Page 44 of The Kiss Of Death
He tilted his head to the side, a faint twisted smirk playing on his lips, and he advanced toward me, hands casually tucked into his pockets. “I never joke.”
“You said you’re disgusted by me.”
“That’s my concern.”
I chortled. “How romantic.”
“You should be flattered.”
“I’m offended,” I quipped back. “I’m pretty sure no woman here would want someone like you to chase them.”Especially since if Levi caught you, your prayers wouldn’t stand a chance against him.
“It’s noble of you to sacrifice yourself to save all of them from me, then.” He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear, as if about to share a secret. “Have you ever thought that maybe I didn’t want you… that way?”
The wind bursts became violent, and the next thing I felt was a hand. Levi’s hand. On my butt cheek on top of my skirt. I didn’t think twice before I slapped him. I slapped Levi in his perfectly handsome, cruel face. In the middle of a crowd.Oh dear God.
“What are you doing?” I panicked. “Your hand is on—”
“Yes, my hand is resting on your ass, but there is a perfect explanation to that,” he rasped yet still did not withdraw his hand, even as a group of Pioneers cheered for me to slap him again from the grass.
My cheeks were burning. “Everyone is staring.”
“Let them.” On that note, he pulled his hand away.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, seeing the red mark of my hand on his cheek. “I panicked, and you were touching me. In public.”
“So you prefer it in private?”
“No!” I defended myself before mumbling, “Maybe I should have punched you instead.”
“Charming. It’s not like I was trying to have sex with you. I was doing something chivalrous such as not letting your butt be exposed in front of those assholes because of the wind.” He massaged his cheek. “You have strength. That was a good slap. You should—”
He stopped speaking, his eyes assessing me. I was probably as red as a tomato. Levi had never touched me directly. Heeither kept his distance from me or touched me only if it got him something he wanted. Here, he did it genuinely, and the thought of that created a staccato note that punctuated the rhythm of my heartbeat.
“Did you think I was—”
“No!” I screamed, folding my arms. “Just forget it and leave me alone.”
I was about to leave when he captured my arm, his hand brushing on the white lace fabric of my dress shirt. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Levi.”
“If you struggle, I’ll have no shame but to throw you in the river caveman style.” He retreated his hand, his fingers curling for a moment. “Seeing you all wet and furious is a taunting sight.”
“You’re a psycho.”
“Only for you.”
“Great, so I’m the lucky one.”
“Exactly,” he said, slanting one of his artificial fake smiles. “Meet me tonight at midnight in the library. Take the door with the forbidden sign. It will take you to our meeting place.”
He had to choose midnight, not surprising. It sounded like the perfect hour for monsters to wake.
“It sounds prohibited,” I argued.
“You’re afraid.”
“I’m not!” I lowered my voice. “What for anyway? I won’t do stuff with you.”
