Page 86 of Unforgivable

“Umm, see that's the thing. I've met Griffin before,” Rhys started. I raised my brows at him, confused. “He cornered me after the haunted house. He had caught me eavesdropping on the three of you and he tried to strong arm me into dropping the complaint too. From a couple things he said, I got the vibe that there were some feelings on his end.”

Things clicked into place about why it had been so uncomfortable between them back at my apartment, and my anger flared again briefly at the thought of Griffin trying to screw with Rhys.

“I genuinely had no idea,” I told him honestly. “We only fooled around a few times over the years when we were bored, and we never fucked. You were my first with that and I meant it.”

Rhys peeked up at me, long lashes framing those mesmerizing eyes. “You never had any feelings for him, not even a little?”

“None. You have been the only person I have felt anything for. I don't think it would have been possible for anyone else to make me feel what you do, and I told Griff as much.”

He nodded, his fingers playing with the hem of my neckline, electricity sparking from his gentle touches. I drew him closer, our foreheads resting together as I let myself bask in the simple intimacy of holding him.

“I feel bad for him,” Rhys whispered, fingers traveling down to my chest slowly. “You're a hard one to get over, Hawkins.”

“Glad you think so.” My lips curved in a soft smile as I sifted my hand through his silky waves at the back of his head. “How are you so cool about this? I half expected a scene worthy of the Kardashians, with a drink thrown in my face and you screaming about my no-good, cheatin' ass.”

“What can I say? I'm just wildly above all that. It's a maturity thing, you wouldn't understand,” he scoffed sarcastically.

“Oh yes. You just reek of patience and sophistication. I'm sorry I doubted you,” I responded woodenly.

“I suppose forgiving you would be the polite thing to do,” Rhys mumbled slowly. “As long as you make it worth my while.”

“I've got some solid ideas on how to make that happen,” I beamed at him, tugging playfully on his hair. “No matter what, it's you and me now. I am yours, without question. You have all of me for as long as you wish.”

His answering smile robbed me of breath, my gut swirling with so many emotions I couldn't name them.

“Hard to believe you're the same guy who groped me in the gym shower and cooked up a psycho revenge plan to get back at me,” he quipped, giggling sweetly at my exaggerated eye roll.

“Unbelievable. What's a psychopath got to do to live that shit down? If I recall, I barely tortured you and you got a few good orgasms out of it, so I think you made out just fine.”

Rhys jabbed his fingers into my sides, laughing at the snort that escaped me from the unexpected move. I targeted his ribs, tickling him as his laughter lit up all the dark parts of me that lingered. Behind us, shouts of excitement rang out that coalesced into a countdown, warning of the remaining fifteen seconds of the year.

Rhys slipped his arms around my neck, his body pressing close to mine as our gazes locked.

“How about it, hot stuff? Want to be my first kiss of the year or should I find a worthy alternate?”

I growled possessively and ground my hips into his, his eyes fluttering at the feel of my hardening cock against his leg. “Fuck that. I'll be your only kiss of the year. You aremine.”

I crashed my lips on his, nipping at his bottom lip until he fed me his moan. He molded his body to mine, angling his head to let me in deeper and I devoured him as fireworks exploded in the sky above us. I chased his taste with my tongue, stealing his breath as everything around us fell away. Nothing outside of that moment mattered. The world existed only in the space between us, hanging in the balance that we brought to each other.

His kisses were Heaven to a sinner like me. They had the power to destroy and resurrect me in a single heartbeat. He took my broken fragments and reformed me into someone new, someone better than I was before.

And that someone had lost his entire heart and soul to Rhys Evans.

25

RHYS

Istared at the red doors of the dark, nondescript building, the appearance of it at odds with what we'd find inside. Next to me, Cal stood antsy and discomfited. I reached for his hand and had to pry it away from his leg like it was his silent protest at being there. He eyed the bright poster advertising Elysium's “What A Drag (Queen) Night” in front of us, his annoyance radiating palpably.

“I can't believe you dragged me here,” he muttered.

“Was that pun intended?” I snorted.

“Bite me, Sweetness,” he retorted, but I could see the hint of a smile breaking through. It was terrible of me, but his obvious unease was highly amusing.

“You're crazy uncomfortable right now, aren't you?” I probed.

“Yep.”

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