AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. ‘We don’t have to do this, Frankie.’
But he doesn’t move away as I raise myself onto my knees and reach for him.
Deep down, I know this is absurd. I know this is cruel, and I’m intentionally hurting Archer, and that this isn’t me. But I can’t stop now, and I have nothing left to lose.
My hands caress his cheeks. His stubble is sharp against my palms. A shudder runs through him, and everywhere inside of me warms to him. Every part of me wants him pressed against me.
‘Frankie,’ Chase whispers.
‘Shh.’
His eyes flare, but he says nothing more, does nothing more, as I tilt my head towards him and brush my mouth against his.
His lips are still beneath mine, and I start to pull away, but then his hands slide up into my hair and pull me against him, and his mouth is on mine, and he’s kissing me.
Chase Maverick kisses gently, passionately, as if he wants to savour every brush of skin and linger in every breath. I think about his comment about doing things thoroughly, and his kissing is no exception.
My lips are compliant beneath his, and his are hungry and needy and possessive. His hands in my hair are rough and gentle and wanting, and my lids are heavy from his touch. He tastes like the sweetest poison—I’m drunk on him, but I want more. I nip at his bottom lip, and he makes a noise of surprise against my mouth, but his fingers tighten in my hair.
He doesn’t pull away until we’re gasping and breathless and dizzy.
We stare at each other, panting.
And then he leans in again and presses his lips to mine softly.
Suddenly his expression shutters, like a door slammed closed. He pulls away from me and stands.
Everyone stares at us. Archer looks like he wants to hit something—probably Chase.
‘This game’s over,’ Chase says in a strangled voice. ‘I hope that was a climatic finale for you. Come on, Frankie. I’ll drive you home.’
Chapter Seven
Alive and Breathing
The drive home is tense and strained. The air is close and humid. I’m still. I can barely move, not even to open the window.
My world feels like a piece of fractured glass, and any movement will send it shattering.
Chase’s hands clench white around the steering wheel. He doesn’t talk to me bar to ask if I’m too hot, if I want the radio on, if he’s driving too fast. But I can’t manage anything beyond a head shake.
He’s mad at me. I know he is. He didn’t want to kiss me. I should have listened when he said we didn’t have to do it, but my stupid feelings got in the way. Again.
And now I’ve messed everything up with Archer. He’ll probably never speak to me again. I can’t shake the look of betrayal on his face as I walked away from him. He did kiss Cassie, but there was no passion in it. It wasn’t lingering and tentative and hot, and he definitely didn’t run his fingers through her hair, and he definitely didn’t lean in for another press of lips.
Did Chase only kiss me back to make Archer hurt the way he hurt me last night? As a sort of indirect assault? I knew my mistake the moment the light in Chase’s eyes went out, doused like a flame.
We’ve overstepped a fragile line, and we both know it.
I don’t know how we’ll ever come back from this.
He pulls the car to a stop in front of my house. My dad is in the garden, his hands on his hips as he stares down at the Stagg’s engine.
Chase stares straight ahead.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say thickly. In the span of a week, I’ve lost everything. Cassie, Archer, my mum, and now him. ‘I’m so sorry—‘
‘Stop.’ His jaw ticks. ‘Stop saying you’re sorry. If I was a better man, I would have walked away. If I was a better man, I wouldn’t have even entertained the thought. But I’m not a better man, and kissing you was the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.’ He looks at me.
