Page 24 of Festive Faking
My blood boiled, and I saw red as a scoff fell from my lips. “How’s your wife, Tuck?”
Mac sucked in a sharp breath at the venom in my tone.
When Tucker remained silent, I stomped closer, getting right up in his face. “You keep her name out of your mouth, you hear? You gave up the right to eventhinkabout her after what you did. Cheating, lying, no-good bastard!”
That last insult was screamed at the top of my lungs, and several heads turned to stare at us.
“Aspen, I only want a chance to explain—”
“Explain what? How you promised her forever and then ripped it away without warning? Or better yet, how you took advantage of a girl who supported your career ambitions, only to turn around and come home married to another woman?” Throwing my arms wide, I screamed, “I’m all ears, Tucker. Why don’t you explain to everyone how you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants when you had the most loyal girl this town has ever seen?”
Tucker sighed, his body visibly sagging.
The hushed whispers surrounding us did nothing to tone down my temper. I was too far gone to let him off the hook.
He’d started this. Now, he had to finish it.
“You ripped her fucking heart out!” I trembled from head to toe with rage, using both hands to shove at his chest.
He didn’t budge an inch, so I pulled a hand back, ready to strike again. This time, desperate to feel the vibration of my palm hitting the flesh of his cheek.
I was inches away from making contact when my feet were lifted off the ground, an arm banded around my waist from behind.
Kicking violently, I shrieked, “Put me down!”
Mac was in my ear, voice low enough not to be overheard by the spectators gathered. “Easy, killer. I’m sure the justice system out here is a little more lax than the in city, but I don’t wanna see your pretty face behind bars.”
“Sheriff’s my godfather,” I huffed before spitting on the ground at Tucker’s feet.
Murmurs of disapproval sounded around us.
Before I had a chance to utter another word, Mac carried me away from the crowd. I fought against his hold, nowhere near done giving Tucker a piece of my mind.
“Let me go!” I shouted, twisting in an attempt to break his hold.
The struggle had me panting, and I barely noticed when we moved into one of the alleys between shops. Truthfully, there wasn’t much I could see past the haze of red blurring everything in sight.
My feet touched the ground, and instantly, I spun on my heel, ready to charge back into battle.
A firm grip on my wrist nearly had my shoulder popping from its socket as I was yanked back.
I glared at Mac, opening my mouth to lash out at him for standing in my way, but the words died on a gasp when he planted both hands on my cheeks and his lips crashed onto mine.
The burn of anger simmering in my blood was quickly replaced with the heat of lust.
The last time our lips touched, the kiss had been slow, and so heady it made me dizzy. This was nothing like that. No, it was sizzling hot, frantic almost, as his tongue slid deep to tangle with mine. It was as if he were trying to consume me, and something triggered in my brain that maybe I wanted to let him.
Would it be so bad to let go? To be reckless for once? To let Mac be the one to claim my body for the first time?
He shifted us enough that I was pinned to the rough brick exterior of whatever store lay behind me. His hips pressed against mine, and I moaned when his erection brushed my belly. A power I’d never known surged in my veins. Mac wanted me; I had proof of that.
I gave a little shimmy, testing out how it would feel to rub against his hard length. The groan he let out vibrated through his chest, making my nipples harden even though countless layers of clothing separated us. A throbbing between my legs pounded in time with my heart, which was beating so fast that I feared I might pass out.
As if he could read my body, Mac nudged my legs apart with a knee, fitting his thigh between them. The pressure on my core when he pressed closer almost had me coming in this dark alley.
And it was just enough to bring me back to my senses.
Shoving at his chest, I broke the kiss.
