Punching, slapping, clawing.
Our struggle churns bits of grass into the air, filling my frantic breaths with their sweet scent.
“Christ, what the fuck?” I yell, trying to grab her wrists, but always a millisecond too slow.
Because you’re reacting, idiot, not attacking.
She squeals in surprise when I grab her hips and keep her pinned on top of me as I roll over. Grass rains down onto her shocked face, a tiny sliver landing on her top lip.
I blow it away, and grin at her. “Just like old times, huh?”
Fury washes over her face, her body going rigid under me. Her knees crash into my back as she kicks and struggles, but all it takes is grabbing her shoulders, then sliding my hands down to her elbows, then finally her wrists before pinning them between her hips and my thighs.
Her frustrated growl makes my cock thicken inside my Fendi joggers, but I ignore it just like I ignore the tension and heat building inside me. Just because she had her lips wrapped around it a few days ago doesn’t mean this is a replay.
More like a rematch.
Poor girl really thought she could win a round?
I rub the side of my head where she dinged me with her textbooks. “If you gave me a concussion, I’m gonna be?—“
“What?” she cuts in viciously, glaring up at me. “Evenmorepissed off with me?” A few wild wriggles punctuate her words before she gives up with an exasperated huff. “You’d literally implode.”
“Figuratively,” I say, using my pinkie finger to brush a strand of hair from her face with a flick of my wrist.
I lean forward, resting on my palms as I duck my head inches from hers. Then I turn my head, opening my mouth like I’m straining to hear something.
“What’s that?” I whisper. “You realize your mistake now, and you’ll be scampering back to Ashwood as fast as your little legs can carry you?”
Her lips squirm together for a moment, her blue eyes flickeringfrom my left eye to my right. Then she lets out a puff of breath, her body going slack under mine as she looks away.
If she’s looking for help, I’ve got bad news for her. This area is deserted during class. It only starts livening up after lunchtime.
“What the fuck did I do to deserve this?” she whispers. “My dadmademe leave?—“
“I’m not pissed you left.” My hands curl into fists as I lower down even more, until our noses are almost touching. “I’m pissed you came back. You should have stayed gone.”
She frowns. “I had to, Kai.”
“No, Heavenly.” I look at her little nose, at her plump little lips, at that singular freckle. “There was plenty youhadto do. That any person with a live, beating heart would have feltcompelledto do. But coming back here just to rub your sluttiness in my face?—”
“Why do you keep saying that?” she bleats, eyes frantically hunting mine. “YouknowI’m not a slut!”
“Jesus,” I say, sitting up, leaning back, running my hands through my hair and not even giving a shit that I’m getting grass in it. “You’re so fucking delusional, I can’t even?—”
I break off with a dry chuckle.
“If this is about my birthday?—”
“You thinkthat’swhat this is about?” I kick up to a stand, feet still straddling her hips. “Nah, Heavenly. That day was a fucking eye opener. Got to meet the real you under that fucking maple tree. Pity it was eleven years too late.”
Her lips tremble, and it almost looks like she’s going to cry. But she’s always known how to squeeze out an odd tear or two when she really needed.
“I said I was sorry,” she says, shaking her head. “I said it a thousand times. If you want me to say it again, I’ll?—”
She cuts off when I press my shoe against her throat. The way she grabs my ankle and starts choking and gagging, you’d swear I had my full weight on her windpipe.
Hollywood’s missing one of its stars.