Page 26 of Pretty Wild

“Yes, a jackass! You’re totally being a grumpy butthole, and I’m over it. So…stop it!” I’m breathing harder by the time I’m finished ranting. I don’t know why this man gets under my skinso easily. He makes me want to punch him in his condescending, smug face.

I’m about to tell him exactly that, since I’m on a roll, but my ability is stripped away when his mouth presses firmly against mine. One minute, I’m about to tear into this infuriating man, and the next, he’s kissing me like I’m the oxygen he needs to survive. His hands frame my face as he coaxes open my mouth with his tongue. He plunders, claims, owns me with his mouth, rendering me speechless and helpless with the slide of his tongue.

A mewl slides from my throat as I grip the front of his T-shirt, holding on for dear life. I’ve never been kissed like this, and the revelation is both intoxicating and infuriating at the same time. His lips are softer than I expected, with the right amount of pressure, and his tongue is pure magic. It makes me wonder what he can do with that tongue onotherparts of my body.

But just as suddenly as the kiss began, it ends. Marcus rips his mouth from mine, leaving me dazed and panting. And confused. Very confused. Why did he kiss me, and what’s more concerning, why did I like it so much?

Probably because I’ve never experienced anything like it. No man before has ever kissed me the way he has, leaving me yearning for more and ready to for beg for it. My mind swings to Vaughn, who rarely kissed me with even half the passion I’ve just experienced, and any man before that is severely lacking.

“I don’t know why I did that,” he mutters, his voice gravelly and hoarse.

“I…” What do I say to that?

Do it again?

He pulls back, releasing my face and putting space between my body and his. The coloring of his eyes is darker than his normal hazel green, and the front of his jeans look a little snugger than normal.

“You should get back to your cabin.”

His words are like stepping under an ice-cold shower. “What?” I ask, taking my own step back.

“Go, Ryan.” His eyes plead as much as his words, and even though I want to demand answers, I realize I’m probably not going to get them.

At least not now.

So, with my head held high, I walk away, down the stairs and to my SUV. I don’t spare him a single glance as I back out of my spot and return the way I came. I keep moving, turning right at the lane and heading to where I need to turn to go to my own cabin. When I park, I climb out, stomping up the steps to the front door. It takes me three tries to key in the code, since my fingers hold a slight tremble.

The moment I step inside, I start to pace, my annoyance strong and powerful. “Who the hell does he think he is? Kissing me like that, and then dismissing me?”

I walk down the hall and into the bedroom, ripping the ball cap off the top of my head and tossing it onto the bed. I pause in front of the dresser mirror and take in my reflection. My swollen lips and flushed cheeks. My eyes are still slightly glassy and dilated with desire. I can’t help but touch my lips, recalling how it felt to be kissed by Marcus.

Marcus the…jerkface.

I narrow my eyes and spin around, refusing to indulge in even one more second of looking in the mirror. The best thing I can do is forget it ever happened. I’m sure he has. The moment I stepped off his porch and drove away, he probably forgot all about it. Hell, it was most likely a normal, everyday thing for him. He just goes around kissing women whenever the hell he wants.

Yet, that doesn’t feel right either.

Something tells me he was just as shocked by what he did as I was, and that’s why he pushed me away. So, there are two ways I can play this. I can be completely indifferent, acting like he doesn’t matter, and the kiss didn’t affect me whatsoever. Honestly, that’s probably what Ishoulddo.

The other option is, I can have a little fun. You know, show him what he’s missing out on? It might be a little fun to bring him to his knees, because I’m certain that kiss meant something to him too.

So maybe he needs a little reminder.

A smile spreads across my face.

Not that I plan to turn into a cocktease or anything, but I can definitely do a little extra flirting whenever he’s near. It would serve him right anyway for kissing me the way he did and then casting me aside.

Well, Mr. Marcus Wright, you’ve met your match.

By the time I’m done, he won’t know what hit him.

I quickly change out of my clothes into a pair of pajamas and head to the bathroom to do my nightly ritual of removing my makeup and moisturizing. My makeup line has been slowly moving into more skincare products, and I’m happy to report, I am absolutely loving them so far. After spreading night cream over my skin, I wash my hands and turn off the light.

I make my way to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water. As I sip the cold liquid, I find myself heading back outside. Night has fallen and it’s a bit cooler than it was earlier. The sky is dark and full of stars, yet being surrounded by trees causes the night to feel closer and full of shadows. I can hear slight movement in the trees and a dog bark.

Is that Buddy, Marcus’s dog?

I look in that direction, but the foliage is too thick to see anything. No lights from his cabin, nothing. We’re just far enough away to barely know the other is there.

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