth Even her ht

"Say what you have to say I’ too far, even for you!"

Never too far There was no li off of her

She’d stopped retreating, and I briefly wondered why But instead of stopping et a little closer

We stood there ato back off, and the heat rolled off of her every time her chest rose and fell

And then I saw it

Her eyelids fluttered slightly, her breath caught, and she wouldn’t look at me Not out of fear but out of e

Oh, Jesus

That flash of want on her face That’s what it was

And fk it, I wanted thather body with my eyes, I took in the caramel tone of her tanned skin and couldn’t help but wonder what it would look like covered with sweat The curve of her neck as it met her shoulder, the water droplets in the dip of her collar bone, her full tits nearly bursting out of the toweleverything got aze back up to meet hers, and forcedtheot in her face, but she stood her ground "And you assaultedto assert some force in this school, Tatum?"

In my head, she was ‘Tate’ Always But I couldn’t call her that now It was a nickname for family and friends, and ere neither

Her eyes, the perfect blend of fire and ice, sharpened on me "I think it’s about time, don’t you?"

"On the contrary" I leaned my shoulder into the lockers to her side "I’veyou, believe it or not It’s been a very peaceful year without your s face around these halls"