Page 26 of Resist

He’s smirking, his eyes alight, but I feel sick all over.

He stole our first real kiss for a reaction from the audience.

Grinding my jaw, I bite back my anger.

I’ve imagined our first kiss for so long, and having it turned into a joke hurts a lot. It means nothing to him, just an act he puts on for everyone, but to me, it’s the person I have been in love with giving me a taste of everything I want and then snatching it away, laughing.

“Oh, wow.” Henley fans his face as he watches us. “The chemistry between you two is insane. I have to ask, is it real?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Ryker jokes, totally indifferent to the fact that I am silently fuming next to him.

I’m quiet for the rest of the interview, and when it’s over, I leave the stage as quickly as I can. I’m ready to explode, and if they aren’t careful, it will be all over them. I can’t ruin our reputation before we even begin, but that was fucked up.

As soon as I pass that curtain, I storm away. I hear my bandmates running after me, but I need to be alone right now. Wiping my mouth, I find the glitter from his lips on my fingers, and that only pisses me off more.

“Fox, what the hell?” Ryker snaps as he grabs my arm and spins me. The staff members quickly scurry away, leaving just us, Dash, and Strike, who watch us anxiously. “What is wrong with you?”

“With me? What is wrong with you?” I yell, and he recoils. “I’m not some fucking prop for you to use, Ryker. I’m a person with feelings, and they can be hurt.”

“What are you talking about?” he mutters, looking around. “Let’s talk outside.”

“No, let’s talk here,” I snap as I advance on him, glaring down at him. How could I love a man like this? “You can’t kiss me on TV for fun. It isn’t funny to me, okay? It isn’t a joke! When someone you . . . someone you . . .” Fuck. I clench my teeth, unable to say it. “Steals your first kiss like that, it’s fucked up, Ryker, like it’s another game, another marketing strategy. Well, it isn’t for me, okay? Being kissed means something to me—it should have meant something—but now it’s tainted and ruined and wrong.”

“Fox . . .” He swallows hard, his eyes wide as he stares at me. “I’m sorry. I just?—”

“You’re always fucking sorry. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of you using me to sell yourself. We wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me, but do you care? No. I’m just another thing for you, likean outfit you put on and then discard when it’s over, but I’m done. I’m so tired of it all.”

Turning away, I rip off the stupid shirt. “Fox, wait!” I hear the panic in his voice, but I avoid his grabbing arms. “Please! Please, I’m sorry! Wait! Let me explain.” It’s too late.

I stop with my back to them. “I can’t do this.”

“What?” There is pain in his voice, but I don’t care anymore.

“Fox!” Dash and Strike call for me, but I avoid them, striding toward the exit. What I said is true. I can’t do this anymore. I thought I could.

I thought it would be okay to be in love with him but never with him, as long as I was still in his life, but I was wrong. I can’t be in love with Ryker and in his life. It hurts too much, and in the end, all it does is keep breaking my heart, and I’m done.

It’s the last straw.

I head out into the city. I need to get away from them.

My phone hasn’t stopped ringing, but I turn it off. I don’t know why I’m here, but when the apartment door opens and Team stands in the doorframe, I can’t deny that I’m happy to see his face.

I need someone who understands, and he’s all I have.

Maybe it’s my jumbled emotions or the realization that I’m done, but I just stare at him.

“Do you want to come in?” he asks softly. “Fox, are you?—”

Stepping across the threshold, I grab his face. “Don’t talk,” I order as I press my lips to his. I need to replace Ryker’s taste with someone else’s. I need to get the sick, used feeling out of me with someone who actually wants me.

I need to taste want, not indifference.

I guide him backwards and kick the door shut behind us. He hits the wall, and my hand slips into his hair as his mouth opens, and my tongue sweeps in, tangling with his. Swallowing his moan, I kiss him harder as his hands slide down my body, grabbing my ass and dragging me closer so there isn’t an inch of room between us. I feel every solid inch of his dick, even through his shorts.

“Bedroom?” I pant against his lips.

“That way,” he rasps, and our lips crash together as I back him through the apartment. We stumble, and something breaks, but we don’t move apart as we eat at each other so hard it hurts. When he falls backwards onto something soft, I come down on top of him.

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