Page 120 of The Rivals' Touch

“What the fuck, Remi!” Jacob’s voice stops me in my tracks in the empty school hallway. I’m on my way to the library, but now it looks like I won’t be going after all.

He steps around me. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m going to the library.”

“Don’t give me that shit! You haven’t talked to us for days. You’re avoiding us at school, and you won’t reply to any of our texts.”

At the sound of approaching footsteps, I look over my shoulder. Jacob seizes my arm and drags me into the nearest empty classroom. I don’t fight him because there’s no point.

“Did Bennett do something? Did he hurt you?”

I try to walk past him, deeper into the room, but he pulls me back against the door. “Jacob!”

“What?” He cages me in with his hands on the door, and his green eyes search mine. “Talk to me.”

I drop my gaze, staring down at my red chucks. “I can’t, Jacob.”

“You can’t what?”

Do I need to spell it out for him? “Us.”

He’s quiet, flicking his eyes between mine. “Something happened.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He slaps the door. “The hell it does! Zayd’s a fucking mess, and Legacy is as confused as I am.”

“I need to go.”

He palms my cheek and ducks down, so I have no choice but to look at him. “Stay!”

A tear makes its way down my cheek. I trail my eyes over his face. “It’s over between us.”

He steps closer and slides his hand up the back of my neck and into my hair. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. You belong to us.”

My breath hitches and I fist my hands by my sides to stop myself from reaching for him, but it’s futile – I can’t resist him. I pull him down to me and taste his soft lips. “I can’t, Jacob.” It’s a soft peck, but my heart soars from the depths of despair.

He presses himself against me, whispering, “You can, babe!” Then he steals my breath and sanity with hungry kisses, leaving me no choice but to yield to him. That must be why I let him lift me up against the door and slide his hand beneath my top and bra.

I break away from his lips with a gasp.

“That’s it, give in to me!” He dives down for another kiss, moving his hand over to my other breast.

A semblance of clarity finally re-enters my mind, and I tear my lips away. “Let me go!”

His hands leave my skin; he rests his forehead on mine and breathes harshly through his nose. “Remi.”

I stare at his lips until he tilts his chin and brings his mouth to mine. His movements are slow and calculated. He knows I might bolt at any moment, but he also knows how to subdue me.

My skin erupts in goosebumps at the feel of his breath on my lips as he coaxes me to open them. His touch is soft and careful, like he’s trying to calm a frightened animal.

“Remi,” he whispers, drugging me with a scorching kiss that curls my toes inside my shoes. “Good girl,” he praises, undoing the buttons on my jeans when I don’t resist him. He slides my zipper down; his other hand is on the back of my neck to keep me in place.

I open my mouth to speak, but he steals my protests from my lips. He’s unapologetic and takes without waiting for permission.

He knows what I need, what I crave.

His fingers slide into my panties and brush over my wet folds. The trap has been laid, and it’s too late to escape. His touch circles my swollen clit, and his lips spread in a triumphant smile. “Checkmate,” he whispers.

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