Page 7 of Twisted Lies

“No, we didn’t,” I reply coldly, stopping in my tracks, “I wasn’t planning on hooking up with my grieving girlfriend.”

His eyes stay on mine a little too long. Did Charlotte tell him about Howland? No. “I was only hanging out to see how she was,” he replies lightly, “Don’t be like that.”

“Like what?” I ask, tossing my gym bag down. “An asshole? Look, I’m done with you. It’s past time that I find someone else, so you shouldn’t have bothered leaving her bed.”

“What’s gotten into you?” he demands, stepping into my personal space. “Why the snippy attitude? Are you finally jealous of me noticing someone who appreciates me?”

I narrow my eyes. “You played me, Bryce, so you need to stop. I know about the Investors Club. You and the other dick-brains had no say on whether I got in or not.”

His grin turns into a hard line. “Who told you that?”

“Nice. So you don’t deny it?” I shake my head in disgust and take a step away from him.

“Whoever told you that was wrong.” Under the overhead light, his breath turns to steam in the cold air. “Do you really think Getz knows how to make money? He’s a teacher on tenure, waiting on his pension. We’re humoring him.”

I narrow my eyes, refusing to believe his lies. “I don’t trust you.”

He moves in close. “But you need me.”

Bryce reaches out to grab me, but I dodge his kiss, pushing him off me. I move my cheek away from his lips, but he tightens his grip on my arms. I gasp from his hold on me. I try to break out of his insistent grip, but Bryce only fights me harder. His mouth goes to my neck, and I feel a chill. My heart starts to race as the scent of his heated skin fills my nose, and I remember how he felt against my lips. His hands go slack, falling off me, but I don’t move away. He lifts his head and stares into my eyes, giving me a cocky-as-hell smile. I want to slap the jerk, but instead, like an idiot, I lean into his kiss.

His tongue wraps around mine as our breath mingles in the air. I push my hands through his hair as I feel his hard muscles under his clothes, pressing against me. I sigh as he looks into my eyes and kisses me again, holding my face and brushing his thumb against my cheek.

I gasp then speak. “They have pictures of us in the stacks.”

“I don’t care,” he whispers, “You need me, and I want you.”

I kiss him again, molding my body against his hard length. I squirm against Bryce as if I could get even closer. I want to get closer. His hand reaches around my back, pulling me in. His mouth leaves my lips and travels down my neck again as his hand reaches up toward my breast. His chilly hand teases my hot skin under my jacket, and I’m so tempted to do the wrong thing. I push Bryce away, and this time, he doesn’t insist.

Panting, he steps away from me. And I have to think of every good reason why I should never trust him or touch him again. There’s one thing I can do for my heartbroken sister, and that’s to tell Bryce never again.

“You need to go back to Charlotte,” I tell him harshly, “especially tonight. She needs you more than I do.”

He stares hard into my face, not sure if I’m a bitch or a tease. Bryce nods. “So, when are you going to need me again?”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to, ever, so don’t wait for it.”

Bryce scoffs. “You’ll need me, Astrid, and you better hope I’ll still want you then.”

He turns his back on me and walks away. Only a brave man turns his back on his enemy. Or a stupid one.

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