Page 55 of Puck Block

Her arms fly across her chest, and it’s a temptation like no other. My eyes fall to her perfect tits, and my throat closes.

“What I want is to punch you in the face,” she snaps.

I chuckle. “That’s not what you want to do to me.”

Abort. Abort. Abort.

My restraints are loosening, and the seed of anger in Taytum’s glare is nothing but a lure. I push off the wall and stalk over to her, ignoring the warning bells going off in the back of my head. I’m not surprised when she doesn't move, but I really wish she had.

I take the back of my hand and slowly brush my knuckles against her warm cheek when she tips her head to stare up at me. “I got you all worked up, Tay. So, what are you going to do about it?”

The pad of my finger tingles when I trace the curve of her lips. A raspy chuckle leaves me when she tries to bite it, and a second later, her back is up against the wall. The red exit sign paints the small space with a reddish hue, and the only thing I can think is how badly I want to unbutton her jeans, slip my hand in between her legs, and feel how much I’ve turned her on.

“You going to fix the problem I gave you? Or are you going to puss out like you keep doing with all those other guys you’re messaging?”

She swallows, and I tilt my head like a predator. I feel wild with her trapped in my arms with no one around to stop me.

I lean in closer, and Taytum’s blonde hair brushes against my hand on her waist when she tips her head against the wall. Her rib cage expands a second too fast, and the only thing I’m doing is making things worse, yet I can't stop.

“It’s almost like you’re scared. I thought you wanted freedom, yet you won’t take it.”

Taytum’s sweet breath hits my face, and my mouth waters.

My dick is so hard it hurts, but I know better than to brush it against her. One single touch and my limit will be reached.

“Well, considering that every time in the past when I’ve run off with some guy, you or Emory show up like a fucking nightmare, yeah, maybe I am a little afraid. I don’t like to be left high and dry.” Her little jaw tenses, and I grip her chin to make her loosen it.

“You have my word. Emory has already disappeared with some puck bunny, and I promise you I won’t interfere.” I pull my gaze away and stare at the door. “Why do you think I sent all those messages? I’m trying to help you. I told you I'd help you date, have one-night stands, whatever. This is me keeping my word and pushing you out of your comfort zone.”

It’s total bullshit.

I’m pushing her out of her comfort zone so it’ll stop me from keeping her for myself.

Taytum’s fingers trace every one of my knuckles on the hand that’s holding her steady. I tighten my grip and watch her lips form words that are dangerous to my ears. “And what if, right now, I want you?”

I have to physically pull myself away. The images in my head of what I want to do to her are going to send me straight to the grave, and if she doesn’t get out of my sight, I’m going to do something I’ll regret.

“No.” My tone is harsh. “Go find someone else.”

A short gasp cuts from her mouth, and it’s sharp enough to make me bleed.

“Fine!”

I can’t fathom turning around to watch her stomp up the stairs, so I wait until I hear the door open and close before spinning and slapping the part of the wall I trapped her against.

Something would have happened if I kept her hidden away in this little nook with no witnesses, and I’d likely regret it. But standing here alone while she’s upstairs flirting with some guy who probably doesn’t deserve her is something I may regret even more.

I take a few more deep breaths and decide that it’s been a reasonable amount of time since she left, so I climb the same steps she stomped up and return to the party. The hall has cleared significantly, and it looks like Bexley U is on top with hardly any time left in the last quarter.

Theo and Claire have emerged from their room, and she’s leaning against his chest while they watch Rush take a blow after throwing a pass downfield.

I try to keep my attention on the game, but I can’t help myself. I do a quick search-and-rescue for Taytum. I turned her down, and it wounded her, which means she’s most definitely going to act out. She’s probably with someone I detest. Knowing her, she’s probably fucking him in my room.

“Where have you been?” Theo asks, throwing me his knuckles.

I hit them a little too hard, and both he and Claire look at me suspiciously. Theo studies me, and he likely knows where I’ve been, but I brush him off and stare at the screen before pulling out my phone and deleting all the messages between Taytum and me.

If there’s no evidence, it didn’t happen, right?

---