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But in her current mood, she’d probably cut off my dick

"Jared! Now!" she ordered, her tone low and coht and planted her ass down on the hood of the car I iin

Very slowly

I knew I should just back off

Give her time Win back her trust

But I’d had a taste of her, and I’d rather give up breathing

I stillany et away," I warned "As you remember, I can keep you here"

It wasn’t a threat I just wanted her to remember The way she’d devouredme ashesitant "And I kno to use pepper spray and break noses," she retorted and leaned back, keeping a wary distance like she didn’t trust herself

I could see her pulse beating in her neck, but she wasn’t trying to get away

She watchedher, and the moment stood still as her chest rose and fell with shallow breathes

She wanted me like I wanted her, but she didn’t like that she wanted me

She was a mess, and I loved it

I do that to you No one else

"I’m not Nate or Madoc…or Ben"

Our noses almost touched as I searched her face A line of sweat fell downme feel like I was on fire

"Don’t," she whispered as my mouth hovered over hers

Oh, I won’t You will

"I pro sorry the next day that she gave in toto be a part of this as much as me, and I wanted her crazed and confused over uess that’s what I’d been after all along

Iher in but never kissing her

I could still taste her, though

My lips grazed her soft cheek, and I just about touched her lips right then when she let out a little lided over her face, her jaw, her neck, I fought to keep ry

"Can I kiss you now?" I half asked, half pleaded

She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either

"I want to touch you," I whispered against her lips "I want to feel what’s ht, and I could tell she was fighting it Weakly, she pushed me away and jumped off the car

"Stay away froer side

Yeah, no

I tried to keep h quiet "You first," I teased

Chapter 23

"Give e, and my lips twisted up just a little

No "How are you?", "What’s neith you?", or "Happy Fucking Birthday, son"

Nothing

I was eighteen today, and my father clearly didn’t remember

Or he didn’t care

I flipped two more cards off the top of the deck and tossed them across the table to hio

We’d been silent since I arrived Speaking, as usual, only when needed

And

After the episode with Tate last night, I’d felt great Relaxed, excited, calot sick before I caone The dreadful anticipation of whatever lousy shitto say to s Andwas hard

That’s why I opted to drive up last night after I’d dropped Tate off There was no way I was going to get to sleep with ot the fk out of there Drove up to Crest Hill Stayed in a an I usually calot to hoh the visits week after ithout throwing up was the necklace

And I hadn’t gotten that back last night

Right now, though,a trail upthat he couldn’t seeof her I knew it sounded weird How can so? Butme, and he was the only person who made me feel weak