Page 47 of Thorns of Malice

I shake my head and shrug my shoulders, admitting, "It's just Dax Carrington." I get into the car.

He pauses a moment and then shuts the door.

The others step out of the building, and Dax scurries around the front of the car, then slides into the driver's seat. He revs the engine and peels out, driving the same way as when we were younger.

Another rush of adrenaline hits me, just like it used to. I state, "Some things never change."

"Some things do," he declares and glances at me in disapproval.

I raise a brow. "Such as?"

He scowls. "You."

"Spoken from the chameleon," I accuse.

He sighs, then grabs my hand and kisses it.

I have to fight those feelings I wish I could erase. I realize this is harder than I thought it would be, even though I knew it wouldn't be easy.

"I'm sorry, baby girl. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"Didn't you?"

"No, I didn't. I know none of this is your fault."

"None of what?" I question, curious about what part of this toxic evening he's referring to.

He glances over at me and then back at the road.

"This isn't you, Ivy. Whatever you're trying to do here, it isn't you. You're better than this...than all of us."

I snort, laughing. "That's rich coming from you."

"I mean it," he insists, stroking his thumb over my hand and sending surges of need straight to my core.

Stay in control.

I take my hand out of his and move it to his thigh, slowly crawling my fingers toward his erection until my pointer finger grazes it. I move it up and down.

A low groan comes out of him. "Jesus, Ivy."

I quietly ask, "How much of everything between us was a game to you?"

He grinds his molars.

My pulse quickens. "It's okay. You can admit it. It was a long time ago, Dax. I'm just curious when you decided I would be used and manipulated."

Dax turns a corner, steps on the accelerator, and shakes his head. "It was all a mistake, Ivy."

"Oh? What part was a mistake?" I challenge.

He swallows hard.

"The part where you posted the video all over campus or something else?"

"I didn't post that video. I swear to you it was not me," he insists.

I almost want to believe him, but I can't. I reply, "Sure you didn't. But it's okay. It was a long time ago. You can admit it."

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