I hate this kiss. I hatehim.
Most of all, I hate how much I suddenlywanthim…
No.
No.
He thinks he has me trapped.Fuck, no. I might lose a few strands of hair, but I yank my head out of his hold as I thrust downward, breaking his grip on me. Then, because I can’t believe he had the nerve to kiss me for no reason… he had the balls to remind me that I’m fated to be alone since my supposed Owed doesn’t want me… I allow the rage I keep tamped down inside of me to rear its ugly head.
Before I can think better of what I’m about to do, I grab Connor’s left wrist, yank his arm up to my mouth, and sink my teeth into his inner forearm.
Even more amazingly, heletsme.
I don’t break skin. It’s probably close, but all I taste is a hint of salt on his skin and something chemical that’s probably the cologne that always makes him smell so delicious. No blood, and when I finally release his arm, we both stare at the perfect imprint of my teeth left in his skin.
He blinks, stunned, while my chest heaves.
“You bit me!”
“So? You kissed me!”
Crazy fucker smiles. “You liked it.”
I shake my head again, fiercer this time, my hair almost slapping me in the face with the force of the denial.
His eyes flash daringly. “Admit it, moonbeam. You likeme.”
Moonbeam now? Ugh. “I fuckinghateyou, Connor Heyward.”
“Yeah? Well, you better get used to me. My last name, too, baby, because one day it’s going to be yours.”
I almost choke. “What?”
“That’s right, Haven. I’m done pretending. Adrian’s gone for what he wants. It’s my turn. And in two months, I’m going to Claim you as mine.”
Haven. I can count the number of times he’s called me by my first name and not some ridiculous nickname on one hand. So why… why the changenow?
Because he thinks that a single kiss means that he can Claim me as his Offering since we’ve established that Adrian probably won’t?
Okay. He’s not just crazy. He’sinsane. “I only bit you. You sure someone didn’t smack you on your head before you came out here? What aboutyourdrink? How many have you had?”
“Not a single fucking one. I’m stone-cold sober, and I want you to know I’myours.”
Yup. Absolutely bonkers. “I’m going home. When Loni’s done with Adrian, tell her to call me so I know everything’s okay.”
“As you wish.” He grins, rubbing his thumb over the visible bite mark on his forearm. “You want me to walk you to your car?”
“No!”
“Suit yourself. I actually have something I’ve got to take care of anyway. But, Haven…” Haven again, I notice with an increase to the beat of my heart. “I’ll be seeing you later.”
Yeah fuckingright.
The patio door is still open. I march past Connor, basically waiting for him to grab me again. I guess the bite served as enough of a warning because he lets me pass while cradling his arm, marveling at the mark on his skin.
I meant it before. Being kissed by Connor Heyward rattled me enough that I… I can’t stay here. I tried, for Loni’s sake, but she’s seventeen, almost eighteen. She’s a big girl, and whileI hope she knows what she’s doing, I’m beginning to think that neither of us do.
And that’s why, instead of marching through the big house until I reach the front where I can go and find my parked car, I take a sharp turn left after slamming the sliding door closed behind me.
