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I look to Zeke, hoping he can help me out here. I’m not good at lying to people I like. It’s a weird tick I have. And all these emotions are making me uncomfortable.

“The only way I knew how to stop wanting you was to push you away,” Zeke admits. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide my feelings while we were still close friends.”

She wipes at her eyes, glaring over at him. “And you thought this was better?”

I usually hate when girls cry, but Billie isn’t just any girl. I’d rather see tears streaming down her face for another reason, but we’ll get there. For now, I turn back around and slowly approach her.

“We need you to be tough for what we’re going to put you through, little hellfire,” I tell her.

“Wh-what are you going to put me through?”

Her tears are gone, and the pink flush is back in her cheeks. All I have to do is keep talking like this to her and she’ll be back on our hook.

“I could tell you, but I’d rather show you.” Moving around her, I reach up and tug on her shirt. “And it’s much easier when you’re naked and able to feel every single sensation.”

She laughs and shakes her head, and we’re losing her again.

“I just think it’s so funny how you think you can get me to do whatever you want. I’m not a puppet, Christian. I don’t have strings!” She throws her hands up before she turns for the exit.

But I can’t let her leave yet, so I rush around and block her. She slams into my bare chest, stepping back as if I’ve burned her.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize, truly meaning it. “I’m fucking sorry our school mates have been total cunts. I’m fucking sorry your mom got arrested, and the town turned on you. But I’m mostly sorry we blew you off, too. We don’t deserve you, we never have, but I want you to know we can try to be deserving.”

Whoa. Where the hell did that come from? I’m not this guy—the one who sounds like Prince fucking Charming. But I also need her to know how sincere I am; how sincereweare. There really is a method to our madness.

“What he said,” Zeke says, making all three of us burst out laughing.

She looks at us—really looks—and then she smiles the softest smile I’ve ever seen on her lips. No words need to be spoken to know she forgives us. But I have a feeling she’s going to make us work for this.

“Are we done here, then?” she asks with a gleam in her gaze, clearly trying to hide her grin.

Playful Billie is back and just the girl I’ve been missing. “Why? You think I’m going to let Zeke take you home? Nah, babe, it’s my turn to get a taste.”

Chapter 8

BILLIE LUCAS

Myentireworldspinswhen Christian grabs the back of my neck and roughly pulls me to his chest before his mouth slants over mine. I moan into his mouth just like I did with Zeke; I can’t help myself! Have you seen these two guys? It’s ridiculous how hot they are.

But Christian does something different, devouring my mouth in a way I didn’t know I’d like. His tongue traces my lips before he bites the bottom, plunging back in before he sucks my tongue into his mouth.

He swallows my yelp when I feel Zeke step up behind me. My eyes roll back when he grasps my arms, caressing my bare flesh as he moves down and plays with the bottom hem. I can’t stop what I do next, reaching out to grab the top of Christian’s jeans to pull him even closer to me. Zeke’s hands get stuck between us, but none of us seems to mind. And when Zeke kisses the top of my shoulder, I nearly fucking combust.

Two mouths on me, four hands tugging and grabbing. I’ve never been in a situation like this, and I’ve never felt this hot in my life. My body sways between them, almost as if I’m trying to rub up against them more than I already am.

Christian breaks our kiss with a smirk, leaning back to look down at me. “Looks like you’re agreeing all over again, little hellfire. Tell me you don’t want this—” he trails off, slipping his forefinger beneath the strap of my tank top, adding, “Because we’ll do everything to change your mind.”

Jesus Christ.

Licking my lips, I peer up into his dark, hooded gaze. I want to deny them only because I want them to fight for me—fight for our friendship back, but ultimately, denying them isn’t something I think I’m going to be able to do. I want them too much. I wantthistoo much.

But I still have some strength left deep inside my psyche, so I say with a grin, “You’re going to spend the rest of your life trying to convince me, and eventually you’ll grow tired of it.”

His smirk widens as he glances over my shoulder at Zeke, who’s still right behind me. “We’ve got a fighter on our hands, Z.”

Zeke chuckles, lowering his mouth back to my shoulder where I try with everything I have not to fucking shudder. “We like ‘em feisty, don’t we?”

Oh, God! I’m being as strong as I can, but if they keep this up, I’m a fucking goner.Hold on, Billie, don’t give in!

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