Page 121 of Endgame

“You think I’m afraid of you?” Britt threw her head back and laughed. “Rourke, I’ve known you since kindergarten. You would never hurt me, or any girl, for that matter.”

There’s a first time for everything,I wanted to say, but I refrained, knowing it wasn’t true.

She was right. I would never hurt her. But I could make life harder for her. And I would if she didn’t back the hell off and leave Six alone.

“Keep spreading shit about Mercedes, and I’ll take everything from you,” I warned her. Britt must have heard the sincerity in my voice because she paled. I smirked in victory. “Your status at school? The one you claimed from being with me? Your father’s sweet little number atmycompany? The very fucking ground you’re standing on? Push me and I’ll take it all from you.”

“Rourke,” Britt spluttered, clearly stunned. “You wouldn’t…”

“Don’t tell me what I would and wouldn’t do, Britt,” I hissed, backing towards the front door. “You don’t know me anymore.”

Maybe you never did.

Reaching for the handle, I swung the front door open and stepped outside.

“Do yourself a favor and stay the hell away from her,” I called out over my shoulder. “I won’t warn you again.”

Mercedes

ROURKE WAS IN A HORRIBLE mood when he stalked into the house a little after eight on Friday night. I wasn’t exactly sure of what I had been expecting, but considering he had spent the last several days trying to get me to agree to this weird relationship, I thought he would be in a better mood – and on time.

Apparently, I thought wrong, because he the moment he barreled through the front door, he headed straight for the staircase, taking the steps three at a time and completely ignoring me in the process.

Shock encompassed me as I stood in the kitchen doorway and watched Rourke disappear up the staircase, followed by a swift amount of aggravation. I had been on tender hooks – a nervous freaking wreck – waiting for him to get home. I had spenthoursworrying and obsessing and overthinking because ofhim.

What a jerk!

The anger that was beginning to bubble inside of me because of Rourke’s actions, faded away the moment he reappeared and began to descend the staircase.

“Six.” His heated blue gaze was locked on me, his lips turned up in a sexy, almost carnal looking smile. It was a smile full of promise and it made my heart leap in my chest. “You were right here, weren’t you?”

“Yep.” I nodded, clasping my hands in front of my body as I watched him approach. “You walked straight past me. Looked like you were looking for something.”

“I was,” he agreed with a smirk, closing the space between us.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” Rourke said just as he reached me. His hands clamped around my hips and then I was being dragged against a strong male chest. “You.”

My breath flew out in a helpless sigh just as Rourke covered my mouth with his.

The moment his lips touched mine, a fierce blast of pleasure rippled through my body.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pressed up on my tiptoes and fell into his kiss. Rourke’s lips against mine were demanding, urgent and a little bit desperate. And I loved every second of it. This boy knew how to kiss. Like seriously kiss. Every thrust of his tongue was deep and deliberate, controlled and sensual. He used just the right amount of force and pressure… God, I could kiss his lips forever and never grow tired of it. I knew it was a totally cliché thing to even think, but I had never been kissed like this.

Moaning weakly, I sagged against Rourke’s huge frame, shivering when I felt him tighten his arms around my waist and pull me upwards, taking my weight for me. He was so big and strong and he was giving me everything I had wanted for the past seven weeks. Possibly longer. I didn’t have a clue anymore.

“Do you want this, Six?” Rourke mumbled, tone gruff, breaking our kiss. “Do you want me?”

Obviously, I wanted this or I wouldn’t be standing in the middle of our foyer, half mounting him. But did I want the implications that arose with such a scenario? Did I want the feelings I knew would come from being with a guy like him? I had a feeling Rourke Owens would be hard to shake.

I opened my mouth, expecting to say something sensible, anything that would prevent me from falling into this inevitable trap of heartbreak, but the only thing that came out of my mouth were the words, “I want you.”

Rourke smiled a real genuine smile that made my stomach twist up in knots. “Thank fuck for that,” he said with a chuckle. “Because I honestly think I would have exploded if you changed your mind on me.”

“I kind of thoughtyouhad,” I admitted softly. He was so much taller than me and I had to crane my neck up to look at his face. “When you didn’t come home after school, I thought…” I let my words trail off before biting down on my lip. “This is all surreal to me… you liking me after hating me for so long?” I shook my head and exhaled a heavy breath before admitting, “I guess I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Rourke frowned at my words. “I’m not going to hurt you, Six.” Dropping both of his large hands to clamp my hips, he pulled me closer so that my body was flush against him. “I’ve been a dick since you got here. I get it. You don’t trust me. Hell, I don’t blame you for being wary.” His fingers dug into the skin covering my hips as he spoke. “I showed you the very worst possible version of myself,” he said huskily. “Give me a chance to show you the best.”

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