Page 41 of Liars

Kreed placed one hand on the locker beside my head, leaning in until our faces were inches apart. I could smell the salt on his skin mixing with the cedar and ocean notes of his cologne. The stud pierced in his nose winked as the smirk on his lips faded slightly, replaced by something darker, more intense. “What would you have done if it hadn’t been me who found you?” he murmured.

“Rejoice.” Anyone had to be better than being alone with him.

“Even Maddox?”

Well, shit. Now that he put that thought into my head…

My heart raced, but I forced my gaze to remain steady on his. “All I want is my bag. You don’t have to make this a big deal.”

The crooked grin flipped my stomach. “Oh, but I do,” he said. “You can’t just waltz in here, snoop around, and walk out like nothing happened.”

“I wasn’t snooping!” I protested, my hand coming up to his chest to shove him away, but I didn’t get the chance. Or that’s what I told myself. My hesitation had nothing to do with the muscles under my palm or the heat seeping into my skin. Despite his cold eyes, Kreed’s skin was scorching.

His other hand came up, trapping me completely with a body too sculpted to be real. A carefully controlled expression masked my ability to get a read on him, but his eyes flicked down to my lips, giving me a glimpse under the mask.

My teeth ran over my bottom lip, and Kreed’s eyes snapped back to mine, the depths like a turbulent storm, causing my breath to hitch. The anger simmering in my veins was replaced by a different warmth.

Is he… Is he about to kiss me?

Physically everything about Kreed was beautiful, but that didn’t mean I had to fall prey to his good looks. Lots of guys were attractive, yet they didn’t have the intense starlight eyes Kreed did. Nor the sharp jawline or scowling full lips that I swore were begging me to bite them.

Just a quick nip, a voice in my head coaxed.

I didn’t know where the voice came from, but it had to stop. I couldn’t afford to have seductive thoughts about Kreed Corvo. We were living in the same house. His father was my guardian. And most of all, he was the biggest asshole I’d ever met.

He didn’t deserve my attention.

And I sure as hell didn’t want his.

The locker room door squeaked open, and I jumped at the intrusion because it felt as if this person interrupted something between us, but Kreed only angled his head to the side.

“Get the fuck out of here,” he growled at one of his teammates.

“Whatever you say, man,” the player replied, a knowing smile curling on his lips as if he caught Kreed and me doing something naughty.

Heat burned on my cheeks.

“Here’s how this works, little raven,” Kreed said softly, his voice like a razor’s edge. “You don’t get to make the rules. Not here. You want something from me? You ask. Nicely.”

“The fuck I will. I don’t ask for permission. Not from you,” I snapped, trying to push past him, but he didn’t budge.

“You’re out of your depth,” he countered, his smirk returning as he stepped back slightly, giving me just enough space to breathe.

I gritted my teeth, clutching my bag like it was a lifeline. “I got what I wanted. Now get out of my way. We’re done here.”

“For now,” Kreed said, his eyes smoldering.

I wished he wouldn’t look at me like that. It did something to me I didn’t want to acknowledge. No freaking way could I be thinking of Kreed as anything other than an asshole.

Stupid hormones.

I needed a boyfriend. Just not someone with the last name Corvo.

Jake and I broke up two months ago, and I was supposed to be enjoying the single life. Well, that was before I got shot. Finding joy in being free to date was hard when I was so sad inside.

Jake had been my first boyfriend, and we’d been together since junior high. I was surprised he hadn’t come to see me inthe hospital or at least sent flowers. My guess was he was still royally pissed at me for breaking his heart.

But my ex was the least of my concerns.

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