Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,60

capturing my cheeks in both hands, his jaw ticking furiously. “Fine,” he spat. “I’m a hypocrite. But if you don’t date hypocrites then maybe you should cut off the rest of your little boyfriends.”

“And why’s that?” I demanded.

“Those assholes take it upon themselves to punish bad people, but they’re the worst of the fucking worst, princess,” he snarled. “So are you going to cut us all off or just me? Because I’d rather finish it now than let you drag my heart through the sawmill and leave it in two pieces on the other side.”

His words stung, but they were laced with jealousy too and I knew he didn’t want that. His desperation shone from his eyes and I felt it spearing my heart. The mere suggestion of finishing this made me ache. I clutched onto him, shaking my head as emotion welled inside me. Losing him would be the end of me. I couldn’t face it after all I’d lost already.

“No,” I gasped. “I don’t want that. I need you.” The admission brought a blush to my cheeks and he took in the colour with undeniable lust.

His thumbs rubbed my jaw as he gripped my face then he lunged forward and kissed me fiercely, his tongue chasing mine as we held onto each other and my heart tried to pound its way out of my chest. His kiss made me feel weightless, like all the pressure of the world holding my body down just released me. He made me feel safe, secure, but exhilarated too, like we were soaring a thousand miles above the earth and he’d never let me fall.

“Good, because I’m not sure I’d have let you go anyway,” he growled against my mouth. “You’re bound to me like you are to them. There’s no taking that back.”

"Nash," I said, breathless. He groaned as he kissed the corner of my lips, working up to my ear then biting and chewing like he wanted to eat me up.

"I've missed you," he said heavily. "I can't stand this. Not being able to touch you, hold you, be with you, it's driving me insane."

"I know, I know," I gasped as his mouth moved to my throat and I tilted my head to give him better access, locking my legs around his waist. "I'm going mad without you too."

He stood up straight, pushing me back so my head pressed to the mirror as he admired me beneath him. He growled in frustration, sucking on my lip and biting gently, careful not to break the skin and leave evidence of his touch. "Stay with me tonight. Go back to the old rules."

"I can't," I sighed, running my hands over the firm plains of his back and shoulders. "Saint needs me."

"He has the others," he snarled.

"He won't listen to them," I said, my heart tugging as I was pulled in two directions. But I couldn't abandon Saint. I'd seen what had happened to him without me over Christmas. For whatever reason, I got through to him and it was immeasurably easier on everyone if I continued to care for him and keep him sane.

"Who cares?" Monroe said coldly and I tilted back, a frown pulling at my brow.

"I care," I said, hating to have to keep explaining myself on this. "He’s injured because of me."

"It's not your fault," Monroe said fiercely. "None of what happened is your fault."

I glanced away, afraid the tears would come for me again as I was forced to face that night again. "I just need to do this, Nash. I'm sorry, but that’s the way it is."

He released a noise of frustration, but gave in, pressing his forehead to mine. "I'll find more ways for us to see each other then," he said, a promise in those words and relief filled me.

"Good, because I hate having to pretend you're not mine." I ran my hand down his shirt until I felt his heart beating solidly beneath my palm. "You are mine right, Nash?"

He gazed at me with the heat of the sun behind his eyes, nodding firmly. "I'm yours, princess. I'll wait to be with you again, but not forever. I'll snatch you away if you're not careful."

I chuckled and he swallowed the sound with another kiss, groaning against my mouth.

"How are you?" he asked as he pulled back and I took in a ragged breath as he cut right to the source of my pain just like that.

"It's hard...pretending it didn't happen, waiting for the news to