“Or what?” My back pressed further into the side of his truck, pinned in place by his intense gaze.
“You really want to know the answer to that question?” Cameron’s brow rose, a silent dare.
This felt different. I was angry, yes, but I couldn’t deny there was something else simmering beneath my skin. Something unfamiliar. A deep yearning I tried to fight, tried desperately to ignore, every time I found myself in close proximity to Cameron Chase.
“What’s the matter, Sunshine?” He leaned in, dipping his face to mine. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Why?” The word spilled from my lips. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“What is it you think I’m doing?”
I swallowed as his eyes flicked to my mouth, the way they had before in the janitor’s closet and again in my kitchen the other morning. “Toying with me like this,” it came out a whisper.
“What if I told you this isn’t a game?”
Not a game?
What the hell did that mean?
“I- I don’t understand.”
Cameron moved closer, his legs brushing mine. My hands flew up, landing on his chest, desperate to keep him there. But the second I touched him, his eyes shuttered, a carnal growl rumbling in his chest. He swallowed it, shaking his head a little. When he met my gaze again, his irises had turned dark. His eyes hooded.
“Cameron?”
“Just give me a minute...” A beat passed, and another, energy crackling between us like an electrical storm.
I needed to go. I needed to push him away and move. But I was rooted to the spot, lost in his gray-blue eyes and all the things he wasn’t saying. My heart galloped in my chest, my mind swimming with confusing thoughts. Cameron wasn’t the good guy here, I knew that. Yet, I couldn’t break whatever spell he had cast over me.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Cameron,” I finally said breaking the tension. “I should go.”
“You can’t go,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“Cameron, I’m not doing this.” Whatever this was. “I’m not—”
One of his hands slid along my collarbone, gliding up my neck, his thumb stroking the skin there. I fought a moan. “You can hate me, Hailee. I deserve it, I know that. But don’t insult me by pretending you don’t feel this.” He dropped his head to mine, inhaling deeply. “Tell me you feel it.”
I could feel something all right, digging into my thigh.
Swallowing hard, I tried to process what was happening. Why my heart was a runaway train, crashing against my ribcage as if it was trying to escape. Why my skin tingled and I felt hot all over.
“You feel it,” he whispered again, his warm minty breath dancing over my face. “I know you do.” If I lifted my chin a fraction our lips would touch. We’d be kissing. But I didn’t want that.
Did I?
“I…” I wanted to tell him I didn’t feel it, that I had no idea what he was talking about, but there was obviously something very wrong with me because, I felt it. I did. But I couldn’t tell him that.
I wouldn’t.
Instead, “I hate you,” spilled from my lips.
Before I could take back the words, Cameron’s other hand cupped my neck and he fixed his mouth against mine, his tongue gently parting my lips and slipping inside. He kissed me slow and deep, right there in the school parking lot against the side of his truck.
And all I could think was Cameron Chase is kissing me…
Cameron Chase is kissing me…
Kissing me.
Heat flooded my stomach, making my thighs clench together, as he plastered me against his truck, kissing me deeper, harder. Our tongues dueled, fighting for dominance. But he won, and I softened under his touch. The way he nipped my lip, tracing his mouth over my jaw, my neck, sucking and nibbling.
“Cameron.” It was supposed to be a warning, a signal for him to slow down. A reminder of where we were and what we were doing.
A reminder for myself to get a grip.
But pleasure escaped my throat, and I moaned softly.
“Fuck, you taste good,” he murmured, his lips and hands exploring my skin, my body, as if he couldn’t get enough of me. Which made no sense because we hated each other.
I hated him.
I hate him.
“Wait.” I broke away and he groaned, dropping his face to the crook of my shoulder. “What the hell are we doing?” My voice trembled as I tried to regain control of myself, my stupid fickle emotions.
“Cameron,” I said jabbing my fingers into his ribs when he didn’t move. “Get the hell off me.”
He stepped back, his lips curled in an annoyingly sexy smirk. “You’re not making this easy, Sunshine.”
“I swear to God, if you call me that again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Kiss me?” His smirk morphed into a smug grin.
“I’m leaving now,” I said roughly. “Please don’t follow me.” Because I might beg you for things I shouldn’t want. I slipped out from between him and his truck and started walking away but his hand snagged my wrist. “Cameron.” His name left my lips a gentle sigh.
“Just tell me one thing,” he said.
“What?” I gave a frustrated sigh. But it wasn’t only Cameron I was frustrated with.
“Does hating me feel as good for you as it does for me?”
“Goodbye, Cameron.” My eyes dropped to where his fingers were curled around my wrist and he released me.
“Whatever you say, Sunshine.” He had to have the last words. “But just remember, Hailee.” My name on his lips made my stomach do a little flip. “You can run but you can’t hide.”
Chapter Eighteen
Cameron
Hailee hurried back into school, but I didn’t go after her. I needed some air. The girl got under my skin until I couldn’t think straight.
When I’d followed her out here, I hadn’t planned on kissing her again. I only wanted to talk, to find out what the hell was happening. But then I’d pulled her around the side of my truck and the temptation was just too damn much. Watching her fight herself over whether to admit she felt this thing growing between us, was the final straw.
Fuck.
She was messing with my head. Making me want things I couldn’t have. But there were bigger things happening right now, like the fact someone had sent her a note in history loaded with dirty disgusting things that made me want to punch something—or someone.
When practice had ended and Jase had showed me the photo Thatcher had added to his Snapchat story, I’d almost lost it. What I hadn’t expected though, was how the rest of the kids at school would react. The second I’d found her sitting at the back of class, I knew something was up. Hailee didn’t hide; she usually sat up front, eager to answer questions and participate. But she was quiet, hiding behind her glasses, her eyes void of the usual spark I saw there. And the second I’d watched her read the note, saw her expression harden, the blood drain from her face, I knew it was only the tip of the iceberg.
Stuffing everything down, I went back into school heading straight for the cafeteria, surprised when I saw Hailee sitting with Felicity at their usual table.