“We got her, Palmer. She’s safe.” Breaker runs his tattooed hand over her light hair. “I prefer my girls conscious anyway.” His rhythmic laugh somehow eases my mind.
I quicken my pace to catch up with Marek. As I turn the corner into the dark parking garage, I’m yanked forward. My head hits the brick wall, creating spots in my vision. A body slams against mine, putting enough pressure on me that I have to remind myself to breathe.
Fear should be creeping in, panic settling into every part of my mind that’s been taught to be scared of those bigger than myself, but it never comes. It is wiped away the moment a nose runs along my throat, inhaling the scent of my perfume.
My hand reaches up, and I pull back the hood on the faceless aggressor. Marek looks at me as if I’m already his. He’s bold, and there’s something in his eyes that soothes parts of me I don’t understand yet.
“Why didn’t you fight me off?” he asks as my fingers filter through the length of his hair.
“I wasn’t scared. I knew it was you.”
“I don’t care, Palmer.” He shakes his head and pushes off the brick wall. “You should have fought me off, dug in deep, and drawn blood.” The way his hands clench at his sides and the tic in his jaw has me reaching out to trace the tight skin. “Don’t.” He slaps my hand away. “That could be you, what happened in there, and I need to know you can handle yourself.”
“You were the one who pinned me against the wall and ran his face along my skin, like you wanted to taste me. And now you’re mad at me?” I shake my head, exasperated by his games. “And what is with the protective change of heart?”
“That’s the whole fucking point, Palmer. You sunk right into me like quicksand, zero fight in your body. I need you to fight me.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Marek?” I stare at him, stunned by the whiplash behavior he’s exhibited tonight.
“Nothing.” He shakes his head. “It’s nothing. Get in the fucking car.” He clicks the key fob until the lights on Delaney’s car blink. He stands a few yards from the driver’s side door. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
We stand shoulder to shoulder, looking at her custom pink Mini Cooper.
“You’re going to look goofy as fuck. Now, do you regret not letting me drive us?” I head to the passenger side and open the door, slipping inside.
The driver door opens, and Marek bends down to gawk at me. “Did she have to have it painted this color?” he says as he slides in behind the wheel. His knees are almost pinned to his chest.
I reach around him and push the button to move his seat back. “Is that better?”
Nothing is funnier than watching Marek stretch out his legs to find there’s still not enough room.
“This is a toy car. Fit for an actual Barbie doll.”
“Want me to drive?” I freeze with my seat belt in my hand. He watches me release it, expecting him to allow me.
He reaches past me and grabs the belt to secure it around my body. “There isn’t a world where I’ll let you drive me anywhere. Not even in this Barbie car.” He laughs, shaking his head. The easiness to his laugh has my stomach fluttering.
Why is that so damn hot? And why am I even having these thoughts? This is the guy who touched between my legs in class to fuck with me. The same guy who cornered me in the library and threatened me.
“Don’t dwell too hard on your internal thoughts, Palmer. They’ll only lead you astray.”
“What do you think I should do then?” I ask.
“I don’t know shit, but one thing I do know is you try really hard to be perfect. Never a hair out of place. Clothes perfectly pressed. You act the way you believe the world needs you to, but I know different. There’s a siren inside of you, constantly blaring to be heard.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stare out the window into the darkness of the night.
“The way you hissed in a breath when I touched you here in class.” He runs a finger along the inside of my thigh, gaining my complete attention. “The moment you leaned into me in the parking garage. You aren’t made of glass, not all of you at least, so maybe you should get to living.”
“You don’t know anything about me.” I close my legs on his hand, and he pulls back, turning down the winding road leading to the glass house.
“You’re right, but I do know myself.” He parks behind a large black SUV, turns off the car, and shifts in his seat to address me. “Don’t let me in, Palmer. You’re going to want to, I can promise you that, but all I’ll end up doing is hurting you.”
Marek opens the car door, leaving me with far too much to think about.
Don’t let me in, Palmer. Those words are like a broken record in my head, repeating over and over until it’s almost unbearable.
Rain starts to fall in a diagonal line. I listen to the pattering on the window for an unknown amount of time. The house is illuminated from the inside out, lights shining through the large glass windows that seem to make up the entire house. I’ve never been up the hill before, only privy to the view from the bottom. How different their world appears from up here. Where we are old world romance, they’re sharp and untouchable.
Suddenly, the passenger door flings open, and I’m dragged outside of the car. Byron’s hand wraps around my wrist so tight, I have no choice but to follow him. He doesn’t stop tugging until I’m hauled through the front door and the living room.
“Where’s Delaney?” I ask, resisting Byron’s touch to no avail.
“She’s sleeping in Breaker’s room. She’s safe. He’s already made himself a spot on the couch in there, so no worries,” Byron explains, not giving me a chance to take a deep breath or check out my surroundings.
My mind wanders to Marek, curious as to where he is. He left me in Delaney’s car, no explanation to his odd behavior, like I did something to piss him off. If anyone should be upset, it’s me.
Byron marches us to his bedroom and tosses me on his bed. I expect to see smoke coming from the carpet with the way he’s pacing back and forth. Several times, I open my mouth to say something, to keep him from creating more nervous energy, but something stops me.
Byron finally stops. “What did you say to him?”
“I didn’t say anything.” I shake my head, rethinking every word Marek and I’ve exchanged tonight. Angered by the accusation, I stand, forcing Byron and me chest-to-chest. “I sort of resent the way you’re speaking to me right now.”
His perfect lips part, but I’m not met with any words. Byron stares at me, almost with a hint of awe.
“What?” I bark, straightening the lines of my shoulders. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I didn’t understand it until right now.” He nods, lost inside his own thoughts.
“Understand what?” I take a step back.
Byron wraps one of his arms around my waist and tugs our bodies flush together. “Why Marek is desperate to play.”
“Play what?” I push out with a breath.
“With you.” His finger skims through my wet hair and down the left side of my face.