Page 140 of Heartless Stepbrother
A long, teasing beat.
Then he spoke, and the words sliced through every conversation, every laugh, every breath.
“I think it’s time forLunato prove how much trouble she really is.”
Silence.
Then the crowd erupted so loudly I flinched.
My stomach dropped straight through the sand. Heat surged up my neck. My heartbeat was a wrecking ball.
His eyes slid to me, slow, hungry, sure, and I felt pinned to the spot.
Malia grabbed my arm. “You’ve got this.”
Tessa nodded. “Destroy him.”
Jo smirked. “Make him regret it.”
Harper whispered, “Don’t overthink it. You look great.”
I swallowed hard.
I couldn’t show weakness.
Not after everything.
Not after he kissed that other girl like it meantnothing.
So I stood.
And the whole circle noticed.
The cheers curved around me like a wave as I stepped into the firelight, sand shifting beneath my feet.
I walked slowly, deliberately, refusing to let my legs betray the tremor running through them. Riley watched every step I took, eyes dark, unreadable, blazing with something that made my pulse stutter.
I stopped in front of him.
He didn’t move.
Didn’t lean in.
Didn’t smirk.
Just waited.
Like he wanted to know how brave I really was.
Fine.
I bent down, close enough to breathe the warm, dangerous scent of him. And before I could talk myself out of it…
I kissed him.
Or at least, I intended to.
But the second my lips touched his, the world dropped away.
