What the actual hell just happened?
To say my body was raging to get under Cadence’s tease of a skirt is an understatement.
If I had a little less self-control, I would have pinned her against the counter and had all the coffee cups rattling and shaking with how hard I ploughed into her.
Even now, I have to lean over the coffee machine and grip the shelving hard to keep from exploding. Counting backward from ten doesn’t work. Neither does making myself a cup of expresso and draining it.
I can still smell Cadence’s perfume—flowery and light. I can still see those brown eyes narrowing on me, burning with anger and lust. She’s a twisted little thing. The darkness inside her rose to the surface, clamoring for me. I could see it and it called to me in a way that set every nerve on fire.
I’m losing my patience with her and it’s not because I want to break her. I want her under me, sweating, vibrating, groaning for mercy.
Not that I’ll give her any. Not that she deserves it.
I shake my head angrily.
I’m supposed to be thinking of ways to kick her out, not dreaming up ways to screw her.
My interactions with the sharp-tongued New Girl always send my blood pressure spiking. But lately, she’s been elevating a whole lot more than my temper.
At first, I thought it was because of her resemblance to the redhead who stood me up on Saturday. They share the same height and build, along with the same rosebud lips.
Every time I get a glimpse of Cadence’s lips, the redhead blinks into focus. I can’t explain it. It’s like the girl from the showcase is in front of me. Then Cadence will open her mouth and I’ll realize that it’s not my muse. It’s the most infuriating girl in Redwood Prep.
Even so, my body can’t differentiate between the two and I keep getting this uncontrollable urge to back her up against the nearest wall and kiss her senseless.
My body’s never betrayed me like this. It’s frustrating as hell and I can’t blame it on the redhead anymore.
Cadence isn’t the raw and talented spitfire on the keys. She’s a separate person. She’s quiet and reserved and shy to the max. But there are moments when she’s loudmouthed, brash and fearless.
Every time she pushes my buttons, I find myself going wild. It’s as if I’m falling off a cliff and the rope is slipping out of my fingers.
I’m dangerous.
She makes me dangerous.
Things could have gone a lot further if she hadn’t run from me. And I can’t promise that I’d be able to keep a grip on control if she gets under my skin again.
Zane and Finn take one look at my face when I storm to the practice room and they keep their mouths shut.
No one asks me why I left to collect my cards and my coffee from Cadence and came back empty handed. No one says anything to me at all during our first set.
My brothers clear out a minute after our last song, throwing excuses about going to class. I stay back and shred on my guitar until my ears are ringing and my fingers have their own heartbeat.
Then I go find one of the cheerleaders. Christa’s not available so I choose someone at random who’s willing to open her legs long enough for me to work out my frustration.
She starts moaning and groaning, but it’s still not enough for me. I end up cutting things short and send her packing.
The hell is wrong with me?
I stalk out of the parking lot and see Cadence in the hallway. My eyes lustfully slide over her long, pale legs in that skirt. I’m crooking my finger and calling her over before I’ve thought it through.
She grips her schoolbag tight and marches toward me.
“Hand over the cards,” I bark.
She slants angry eyes at me and shoves the cards in my direction. Even the brief contact of her fingers on my palm sends me reeling with lust again.
“Go get a table in the cafeteria. Make sure it’s nice and warm by the time I get there.”
She grits her teeth, her body tensing with quiet rage, but she doesn’t talk back. Stomping through the hallway, she disappears around the bend.
I feel two presences beside me.
A moment later, Zane speaks up. “Did you two fight again?”
“No,” I growl.
“It looks like it,” Finn grumbles.
Zane rolls his eyes. “You’re the one who’s supposed to be getting under her skin, Dutch. It shouldn’t work both ways.”
“I’m sticking to the plan,” I snap at them. “I’m running her out of Redwood.”
“Why does it seem like she’s the one running you?” Finn observes.
I shoot him a dark look full of warning.
His answering look is unbothered.
Heels click against the floor and at the sound of it, Zane perks up. He looks eagerly behind him. His face drops in disappointment when he sees it’s not Miss Jamieson trotting toward us.
“Why do you keep falling for that?” I grouse. “You know she ducks into another hallway if she sees you up ahead.”
“He’s right,” Finn agrees.
“Why don’t you move on?” I ask my twin.
“Why don’t you ask Jinx for that redhead’s number and find out why she ditched you on Saturday?” Zane accuses.
“I’ll handle it my way.”
“Which is what?” Zane taunts. “Hoping you stumble on her in another bar?”
“I heard she quit because you were hounding her,” Finn says.
“No, she didn’t,” I grumble. According to the lounge manager, she was planning on leaving that job anyway.
“If you don’t take care of… whatever’s going on in your head, you’re going to screw your way through the entire senior class and still not feel any better.”
“You should know right?” I hiss.
Zane’s eyes go dark. “Yeah, man. I do know. It freaking kills me that I’m like this. But I know that woman is too good for me and I know I’d ruin her, so I’m doing my best to stay away.”
Both Finn and I look at Zane in surprise. He’s not usually this self-aware.
“Damn. I don’t think you’ve ever been that honest before,” Finn mumbles.
“Maybe if she heard you talking like a grown-up instead of a horny teenager, she’d take you more seriously,” I say.
“And maybe if you didn’t sneak up on that chick and kiss her like a crazed fan, you wouldn’t have gotten slapped and stood up. Look at that,” Zane says. “We both learned something today.”
Finn chuckles.
My lips twitch. Count on my brothers to help me take a ridiculous situation and make it feel doable.
At that moment, my phone buzzes.
My blood drains when I see the message.
“What is it?” Finn asks, picking up on my shift in mood right away.
“It’s Jinx,” I say, looking between my brothers. “She says she’s close to getting a location on Sol.”
Jinx: Not all heroes wear capes. What will I get for finding the fourth member of your band, Cross Boys? I don’t think money is going to cut it. How about a trade. A secret for a secret? Dutch can start by telling me why he and Stage Fright were caught getting hot and heavy in the coffee room?
