Page 54 of Coal Hearts

I shivered as dew from the grass soaked into my skin. “I don’t understand any of that.”

His eyes flashed up again, and his demeanour slipped into sharp and nasty. “You don’t have to. Play along with me, and hopefully, I’ll have the strength not to snap.”

He didn’t give me a chance to agree.

His hand grabbed my chin, tipped my head back, and then...he kissed me.

His lips smashed over mine.

Fire ignited.

Smoke burned.

Embers sparked.

I gasped as his tongue forced its way into my mouth. I couldn’t move. I’d never been held so cruelly all while his lips bruised mine and his tongue gagged me until I opened wide.

So, so wide.

His fingers dug into the sides of my cheeks, keeping me open, once again proving I had no strength, no control. His domination drenched my system with loathing as well as disgusting, despicable lust. He scrambled me up and choked me with his need.

His tongue speared deep, hunting mine, eating me alive.

He groaned as his hand dropped from my jaw to my throat.

I froze as he pressed against my neck, pinning me against the grass and proving, once and for all, that this kiss wasn’t for my enjoyment. It wasn’t what kisses were supposed to be.

No affection.

No devotion.

No care or kindness or worship.

Just hate.

And heat.

And hunger.

I fought him.

I tried to bite.

But my struggle merely provoked whatever animal lived inside him. Wrenching his mouth from mine, he glowered from above. Lips wet and parted, eyes grey and churning, skin tight and shadowed with daybreak.

He was staggeringly gorgeous, the perfect face housing the darkest heart.

His stare tore into mine like his tongue had plunged into my mouth, and we both stopped breathing. “You taste like the worst kind of nightmare.” His hips rocked hard against mine, dragging an unwilling moan from my chest. “A nightmare especially flavoured for me.”

“Get off me.”

His brow furrowed. “Why you? Why did you have to be different?”

I gasped as his hand latched tighter around my throat, his fingers burning with destructing flames. “This is all your fault, little nightmare.”

I couldn’t speak around his crushing palm, but I let my eyes shout fury.

This was his fault!