“I think I’ll love it,” I grin. “Are you going to kiss me again?”
“Why are you so damn desperate? You've never been kissed before or something?”
I flush, and he laughs at me.
“Don’t worry, I knew about that. I made sure your parents kept you away from boys.”
“You did that?” I narrow my eyes at him. “That’s unfair.”
“I don’t fucking care. Now stop acting bratty and get your little hands off me.”
I glare and pull back. “You don’t love me.”
“Never said I did.”
Tears fill my eyes and I mutter, “Nobody does.”
There’s an awkward silence between us. It’s my first glimpse of what hating Xavier is like. Something I’ll have plenty more of in the future, I’m sure.
“I don’t do this to be mean to you, angel,” Xavier goes on. “I do it because I want to spare you as long as I can.”
“How is that sparing me? I need you,” I whine. “I need somebody to love me.”
“Somebody, huh?” He raises his brows at me. “Just anyone would do?”
I flush. “N-No.”
“Why me then?”
“Because you’re... you. My Xavier. My favorite person in the world.”
“And kissing you will not change that?”
“No,” I shake my head. “Of course not.”
“Even if I kiss you like this?”
My heart pounds into overdrive as he grips me with shocking strength. His fingers bruise my skin where he touches it. Unlike the kiss from before, when I could tell he was holding back, this one is almost punishing. The force with which he presses his mouth to mine is bruising, and he claims me with such ferocity it makes me shiver in his arms.
“So, Tallulah?” he mutters against my lips. “Can you take that, or is it too much for you?”
My thoughts race. Suddenly I’m grateful we’ll only be doing this for three more days this year... But then I realize I’ll be damned to spend the rest of eternity with him after my next birthday.
“N-No,” I lie, making him smirk.
“Too bad,” he mutters. “Because I’m only just getting started.”
TO BE CONTINUED