tiptoes and plant my lips onto Emmett’s. He freezes almost immediately, shock making him immobile, but it only takes him a second to overcome his surprise and kiss me back. His hands tangle in my hair, destroying the intricate curls Mariabella made, and angle my head to the side, deepening the kiss. I press my tongue to his lips, and he opens to me instantly. My hands travel over his broad shoulders as his own leave my hair, gripping my ass.
I quickly bring my hands to his wrists, dragging them back to my waist.
But he lowers them to my ass again.
For a second time, I grip his hands in a bruising grip and all but shove them off of me, attempting to pull my lips from his. Instead of relenting, he only digs his fingers in my hair once more, plundering my mouth with his tongue.
Emmett is ripped away from me with a growl that I’m not entirely sure is human. If I didn’t know that creatures like werewolves don’t exist, I would totally believe that Elias is part wolf right now. He radiates raw, primitive fury as he throws a punch at Emmett’s face. The other man staggers in surprise, blood dripping from his lips, before his eyes harden. He lunges at Elias like a fierce bull, headbutting him and propelling both men to the floor.
“Stop it,” I deadpan. “Oh no. Stop.”
They continue pummeling each other’s faces.
“Please stop,” I continue dryly.
No response.
I turn towards the girl gaping beside me and shrug my shoulders once. “I tried.”
As a crowd gathers around the fighting boys—and that’s what they are, little boys—I weave my way through the crowd, feeling dirty and slimy.
What the hell was Emmett doing? I know I instigated the kiss, but did he really have to keep groping my ass when I tried to get him to stop? I tell myself he was no doubt in the heat of the moment, his body taking on a mind of its own, but it doesn’t negate the icky feeling unfurling in my stomach.
And Elias…
I don’t need a fucking knight in shining armor. And if I did, that role definitely wouldn’t fall to him. He’s the dragon keeping me locked in a tower, unable to escape. I can never free myself from him.
Wrapping my arms around my waist, I debate texting Nana to pick me up early. Or hell, even Mariabella. There’s a lot I need to discuss with my friend.
My decision solidifying, I step into the backyard, leave the outdoor pool through a door in the fence, and begin to walk around the side of the house, currently devoid of any students. I take my phone out of my pocket and shoot a text to Mariabella. Her response is instantaneous.
Mariabella: Sorry. Can’t. Sick.
Sick? She looked fine when she left my house.
Me: No problem. Feel better!
I text Nana next, and she replies saying Christian will be at the address in a half hour.
I’ve just reached the corner of the house when I notice a hulking shadow sitting on the ground, his back against the house and his body slumped forward. My steps slow as I squint my eyes.
“Karsyn?”
His blond hair, still buzzed from my little prank, has what looks like a piece of candy stuck in it. Before I can stop myself, I reach forward and pluck it from the short strands.
He lifts his head and blinks at me drowsily, almost as if he’s having difficulty recognizing me. Instead of the usual hatred I expect to see from his piercing hazel eyes, I see nothing but sadness. It’s so pronounced and suffocating that I stagger back a step.
“What the hell is up with you?” I ask before I can remind myself that I don’t care. I shouldn’t care. I should rejoice in his pain the way he did mine, the way he no doubt still does.
“Mariabella broke up with me,” Karsyn says dispassionately. He averts his attention to the beer bottle between his fingers. Fiver others litter the grass around him.
I swallow uneasily, knowing damn well that I’m the cause of their breakup.
“I’m sorry.”
I don’t know for sure if my words are sincere or not.
Karsyn laughs hollowly, smashing his head against the brick siding of the house.
“Don’t be. Don’t ever feel sorry for me, Peony Simone,” he slurs as he takes another chug of his beer. “Monsters deserve this…and more.”
I know I should leave, but I can’t help but inch a step closer to him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“Is