On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,53

lost cause. Because the broken part of me needed him. It needed his scraps of attention and rare moments of vulnerability.

It just needed him.

Maybe it never stopped.

Zach

She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, losing control as we were suspended in the air.

“Zach...” she moaned my name and I almost came right there in my shorts.

I leaned in, rubbing my nose along the length of her jaw. “Tell me what you want, sweet pea.”

“M- more.” Her eyes were glassy, her cheeks stained with desire.

She wanted me to fuck her.

Sweet little Calliope James wanted me to ruin her.

I wanted to. Fuck, I wanted it so much. But I knew it probably wasn’t a good idea. I was already struggling to maintain control around her.

Calli’s legs began to shake and I knew she was close. Pressing my lips against hers, I stared right at her as she teetered on the edge. “Say it,” I taunted her, licking the corner of her mouth. “Tell me you want me.”

“I…” she panted, and I couldn’t resist kissing her, swallowing her sexy little moans.

“Oh my god, I’m going to—”

I yanked my fingers away and she gasped.

“What are you—”

“Leaving you hanging, get it?” I smirked, bringing my fingers to my mouth and sucking them clean. “You taste good, sweet—”

“I can’t believe you just did that,” she seethed, refusing to meet my eyes.

Silence settled over us.

She had a point.

I shouldn’t have done that. Not because I cared, but because I didn’t want her to think I cared.

Truth was, I shouldn’t have done a lot of things where Calliope James was concerned. But I couldn’t seem to stop myself. She drove me in-fucking-sane.

“You still want me,” I said devoid of emotion. “Even after all this time, you—”

“Don’t.” She let out a resigned sigh. “Just don’t. We’re not the same people we were back then, and you—”

“I what, huh?” I snapped, anger rolling through me like an angry storm. “Why don’t you tell me what I did.”

Calli regarded me for a second, trying to find a chink in my armor. Keep trying, sweet pea, you’ll never find it.

She couldn’t hurt me. Not again. I was dead inside. Nothing but a black soul with darkness coursing through my veins.

I wanted her to hurt. I wanted Calli to experience even a fraction of the pain and betrayal I felt every time I looked at her.

“I’m not doing this.” She huffed defiantly, turning away from me.

It was for the best, because seconds later, our cart rolled into the loading bay and the guy was unclipping the safety bar.

Calli shot from the ride, rushing over to Josie’s side. Little Molineux pinned me with a hard look, but I shrugged it off, climbing out and going over to them. Kira intercepted me though, lacing her arm through mine.

“There you are.” She beamed up at me. “Take me for a ride on the Ferris wheel?” she said as if she hadn’t just watched me and Calli ride together.

“Later, yeah?” I brushed her off, fighting the urge to meet Calli’s death stare.

Victoria and Joel were next off the ride. “That was so embarrassing.” She clutched her necklace. The locket my brother had given her for their second anniversary.

“If it wasn’t for Joel I’d probably still be stuck there.” She shot me a look of disapproval.

“I couldn’t let Calli ride alone.” My shoulders lifted in a dismissive shrug.

“Of course.” Joel moved closer. “Thanks for that.” He gave me a small nod, making a beeline for Calli. “Hey, do you want to maybe get something to eat?” he asked her.

“That sounds perfect. That ride gave me an appetite.” Calli eye’s flicked to mine. “Besides, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about actually.”

My blood boiled. She was determined to push me to my breaking point.

Two can play at that game.

“We’re going to get food,” Joel announced. “Catch you guys later.”

“Actually,” Brad said, “I could eat? Josie? Guys?”

“Sounds good to me,” I said. “Kira, babe, you hungry?” Hooking my arm around her neck, I pulled her close and nuzzled my nose in her hair. Calli’s eyes flared but her anger quickly turned to rage when I smirked.

“Ravenous.” Kira gave me a suggestive smile.

We all headed over to the food truck area. There was everything from hot dogs to tacos to dirty fries.

“Everything smells so good,” Kira said. “I think I’ll get a salad.”

A fucking salad.

I smothered a snort.

“Zach, come with me?” She didn’t bother waiting for my reply, dragging me off toward one of the food trucks. We