My nostrils flare taking in the yellow and purple bruise on Kasey’s fair skin. There’s no mistaking that it’s from a hand. The shape is too distinct, and the imprint is large. A man’s. Someone hurt her.
Whoever he is, he’s a dead man.
Kasey’s already pale skin has gone two shades paler, making her bright blue eyes damn near glow. Her mouth parts, tongue peeking out to lick her full bottom lip. My dick twitches and I silently curse, willing it to stand the fuck down.
She swallows hard, and I know her mind is racing for a response.
“Don’t even think about lying to me,” I warn.
In a move I never would have expected from her, Kasey twists her arm out of my grasp and dips beneath the arm I have pressed against the wall caging her in, in a desperate attempt at escape. It takes two seconds for her hand to reach the door, but before she can open it, I catch her by the waist and tug her back against me. “Not so fast, baby girl.”
Her anger and hatred for me roll off her in waves as she digs her short nails into my arms and kicks her legs, cursing my name.
I flip her around and press her against the door, using my body to pin her in place. I’ve tried to keep myself in check, but she is not making this shit easy.
“Get off of me,” she shouts, and I cover her mouth with my palm, my hand so large I damn near cover half her face. Fuck she’s small. Fragile.
Her eyes blaze and I lean in, ensuring she sees that I am not fucking around right now. Not when it comes to something like this.
“Don’t you dare open that pretty little mouth of yours and scream like that again. Do you feel me? Unless you’re ready to tell me who the fuck was dumb enough to touch you, or decide to drop down on your knees and wrap your lips around my cock, you’re mouth is going to stay closed.”
Her eyes narrow, nostrils flaring. She’s so fucking pissed, and I wish I had more time to enjoy it. I’ve worked hard this past year getting Kasey to hate me. It makes keeping her out of my bed a hell of a lot easier that way. But damn if seeing her like this doesn’t make my dick hard, and the thought of her on her knees for me … fuck. I can’t be the only one affected by that image.
Her small fingers wrap around my wrist, pulling to get my hand off of her mouth.
“Are you going to behave?”
If looks could kill I’d be dead right now with the way she’s glaring at me.
“It’s a yes or no question, baby girl. Blink twice for yes. Once for no.”
Her eyes narrow. Seconds pass and the air grows impossibly thick. I’m sure she can feel my hard-on pressed against her stomach, but neither of us is going to acknowledge it.
When a full minute has passed, she blinks twice and concedes. A rush of satisfaction swells inside my chest. I drop my hand, but don’t step away. I rationalize that the moment I do she’ll bolt. It has nothing to do with how fucking good she feels with her tight little body up against mine. Her lips are pressed into a thin line, her cheeks scarlet. A mix of anger and indignation. She is so fucking beautiful like this.
A few strands of her blond hair fell from her hair tie during our struggle and I slowly reach out, tucking the flyaways behind her ear. Her eyes are guarded as I trail one finger down the side of her face before cupping her jaw. She closes her eyes, a small shudder moving through her.
“What’s his name, Kasey?” I ask, and there’s a bite of steel in my tone.
Her eyes snap open and she bears her teeth. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. It was an accide—“
“No man leaves a mark on a female by accident.” My voice is deceptively calm. I lean down closer to her until our breaths mingle. “Was it Hunt? Did he do that?” The sudden widening of her eyes gives her away, and my vision goes red.
My jaw flexes and I go to step back but she latches onto me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Whatever it is you’re thinking of doing, don’t. It was an accident. I don’t think he meant to hurt me.” I fight the urge to encircle her waist and rise to my full height, taking her with me.
Her arms tighten as her feet lift from the ground. “Dominique—”
“You can’t protect your boyfriend,” I tell her. “Not from this.”
Her feet sway off the floor and her arms tighten around my neck, squeezing to maintain her hold on me since I haven’t bothered to help her out.
“He’s not my boyfriend. We literally just met because I slammed into him running late to class.” My pulse jumps at her words. “I don’t even know the guy. We have one class together and this is the first time we’ve spoken.”
I grab the backs of her thighs, hoisting her higher up. Her legs wrap around my waist and my hands move to her ass. I lean her back against the door and wait to see if she’ll demand to be put down. She doesn’t. Neither does she yell at me for the way I’m cupping her ass right now.
“If you’re protecting him—“
She snorts. “I’m not. I have no reason to, so get off your high horse. I’m not some damsel in need of saving.”
“Is that so?” I ask, shifting my hips so her center grinds down on my cock.
She gasps. “What are you doing?”
I repeat the movement, and she shakes in my arms. “Are you sure you’re not in need of saving?”
