Page 122 of Wicked Dreams

My head shake is frantic. “I can’t?—”

He slams his lips to mine, cutting off my words. His tongue forces my lips apart, taking ownership of my mouth.

I shudder against him, finally sucking in a deep breath through my nose. Then another. He’s not kissing me—he’s resuscitating me. He doesn’t stop until I’ve relaxed in his hold and my heart isn’t hammering so viciously against my ribcage.

He finally rocks back on his heels, and his eyes search mine.

He’s still holding my wrists.

“Wow,” Riley mutters, a few feet away. “That was hot.”

“I’ll find out who sent that picture.” A mask slips over his features.

“Mr. Asher!” The principal comes toward us. “Mr.Asher, you are suspended!”

What?

When did that happen?

He drops my wrists and faces her. “I know.”

“So what on earth are you doing here?”

He shrugs, keeping me mostly behind him. Maybe he thinks she’ll turn her wrath on me, next. Or maybe…

Oh my God. Did she get the picture, too?

“I’m on my way out,” he informs her. “See ya Wednesday.”

Even when he doesn’t have the upper hand, he sounds arrogant enough to send theprincipalaway. After a moment of consideration, she marches back into the school.

Caleb taps under my chin until I meet his gaze. “You’ll be fine. Just ignore them.”

“Right. You got suspended?”

He rolls his eyes. “Perk of Ian being a loudmouth. I’m also not playing the next few hockey games.”

Oh, jeez.

Actually, didn’t they have a game on Saturday? I spent it recovering from my hangover from hell… He didn’t ask me to go, which I would’ve thought was weird if I was in any state to truly consider it. He heads back to his car, and I slowly rotate toward Riley.

“That bodes well,” she says.

“He didn’t fight Ian on school grounds. Why did they suspend him?”

She links her arm with mine. The bell rings, which means we’ve successfully avoided the courtyard.

“Ian’s parents complained,” she says in a low voice. “Threatened to sue if they didn’t do something to curb Caleb’s reaction.”

“He’s been getting in a lot of fights. Did Ian get suspended, too?”

“No, because they alleged that Caleb was the aggressor. He’s got a little split lip, and Ian looks like he fought a cheese grater. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”

Lovely. Just what I need—for Caleb to be out and Ian to be potentially feeling vengeful.

All eyes are on me. I try to do what Caleb says—to ignore them—but it’s hard when the hallway gets quiet again. Riley stays with me until we get to my homeroom, and she throws me a sympathetic look.

“I’ll be okay.” I think I’m lying.

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