Page 38 of Foul Territory
He kissed me.
The kiss was soft, sweet, and nothing like what I expected. I’ve kissed Koa before. It was a mess of tongues, teeth, and lips. Neither one of us knew what we were doing back then.
The whole event has played on repeat in my head the last few days. I’m used to men pushing it with their words when I’m at work. They attempt to flirt after a few rounds but no one has ever physically touched me or followed me into a stock room before.
That customer scared me more than I was letting on. The liquor closet was secluded. Sure the girls knew where I was but they wouldn’t have any reason to check on me.They definitely wouldn’t have heard me scream if he was able to advance on me. And he would have if Koa didn’t follow us.
My skin still tingles from where he touched me. He erased all my fear in seconds and replaced it with desire. I bang my head against the top row of books. I’m not supposed to be feeling this way about him anymore.
He moved in on me so easily as if it was something he does on a regular basis—saving damsels. He seemed unaffected by our close proximity, meanwhile I had to claw at his chest to keep myself from sinking into the floor.
I expected him to grab the guy by the collar and walk him out the door. The last guy who touched me without permission came to school the next day with a busted lip and a black eye.
No, instead he acted like my boyfriend. He kissed me and he called me baby. Maybe I’m the one who should have put up a fight. Am I even capable of doing that? I’ve never had to try before. He’s never put me in a position where I’m forced to choose between pushing him away or pulling him closer.You definitely didn’t push him away.
My hand clamps down on the bookshelf in front of me. One kiss and my heart was ready to start planning a wedding. Then I looked over Koa’s shoulder and remembered it was all an act. That everything he did and said was to get that guy to leave.
“How many books do you have at home that you haven’t read, give or take twenty?” Koa removes the book I’ve been cradling from my arms and looks over the title. Then flipsopen the front cover as if he’s actually interested in what the book is about.
It’s the second book in a duet. And no, I haven’t read the first one yet but they are going to look so pretty on my shelf together.
He closes the book and hands it back to me.
“Less than you think,” I reply, especially if he’s giving me twenty. The corner of his mouth ticks. I wait for him to tell me that I shouldn’t be wasting my money on more books but it never comes.
“We need to talk,” he says.
“We have nothing to talk about.” I walk past him toward the romance section. I’m not going to let his presence ruin my shopping trip. If he thinks I want to talk about what happened or him kissing me, he’s crazy.
I want to forget about it and move on. Talking about it will put me at risk. I’m not a good liar. I won’t be able to hide the fact that he still has a hold on me.
“We do.”
Biting down on my back molars, I expel a breath through my nose. Blinded by my frustration I almost bump into an older couple passing us. Koa presses against my elbow moving me out of the way in time.
“Excuse me,” I say to them, then jerk out of his reach. “Don’t touch me. You’ve done enough of that already, don’t you think?” I grit out behind a clenched jaw. He chuckles darkly. I don’t know what he thinks is so funny.
“No, I don’t think I have,” he says with conviction. “I’m here becausewe need to talk about Nash’s party. His birthday is only a few weeks away.”
Ignoring him, because what the hell? ‘No, I don’t think I have.’Is he saying he wants to touch me more? I can’t overthink that statement at the moment.
I walk a little faster until I reach a bookshelf with familiar titles. The sight of them alone makes me feel calmer and more at ease. Letting my guard down completely isn’t something I can do. He has fooled me into thinking he cared before, but I won’t let it happen again.
He is here for Nash at the moment. Not me. I need to remember that.
“Why don’t you plan it by yourself? You know him best after all. You don’t need me.” I tilt my head towards him. “You never did.”
His face falls showing a moment of what? Regret? If it was, it’s gone in a flash. I scan the books on the shelf looking for one I don’t already own. Koa clasps his hand over mine, stopping my movement.
“I need you.” His thumb runs circles over my skin. The gesture is soft, barely there, but I notice every little touch from him. They all get cataloged and locked away for safekeeping despite my better judgment. “I don’t plan parties.”
Pulling away from him, I take a step out of his reach. The thought makes me laugh.Have I ever been out of his reach?“Interesting, considering you were so eager to volunteer. I doubt Nash expects much anyway. Drinks, some food,music.” I shrug. “Oh look at that. We just planned a party. Goodbye.”
“It’s his twenty-first. We need balloons and decorations,” he says, his gaze focused on my profile. I continue to scan book titles and admire their pretty spines and artwork in an attempt to forget he’s even here. It isn’t as easy to do as one would think.
“Sounds like you know how to plan parties to me. You have it all figured out and under control.” I smirk at him. I slide a book off the shelf and examine the front and back—the cover has a cool font and pretty colors.Don’t mind if I do.
“You promised Nash.”
