Page 5 of Savage Scream

‘I think you hit your head a little too hard. You’re talking gibberish.’

Holding it up for Jared to read, I watch his eyes scan over it before he throws his head back, laughing.

“Nice try, Deranged.” Then he presses his hand to his head. “Ouch. Laughing hurts.”

My face falls and I reach out to place my hand over his, and our eyes lock.

I should leave now. I should go and let him recover and figure out how the fuck to explain the car wreck to Griffin, but then my eyes drop to his lips as my inner urges take over.

“If you want to kiss me, then kiss me,” he whispers, and my nostrils flare. “Do it, Dee. Put us both out of our misery.”

My lips part in a silent gasp as his words egg me on to give into the need racing through me.

I shouldn’t.

I lean in a little.

I should leave.

I lean a little further.

I should run.

I close the distance and press my lips to his.

Jared’s arms instantly tighten around me, and our lips part as we kiss each other with a longing that has me whimpering. Jared matches my whimper with a growl, and I grip onto his face, needing to hold him captive.

We get lost in that kiss. Our lips and tongues saying what words can’t as we grapple each other like we can’t get close enough. It’s everything. I know I shouldn’t let myself feel this, yet I’m not strong enough to pull away. The need to kiss him, to feel his tongue brush against mine, feel his moan in my mouth, to get lost with him is all-consuming.

A tap on the door has us pulling apart quickly, and Jared calls out, “Hang on,” as he studies me, both of us breathing heavily. “Thank you for helping me.”

I offer him a small smile. I want to tell him he doesn’t have to thank me, but the words stay trapped inside.

“I wanna ask you something. And I don’t want you to run instead of answering me.” He states, not giving me an option to refuse when he keeps talking. “Be my girl?”

I stiffen and then try to move.

“Stop, Dee. Don’t run from me. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

Shit.

My eyes prickle with heat again, and my cheeks flare to life.

“I get it. You’re leaving soon. You don’t want to get involved with someone because it will be more painful when you have to leave. But the way I see it, I’d rather say the hardest goodbye to you when the time comes, than to forever wonder what things could have been like if we just allowed ourselves to make the most of our time together.”

Fucking hell!

FUCKING HELL!

How the fuck am I meant to say no to that?

A tear pops free and I swallow over and over, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat.

“So this is what’s going to happen.” Jared smirks even while he wipes away my tear with his thumb. “I’m gonna keep annoying you, because I know how much you like it.” He winks, and I can’t hold back my grin. “And I’m going to keep pushing you until I hear your voice again, even if it’s just once. And you’re going to sit me on my arse ninja style, play hangman with me, let me chase you around Lake Woodall again, and while we are at it, we should definitely re-enact your legs wrapped around my face at the lookout.” My mouth drops open and he chuckles. “And we will do all of this while you pretend not to want me as much as I want you.”

I’m on fire. All of a sudden, my hoodie is trapping me in an inferno raging inside my body.

Panicking, I slowly shake my head, and Jared quirks a brow.

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