Page 78 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
The moment I see Torren, my heart picks up pace. He’s sweaty, his tattooed skin glistening and his curly hair falling in his eyes. He took off his vest halfway through the second set, so he’s gloriously shirtless,wearing just a low-slung pair of tight black jeans, and I have only thirty seconds to prepare myself. Thirty seconds where he’s strutting toward me with a sexy smirk on his full lips like some kind of famous rock star, and I have to remind myself to breathe.
When he’s within a few feet of me, I put my arms out like we discussed and let him swoop me up, spinning me in a circle before putting me back on my feet and smoothing my hair out of my face.
“Hi.” His voice is raspy from singing for two hours, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Hi.”
We hold the pose, gazing into each other’s eyes for long enough that spectators can get photographs, and I wait for him to take my hand and lead me back to the dressing rooms like we’d planned. He doesn’t, though. Instead, he lowers his face into the crook of my neck and kisses me there, once, twice, before biting me lightly.
My eyes fall shut, and I whimper, pressing my thighs together and tightening my arms around his neck. He chuckles, and the sound shoots right to my core.
“That’s right, baby.”
He slides his hands to my backside, squeezing my ass cheeks before lifting me. I wrap my legs around his waist on instinct, then gasp when my body meets his hard dick.
He bites me again and my hips jolt into him.
“Fuck, you burn so hot, don’t you?”
The words float through the haze in my head, alarm bells ringing, but they’re drowned out by lust and need. I don’t notice he’s walking until my back is pressed against a cold cinderblock wall. He squeezes my ass again and then pats my thigh. I unwrap my legs, and he sets me down. For the first time since he scooped me up, I take a full breath and try to clear my head.
His pupils are dilated, and he’s fighting a smirk as his eyes sweep over me.
“Be ready at ten a.m. I’m taking you somewhere.” His gaze fixates on my neck, and his eyes flare with heat. “And wear your hair up.”
Then he turns and struts away. I close my eyes and rest my body against the wall, allowing the cold of the cinderblock to seep through my The Hometown Heartless tank top, willing it to cool me down. Asmy heartbeat returns to normal, my neck starts to throb. I press my fingers against the spot he assaulted and shiver. I don’t even have to look in the mirror. I know what he did.
Wear your hair up.
The bastard marked me—again—and he’s proud of it.
Then I remember something else.
You burn so hot, don’t you?
Shit.
First the comment about my hair, and then this.
You burn so hot.
Fear licks up my throat, my heart racing for a whole new reason.
Until now, I’ve been hiding in plain sight, but I think my time might be running out.
22
CALLIE
PAST, ArtFusion Day Four
“You gonna go hangwith yourfriend from high schoolagain?”
Rocky’s question is posed sarcastically as if he doesn’t believe that’s who I’ve spent time with the last two nights. I flick my eyes to Becket, but he refuses to look at me. I take a bite of my breakfast sandwich and focus on Rocky. I chew and swallow slowly, trying not to give myself away. I’m not a great liar, but I can omit the truth like a pro.
“You’re just jealous I haven’t introduced you,” I state, and Rock rolls his eyes.
Ezra lumbers up to the picnic table where we’re sitting, wearing the same outfit he had on yesterday. I jump on the opportunity to direct attention away from me.
