Page 20 of Devil on Skates
I slip past him, forcing myself not to run, even though I want to escape both him and my own feelings. My heart pounds in my chest, my breath quickening, and my skin feels electrified as if it’s waiting for a touch that won’t come.
This has to stop. I can’t keep reacting like this and let him affect me. I have responsibilities, and I can’t just drop everything for a guy who has a reputation as a heartbreaker.
But as I reach my car, Xavier’s presence lingers like a ghost touch on my skin. I hate how much he messes with me and throws me off my balance. And I hate knowing that no matter how hard I try, I’ll be replaying what just happened all night instead of sleeping.
I need to get him out of my head, but I have no clue how to do that.
Chapter 9
XAVIER
I’M AWAKE BEFORE THEsun’s even properly up, my body still sore and my mind replaying last night like a movie, but I don’t fight it. I let my hand wander under the sheets and close my eyes, remembering every detail of what happened in the dark. My cock is so hard it almost hurts.
I picture her body pressed against mine, and her sharp intake of breath when she realized it was me... Her eyes darkened, and when I leaned in close and whispered into her ear, for a split second, she was ready to give in.
I take my time stroking myself, imagining a different scene in my mind. This time, she doesn’t walk away. Instead, she melts into me, her walls falling with the heat we both feel but refuse to admit. I picture her against the cold bricks, her soft gasps escaping her throat as my hands explore every curve of her body.
My pace picks up as the fantasy heats up. I’m lifting her like I did at the party, her legs wrapped tight around me, her nails digging into my shoulders. When I bury myself deep inside her, she cries out.
My release and satisfaction that follow are brief, barely scratching the surface of how much I want to turn this fantasy into real life.
I respect Irina’s strength. Most girls I know would’ve given in right away, chasing the rush without thinking.
But Irina? She’s got an iron power of will that lets her walk away, even when she wants to stay. Her resistance and the whole act of duty and obligation only make the chase sweeter.
Because behind all that control, there’s a woman who pressed herself against me in the dark, responded to my touch with fire, and vanished knowing one night wasn’t enough. She’s fighting herself just as much as she’s fighting me.
I admire her discipline, but I’m sure I’m going to break it.
I’m going to breakher.
The shower washes off the evidence of my morning fantasy, but not the plan brewing in my head. Last night was too direct and made it too easy for her to sayno, so I need to figure out the real obstacles. It’s not just her dad’s high expectations, which I know can be hell, but Keith too. What kind of guy has she settled for? What cracks can I exploit?
As I get dressed, the plan clicks into place. I need to get rid of Keith and throw some uncertainty and jealousy into their relationship. Those mess with anyone’s head, especially when there’s no passion between them.
FINDING KEITH ISN’Thard. I grab a coffee, find a table with a clear view of the whole café, and settle in with a book.
Soon, he shows up, flanked by a couple of other students, who are chatting as if they’re already CEOs. Even in casual—and expensive—clothes, he still looks polished, with every hair in place. That kind of perfection must be exhausting.
I wait until his friends leave, then slide up as he’s checking his phone.
“Costello, right?” I keep my voice light.
He looks up, a slow realization spreading across his face. “Gallagher! Good game last night.”
“Thanks.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.
I pull out a book from my bag. “Actually, I wanted to ask a favor.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “What kind of favor?”
I hold out the book. “Irina left this at my place. I’ve been meaning to get it back to her. Could you give it to her?”
He blinks twice, his mouth slightly open, as if he’s trying to process something impossible. “You know Irina?”
“We’re old friends,” I say. “Ran in the same circles a while back. Been to the same parties.”
“Parties?” He narrows his eyes, his lips pressed tight, as if he’s not buying it. “She doesn’t even go here.”
