Page 45 of Dare You to See Me
I unbuckle her helmet and pull it off as she tames the hair that clings to it with static.
“No way, sweetheart. I never cheat. I simply saw my opening and took it. I can’t help it if you were distracted by my beauty.” I arch a brow and she playfully slaps at my chest.
I capture her hands and hold them to my beating heart as it thunders inside of my chest. I hope she knows that every thump-thump has her name on it. My thumb smooths over the back of her hand and I want so badly to take her lips with mine. But a noisy race track with dozens of onlookers is not the moment I want her to remember.
“Need some refreshments?” I ask her.
“I could use a cold drink.” She’s breathless but I don’t think it has anything to do with the race.
I drop one hand but keep the other securely in mine and pull her to the snack bar. I squeeze and feel her fingers tighten their hold. I take deep breaths in and out to keep myself from throwing her up against the wall and taking what I want.
We get in line behind a group of teenagers and stand in comfortable silence. Unfortunately, our silence is broken in the worst way.
“Is that Malik Dare?” A voice that sends shivers up my spine, the kind that invokes bile to rise in your throat, calls out from behind us.
Soleil turns her head and I cautiously do the same only to find the exact person I prayed it wouldn’t be.
“Hey Mal. How are you?” The woman that makes my skin crawl reaches out to touch my arm and I flinch away from her touch.
“Hello Soria.”
I haven’t seen her since the bonfire night months ago where she tried to scare Dagen away with the little stunt she pulled with Henny. The one Danté put her up to and the one that almost sent Dagen running without looking back. Thank god she and Henny are both too strong-willed and passionate to let an evil woman between them.
“How’s Hendrix? I haven’t seen him around much.” She runs her tongue across her lip as if it’s a move that could get me to beg for a taste.
Not a chance.
“He lives in Texas most of the time.” The line inches forward and I turn my attention away from her.
“Texas? Why?”
“His girl. That’s why.”
I can feel the heat of her anger as it pours out of her. “And is thisyourgirl?”
I tug Soleil closer, urging her to not pay any mind as we reach the front of the line. “Yup. Have a good one Soria.”
I dismiss her and order us a couple of drinks and snacks, then quickly step aside to the pickup window and far away from that she-devil.
“Sorry about that. Soria’s a horrible person and I didn’t want to subject you to her word vomit.” She looks up at me with so many questions swirling in her eyes. “She was a one time hookup with Hendrix, and she’s been trying to squirm her way back into his life, and bed, ever since.”
“Oh.” Her eyes veer from my face to my necklace that hangs.
“She pulled some shit one night during a beach bonfire and tried to send Dagen packing. It almost worked, but Henny was already so hung up on Day that all she did was drive them closer together. I never touched her. Wouldn’t if the fate of the world rested in my hands.”
She meets my eyes again and gives her head a little shake. “It’s okay. It’s none of my business.”
I run my finger lightly across her jaw to her ear and trace the shell. “I want to make it your business. I want you to know everything about me and be a part of my life. And not just as my students' parents.”
“Malik. I–” My name is called and I close my eyes, frustrated that we’ve been interrupted.
I grab our stuff, not allowing her to carry anything, and guide us over to a table. She sits and I place her stuff down then sit closely beside her.
“Continue. Please,” I urge her.
She sips from her soda and I watch the way her pink lips wrap around the straw. I grow hot and under the table, my dick grows hard.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Her words break my revelry.
