Page 25 of Shattered Mind

“The fuck?” Killian mutters, sitting forward in his chair and frowning towards the dance floor. I follow his gaze and my own temper flares as Sam Thomas and his brother Justin make a beeline for Liv and Bella.

It was only weeks ago that my brother had words with Sam when he tried to move in on Savannah, and now it seems he’s got his sights set on her best friend too.

Noah stands and approaches Bella, pulling her out of Justin’s reach and I watch with gritted teeth as Sam slinks his arm around Liv’s waist and pulls her back against him. She giggles before wrapping an arm around his neck and grinding her ass against him.

I feel Killian’s eyes on the side of my face, but I keep my attention on the dance floor. Sam buries his face in Liv’s neck and suddenly I’m moving, my legs carrying me in their direction before my brain has even caught up to the action.

I don’t know what I plan to say when I reach the pair, all I know is Sam Thomas is the scum of Rosewater Creek, and I’ll be damned if I let the prick get his claws into Liv.

I’m aware that’s a little hypocritical considering I spoke to her like shit not three hours ago when she’s done nothing to deserve the way I’ve treated her since the day we met, but whenever I’m around her I can’t control myself. It’s as if the urge to piss her off overtakes any rational behaviour and my mind automatically finds waysto get under her skin just so I can see that fire in her eyes and imagine all the ways I can fuck it right out of them.

She sees me approaching and her eyes widen slightly before her lips tip up in a knowing grin and my face drops in realisation. She knew what she was doing when she let the fucker touch her. This is her revenge, and I’ve played right into her fucking hands.

I stop in front of them, not sparing Sam a glance as I glare down at Liv. “Come.”

Her eyes hold a challenge as she looks up at me, fluttering her pretty fucking lashes. “No.”

“I wasn’t asking.” I grab her hand and pull her away from Sam as he says something in protest. I ignore him and continue walking.

Heads turn our way and Hunter chuckles as we pass him at the bar and into the dark corridor that leads to the fire exit.

“Let go of me, dickhead.” Liv protests as the music fades into the distance and I stop, whirling around and pinning her to the wall.

“What is your problem?” She argues as I glare down at her.

“You.”

She tilts her head and narrows her eyes. “Funny, because I was about to be someone else’s problem until you just dragged me away. What the fuck, Gray?”

Fuck, I love it when she calls me Gray with anger in her eyes.

And she’s right. I could have let her carry on with Sam, maybe even go home with him.

But no. Fuck that.

Irrational anger pulses through me at the thought of letting that slimy bastard put his hands anywhere on Olivia’s body. Of him drawing soft moans from her as hecaresses her delicate skin and whispers half-assed promises in her ear. But also, because I don’t know why I fucking give a shit.

My eyes zero in on her lips, remembering the feel of them pressed against mine while I stood there frozen to the spot like an inexperienced teenage boy. I cursed myself the entire way home that night. Cursed myself because as much as my body wanted her, my mind wasn’t ready –isn’tready – for the feelings that Olivia draws from me.

I’ve never experienced the intense visceral reaction that I experience whenever she’s in close proximity. And it bothers me.

In some ways Liv makes me nervous. Her loud, sunshine personality is a complete contrast to my quiet, dark one. While she enters a room and gains the attention of every person in there, I like to remain in the shadows.

“Well? Aren’t you going to explain yourself?” She pushes and I realise I’ve been standing here silently glaring at her.

“Sam isn’t a good guy.” Is the only shitty excuse I can come up with. I’m not about to admit that seeing another mans hands on her stirs up an unfamiliar jealousy inside of me.

She lets out a dry laugh. “What, and you are? I didn’t need him to be a good guy, I just needed him to be a good lay.”

Rage.

It’s so blinding that I can barely focus.

My breathing picks up as I step closer, backing her up against the wall until there’s nothing but centimetres between us. We’re so close I can almost smell the arousal dripping from her.

“You’re so fucking irritating,” I growl, pushing my knee between her legs. Her chest rises and falls in quick pantsas her blue eyes blaze with a rage that causes my dick to harden.

“Hmm. And selfish. And exasperating. And annoying, and all of the other things you think of me. But answer me this, Gray; If I’m so irritating, then why are you hard?” She challenges with a cocked head and sly smile on her face. I falter for half a second before my control snaps and I wrap my hand around her throat, crushing my mouth to hers.

---