AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And then, with a wicked half-smile on his face, he kissed me.
His mouth pressed into mine, warm and gentle, as his hands found their way around my body. My mouth reacted naturally to his, moving in perfect unison with him as he led the way. He pressed closer to me, making sure not a single ounce of space was left between us. My hands found their way around his neck, pulling him closer to me.
It was a show. I knew that. But I still couldn’t stop myself from getting drawn into his delicate touch and his needy mouth. Alek was my drug.
I kissed him back, wanting to be convincing to our audience but also wanting something more, something I couldn't even admit to myself.
A few yells and cheers from Alek’s table of guys was our sign that it had worked.
Alek pulled away but didn’t take his hands off me as his eyes met mine. “You’re a great actor,” he whispered. His voice melted with the same heat I felt. “I nearly believed that.”
I could feel the heat in my face as I held his stare. “Likewise,” was all I could manage to say.
Something stirred inside of me as his beaming green eyes flickered down to my lips once more.
Could he hear how fast my heart was beating?
And then it was over. Alek stepped away and walked back to his posse, leaving me alone.
I didn’t wait another second before leaving Salem and Nat, bolting out of the bar, and rushing home.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
“You can’t keep coming here,” I whispered. “Someone will eventually see you.”
“You left the bar alone. I needed to make sure you got home okay.”
I pulled my sweater tight around my waist. I had changed out of my clubbing clothes and washed the hoards of makeup off my face, but somehow I felt more exposed in my sweater and sweatpants than I had in the tight dress. “Well, I’m obviously fine, so you can go.”
Alek’s unreadable face darkened. He stayed put near the window, not coming any further. “Don’t shut me out, Lyra. Let’s talk.”
“I’m not shutting anyone out! You don’t have to pretend like you really care, Alek. We fooled everyone in the damn bar tonight. Mission accomplished.”
His jaw tightened. “You know that’s not all I care about.”
A sharp pain formed in my chest. Bitterness and jealousy swam through my mind, threatening to drown me. I tried to push it all away, I tried to rebuild those walls Alek had been tearing down, brick by brick. But I was in too deep. Could Alek tell? Could he see how much this hurt? “Well, it should be.”
I turned around and walked into my open kitchen, grabbing a cup and filling it with water. I stood with my back to him, trying to collect my thoughts as I placed both hands on the counter.
“I didn’t mean to snap at you. I lost my temper, and I’m sorry.”
Alek took a few steps forward. I felt his presence as he approached behind me.
“Forgive me,” he said. It wasn’t a question as much as it was a quiet demand.
Chills ran down my arms.
“Why should I?” I questioned. “What’s the point?”
Alek moved even closer. If I leaned back even an inch, I would be pressed against his chest. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Lyra. I don’t want you to hate me.”
“Why not?” I whispered. “This is just part of the deal for you, isn’t it? This is all just a way to get your father to do what you want. So why bother with thinking anything different?”
His hand fell onto my shoulder. “Do I really have to say it?”
My heart raced. “Say what?”
A knock on my front door interrupted us. Alek backed away instantly, and the tension between us disappeared in an instant.
