The last thing I want is to make Dakota jealous, even though I’m exactly that right now. I pull her hands from my chest and take a sip of my beer. “How about you try extra hard tonight, Sylvia. I’m not here for your amusement or for you to hang all over. I thought I made myself clear last night.”
I know I sound like a dick, but it’s the truth. I need her to know I’m not here for her. I need everyone to know that. They just can’t know who I am here for. Not yet.
“Well, all righty then. Thanks for clearing that up, Easton. Just trying to have a little fun.”
“Maybe he doesn’t need you to have fun, Sylvia.” Dakota brings her beer to her lips and takes a quick drink. “You’ve been invading his personal space since the moment he got back. How about you show a little class for once, huh?”
“Okay, whatever. I don’t need this shit.” Sylvia grabs her purse and stands. “I’ll be somewhere else far away.”
When I look across the table at Dakota again, she looks pleased to see that Sylvia has moved, but she’s quick to turn away from me, so I can’t see her reaction for too long.
“Why does everyone at this table look so fucking tense.” Stiles drops a tray of shots down in front of Ben. “Good thing I got these. Drink up.”
Everyone except Dakota and myself reaches for a shot. Roman notices and takes it upon himself to shove one in my face. “Loosen up, man.” He leans into my shoulder, speaking quietly. “You keep looking at Ben like you want to murder him. People might get the wrong impression even more. Take the shot.”
I clench my jaw, before grabbing the shot from Roman and downing it. He has no idea the rage I’m feeling right now, and him forcing shots on me might just fuel my rage some more. But I take this one to make him happy.
Everyone splits into teams, going to separate tables to play pool, but I sit this round out, wanting to be able to keep an eye on Ben since he somehow ended up at the same table as Dakota.
He makes a point to get a little too close to her every so often and I’m getting really fucking close to making a point to break his jaw because of it.
Roman is too busy dealing with Blake hanging all over his stick to notice, which is the only reason he’s doing it.
“You and me next, man.” Stiles points his stick at me, before bending over the table, missing his shot. “Shit! I told you this is the shitty stick. Someone trade?”
“It’s not the stick, it’s the player,” Dakota teases, her eyes lingering to me for a moment before she bends over and takes her turn.
Watching her sink balls in has me becoming hard. That’s why playing pool with Dakota growing up was always a difficult task. She can play pool or ride a motorcycle just as good or better than the guys. I guess I deserve some of the credit for that, since I’m also the one who taught her how to play pool.
I’m focused on Dakota, beer in hand, about to take a drink when I feel Ben over my shoulder. “She looks good bending over, right?”
I flex my jaw and tilt my beer back. This motherfucker has two seconds to walk away before I stop caring about who’s watching us and knock him out.
“She felt even better bending over when I took her virginity… but something tells me you already knew I’d get to her with you out of the picture, Crews.”
My vision goes red, and without thinking, I slam my beer down, crack my neck, and throw my fist into the fucker’s face.
Ben flies into the table behind him, his beer breaking as it hits the hard floor. “What the fuck, Crews?” he yells from the ground, hand covering his jaw where my fist connected.
“Whoa!” Roman rushes to separate us just as Ben is getting back to his feet. “What the fuck just happened?”
I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, Dakota’s included, but I couldn’t care less. Ben is lucky I didn’t break his jaw after what he just said.
“That fucker hit me. That’s what just happened.”
“He should watch his mouth,” I say stiffly, running my hands through my hair to calm down. Stiles goes to reach for my arm to calm me, but I move back before he can touch me. “Not right now. I need a fucking minute.”
I turn around, barely glancing in Dakota’s direction before I walk past her and disappear down the bathroom hallway, throwing my fist at the wall a few times on the way.
“Fuck!” I push away from the wall and shove the bathroom door open. I pace the small room, hands in my hair as I fight to calm my breathing. I should go right back out there and kill that asshole.
Her virginity. Her fucking virginity.
It was supposed to be me. It was always supposed to be me, until everything got fucked up. I should’ve fought for her instead of leaving. I should’ve told her how I felt.
After I’ve calmed down a bit, I undo the top two buttons of my shirt and run water over my face and through my hair to cool off. I’m physically overheating due to how pissed Ben has me, and I know without a doubt that if I see his face again tonight, I’m going to fuck him up and no one will be able to stop me. I need to get out of here, and fast.
I step out into the hall, my blood pressure rising when I find Dakota waiting on me. She grabs my arm and looks up at me. “What the hell was that about? What did he say to you?”
I’m not sure if anyone is close by, but I can’t bring myself to care at the moment. I act without thinking, backing her against the wall with my body. “Is it true?” I question, moving in closer until there’s no space between us. “Did that asshole put his hands on you?”
Her eyes widen before all color drains from her face. No response is needed to answer my question. The look in her eyes says all I need to know. It’s true.
“Did you love him, Kota?” The question pains me, but I ask it anyway, needing to know the answer.
“It doesn’t matter. It was in the past.” She attempts to push me away so she can walk away, but I press my body harder against hers, showing Dakota I’m not letting her walk away without answers. “No, I didn’t love him. He was just there for me at the right time. Things happened I didn’t plan. Now move before someone sees us.”
“You promised me you’d never date him. Remember that?” I reach up to grab her chin, so she’ll look me in the eyes. “He’s never been good enough for you. He never fucking will be.”
She swallows, before speaking. “I’m the one that broke his heart, Easton. It wasn’t the other way around. You shouldn’t care anyway. You weren’t here. Don’t make me ask you to move again. Let me go, Easton.”
“Why?” I trace her lips with my thumb, feeling the tremble of her bottom lip from my touch. “Do you really want me to let you go? Tell me the truth, because we both know you’re lying. Admit it.”
As soon as the last word leaves my mouth, I tangle my hands into the back of her hair and lean in, brushing my lips over hers. We stay like this for a few seconds, breathing each other’s air in, before she pushes my chest, putting some space between us. “Dammit, Easton. Stop doing this. Just do us both a favor and leave. You don’t belong here anymore. You left, remember? I’m sure you’ll have no problem doing it again.”
“Dammit, Kota. If you plan on hating me, to get rid of me, think again.” I grab the back of her head and pull her back to me, speaking against her ear. “I’m not leaving until you take all of your hate out on me. Let me feel it. All of it. Every dirty look. Every nasty fucking word. I will have it all before I leave. Stop hiding from me. It. Won’t. Work.”
She shoves me again, her chest falling hard and fast as she looks at my lips. She may be afraid to admit it, but she wants me to kiss her again, and she cares more than she’s letting on that I’m pissed about her and Ben.
“Fuck you, Easton,” she breathes, her voice almost a whisper.
“Is that all you have?” I brush my lips over hers, feeling a rush of air leave them as she falls farther into my touch, close to giving in like I know she wants to. “I don’t want anyone else to have you but me. Especially not fucking Ben.” I run my tongue along her bottom lip,
a small moan escaping her when I tangle my hands into her hair.
“Easton… don’t...” Her eyes close, a breath escaping her when I tug her hair, tilting her head back.
“The only thing I’ve been able to think about is feeling your lips on mine again,” I whisper against her cheek, running my lips along her skin. “I need to kiss you again, Kota. Tell me you don’t want me to and I won’t.”
She doesn’t speak as I move my lips to hover over hers. She slightly leans in, wanting me to kiss her again just as much as I need to.
I run my hands down the length of her arms, before pinning them against the wall, covering her mouth with mine. I kiss her hard, almost a little too fucking hard, unable to control my need for her. I’m heated; so heated right now that I need to show her she’s mine. That no other man will kiss her the way I can.
She hesitates for a few seconds, before kissing me back just as hard and moaning against my mouth. “We need to stop…” she breathes out as her hands slide into my hair, her eyes closing when my lips meet hers again. “I told you not to kiss me,” she says softly, her voice shaking.
“You can’t tell me not to kiss you.” I moan against her parted lips. “Not after knowing who has had you. You’re mine, Kota. Always have been.”
I’m just about to cover her mouth with mine again when the sound of footsteps approaching has her shoving me hard enough for her to escape.
Bad fucking timing.
Stiles comes around the corner seconds later, looking us over, and it’s not hard to guess that we both look guilty as hell right now. He eyes Dakota suspiciously. “You done checking on Easton? Or do you need more time?”
She nods and wipes her forearm over her swollen lips, making it look more obvious. “We were just heading back, Stiles.”
He turns his attention to me. “You good? We all know Ben is a dick. Roman is waiting to start a new game of pool. You playing?” He pauses to pull a small tin from his pocket. “I’ll be back after I smoke a joint.”
“Nah, I’m heading out. I can’t look at that fucker right now.” I turn to Dakota. “Tell your brother I walked. I need some air.”
I walk away, pushing the door a little too hard on the way out. I’m sure all eyes were on me, but I couldn’t care less. I can’t be in the same room with that piece of shit and not see the two of them together. That shit will haunt me for a long time.
“Motherfucker.” I run my hands down my face, before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Ben isn’t the only reason I can’t be there right now. I’m not ready to leave Dakota yet, but with the way I’m feeling right now I need to put some space between us. If I don’t, I’ll end up slamming her against the wall and kissing her again before the night is over.
We almost got caught back there. If I’m going to have a chance of Dakota letting me back in, I can’t screw this up and give her a reason to push me out for good. One shot is all I’ve got.
Dakota
I stand against the wall, fighting to catch my breath as Easton walks away. I almost forgot Stiles is here until he asked if I’m okay before disappearing into the bathroom.
I’m not okay. I’m far from okay.
Stiles was seconds away from coming around the corner to see Easton’s body pressing me against the door with his mouth covering mine. I was so wrapped up in the taste and feel of Easton that I almost didn’t hear Stiles coming. That scares the shit out of me. Moreover, what scares me the most, is that I let him kiss me again. Hell, I kissed him back just as much as he kissed me. I’ve been telling myself I wouldn’t, that I would push him away if it happened again, but the truth is, I wanted him to kiss me more than anything. My heart has been aching to feel his lips on mine again, and after seeing him at dinner last night dressed in my favorite shirt, I’ve only wanted him more.
His presence weakens me, and the more I’m around him, the harder it is to convince myself that I’m not still madly in love with the boy I grew up with. That I haven’t been since I was six and he walked into our house with that sad look on his face I wanted nothing more than to erase.
He stopped being that Easton to me years ago, so him coming out of nowhere and still caring about whom I date is confusing. I don’t know what it was that Ben said to Easton to make him punch him, but I can guess it had something to do with us sleeping together.
My heart dropped to my stomach the moment Easton asked me if it was true about Ben and me. I wanted nothing more than to tell him it was a lie, but I couldn’t keep something that big from him. Ben took my virginity, and I can’t change that, no matter how much Easton hates it. I was hurt after he left, and Ben, surprisingly, was there for me in my worst moments.
Standing in place, I close my eyes and run my fingertips over my lips, still able to feel the heat of Easton’s kiss. Just like the last time.
“There you are!” Hope’s voice has me opening my eyes and removing my fingers from my lips in a hurry. “Is Easton okay? What was that about?”
“I don’t know,” I say quietly. “You know how Ben is. He’s always pissing someone off. He was bound to get punched sometime.”
“Very true.” She laughs. “It was pretty hot though,” she says, looping her arm through mine, pulling me away from the wall. “I mean… I don’t have a thing for Easton like every other living, breathing girl does, but even I have to admit that. Ben went down hard. Holy shit!”
She’s not lying. Easton punching Ben and knocking him on his ass was hot. Extremely hot. I find it even hotter after learning it was over me. It sounds terrible, I know that, but it’s true.
Easton’s protectiveness has always done something to me. The way he always intimidated boys who wanted to date me. I liked that. I liked that, because in a way, it made me feel like he cared about me in the same way I did about him.
“Why are you so red?” she questions once we get in better lighting. “Are you okay?”
I shrug and reach for the beer I abandoned to check on Easton. “It’s hot in here. Especially by the bathrooms. My brother should probably fix that.”
“It’s pretty comfortable in here to me.” She looks down at her thin, black shirt. “But I am wearing just a tank top.”
I take a swig from my beer, trying to play it cool, even though all I can think about is where Easton is going right now. It has me wanting to jump into my car and leave to find him, even though I shouldn’t. “I’ll remember that next time.”
Hope and I join the others back in the game area, Ben’s gaze landing on me the moment he notices I’m back. His jaw tightens as he reaches up to touch it as if it’s tender. “Where’s Crews?” he mutters, bringing a shot glass to his lips. “Icing his precious hand?”
“He left before he tried to kill you. I’d be thankful, Logan.” I match his stare, wanting him to know just how pissed I am at him for running his mouth when he had no right. He’s lucky we have an audience or I’d punch him too.
“He left?” My brother slams his cue stick down and reaches for his beer. “You’re a fucking dumbass, Ben. You never could refuse starting shit with Easton. What the hell is your problem?”
“Not a damn thing,” Ben mutters. “Someone was being extra sensitive tonight. Not my problem.”
“He needed some air. He’ll be fine.” Stiles sets down another tray of shots. “I think everyone needs to cool down after that and chill. Shots are on me.”
I don’t pay attention to much after everyone downs their shots, because I can’t focus on what anyone is saying or doing. My head is too messed up over Easton to concentrate on game night. Not only that, but my body is still on fire from Easton’s kiss.
Not wanting to give anyone reason to believe I’m leaving because of Easton, I give it a good thirty minutes before telling everyone I’m heading out for the night. Everyone knows I have an early morning at the shop, so no one will question my decision to call it a night.
Once I get to my car, I lean my head against the headrest and lightly trace my lips with my fingertips again.
Why can I still feel the burn of his lips on mine? Why can I still taste him on me?
How the hell am I supposed to go home and forget he kissed me for a second time? How am I supposed to not want him even more than I did before?
I sit here for a few minutes, lost in my thoughts, before finally starting my car and heading home. I’m half-tempted to call Easton and check on him, but I’m afraid if I call him that I’ll want to see him. I can’t see him right now without wanting him. I know this.
Pulling up at my house, the first thing I notice is Easton’s truck, and it has me wanting to hurry and get inside before I cave and call him. I throw my seatbelt off and hurry out of my car. “Don’t do it. Don’t call him.”
“Don’t call who?” My heart leaps out of my chest when I turn around to see Easton leaning against his truck, looking at me.
“Dammit, Easton. You can’t just pop out of the darkness like that.” I swallow as he walks toward me, eyes trained on me. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t go without seeing you again tonight.” He stops just inches in front of me, his gaze lowering to my lips. “Now, who were you trying not to call?”
“You,” I say nervously, his closeness making me hot all over. “Are you going to tell me why you’re here, Easton?”
He grabs the back of my head with both hands and bows his head so that his mouth is level with mine. The warmth of his breath against my lips has me desperate to close the distance so I can taste him again. “So I could kiss you again. Without interruption.”
“Then do it,” I whisper, the words slipping from my mouth even though I know this is wrong. So fucking wrong.
“Shit, Kota. I want so much more with you.” He moves in, closing the distance between our bodies, his lips lightly brushing mine. “It was supposed to be you. It was always supposed to be you.”
Hearing those words after all these years does something to me, and before I can talk myself down, I wrap my arms around his neck and crush my lips against his, kissing him so hard that he nearly stumbles backward.
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