Page 80 of False Play
He hummed, leaning closer. “For everyone? Or just me?”
I huffed a nervous laugh, the pulse in my neck rising. “Someone sure thinks highly of himself.”
“It can be our little secret.”
I rolled my eyes, exasperated. “Think what you will.” The deflection slipped past my lips easily.
I wasn’t willing to accept that, yes, I had done itjustfor him. Because I, Kennedy Jones, was worried abouthim. I didn’t want to feel anything toward him. Butoh, I did.I so did.
“You want to know what I think?” he asked. His eyes glinted with something dangerous, a silent challenge I was dying to face head-on. But I knew better than to walk into one of his traps.
“Nope,” I replied dryly.
“I’ll tell you anyway.”
The heat rolling off his body was almost tangible. The worst part? My bodycravedmore of it. Itburnedme like a sin I wasn’t supposed to want. I told myself it didn’t affect me. Made myself believe it was my imagination. But the fire crackling beneath my skin told a different story.
The air frizzled with so much tension, I could practically taste it.And, God, was it delicious.
He positioned one of his hands on the built-in shelves behind me, successfully caging me in. My eyes became interested in my surroundings as I tried my best not to gawk at him, though there wasn’t any point. There was something about the way he wore the simple black hoodie and gray sweatpants that left nothing to the imagination. But what tied it all up into aneat little package with a perfect red bow was the goddamn backward hat. It didn’t matter how often he wore those types of outfits, he was still painfully handsome.
His backward hats were becoming my version of torture. All I wanted to do was knock it off his head, run my fingers through his hair, andkissthe hell out of him.
The look on his face was almost predatory and hungry. “I think you’re starting to like me, but it pains you to admit it.”
I fluttered my eyes closed, because his stare, accompanied by those words, was like a shot of aged whiskey. It burned my throat before dropping to the center of my stomach. Then,oh so slowly, it spread to the rest of me, making my body burn hot.
“Sorry to break it to you, pretty boy, but I still can’t stand you,” I replied weakly. My strength to keep lying was quickly crumbling.
What I couldn’t stand was the fact that I hadn’t forgotten about our kiss. The stupid kiss that felt anythingbutfake.
What I couldn’t stand was the fact that he wasn’t who I thought he was, and it was putting me in this weird, strange limbo.
What I couldn’t stand was the fact that I was starting to like being around him.
“God, Kenny...” He barked a soft laugh. “You aresostubborn sometimes. Did you know that?”
“I’ve been told that multiple times, actually,” I replied breezily, though the comment hit an old wound. I could practically hear all the comments I had been hearing throughout my life.
Can you, for once, do as you’re told? Why does everything have to be a fight with you?I could hear Joe’s words so vividly, as if he were standing right in front of me.
I was being consumed by my own nightmares, by the voices I pretended didn’t affect me. I just hadn’t expected Iwould add Henry’s voice to that rotation. Hewasright, that much I knew. I didn’t want to be like this. But when you lived your life on edge, always expecting the worst from people, what else was there to do?
“That’s okay, though,” he replied with a low sigh. “I like you just like this. Stubborn and all.”
My eyes found him in silent shock. I didn’t know what to say. I was pretty sure I had forgotten how to breathe.
He smirked knowingly. “But can I ask you a question?”
I put myself together long enough to roll my eyes. “If you must.”
“When are you going to stop lying to yourself?” His voice dropped to a sensual gravel, and my clitthrobbedpainfully. “Wouldn’t it be more fun to give in?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, even though I knew. I so fucking knew what he was talking about. But denial…Well, you should know by now, denial was practically my best friend.
“You and I both know what I mean,” he replied with a smug smile as he took a step back, taking his overwhelming presence and warmth with him. My body shivered, already missing his heat.
He turned around and strode to the door, but before he left, he looked over his shoulder. “Oh, and Kenny?”
