Savage Love (Ash and Innocence 2)

21CassianI raked my hand through my sweat soaked hair, then stripped off my pads and jersey. It was cold, but my body roiled with heat. Logan stopped me before I went to jump the fence and head toward where Charli was practicing her sprints with Zoe.

He wore a crooked grin but said nothing.

I shifted on my feet in annoyance. “You going to eye fuck me, or tell me what you want?”

“I’ve just never seen you with a thing for a girl before. Waving your dick around like a lollipop for the taking? Maybe. But this is different.”

“The only thing I have for Charli is this thing where I want to make her suffer.”

“Yeah, I already know what excuse you’re telling yourself. I’m just saying it’s cute, Stone. You’re like a lovesick puppy. Looking over toward their practice every few minutes while we’re running drills. Jogging over there the first chance you get when we’re wrapped up. God knows what fucked up stuff you’ve done at your house. You probably drilled holes in her walls to peep on her, didn’t you?”

“Are you done?”

He shrugged. “Am I keeping you from your girlfriend?”

I stepped forward and gave him a hard shove. Logan played running back, like me. Something about the position trained you to be steady on your feet, and he was one of the few people who didn’t go to his ass from a well-placed shove.

He looked down at his chest where I’d pushed him. “Practice is over, Stone. Or did you want to start something real?”

“Up to you. Are you done being a nosy bitch?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re such a hothead, man.”

“And you’re here provoking me. Does that make you a dumbass?”

Logan had the kind of face girls swooned over. His eyelashes were so thick they were almost feminine, and he had thick lips I’d heard girls raving over in the halls. But I knew he wasn’t as hard as he let on. If I pushed him hard enough, just like everyone else, he’d falter. Nobody was ever willing to go as far as I was.

Sometimes, I wanted to be pushed. For someone to give me an excuse to lose it.

Logan finally took a step back. “As much as I’m sure you’d love to get your hands on me and sneakily grab my ass, I’m going to pass on the scuffle. I’ve got a date tonight, anyway.” He punched my shoulder.

I gave him a nod, letting him go.

Across the field, Zoe and Charli were the last ones still practicing, which was their usual routine. I knew I had about five minutes until Clint finished up his swim practice and wandered his soft ass out to watch her—probably just so he could google her ass in those tight shorts.

I admired her technique as I approached. Just a few weeks ago, I’d thought she ran like a newborn giraffe. Now, I watched her lift her admittedly exquisite ass in the air. She had her right hand planted on the ground with her fingers splayed. Her left was cocked up at the elbow, ready to start pumping. She looked so determined, like her life depended on the speed of a practice sprint.

Grudgingly, I had to admit I admired that. I felt the same way when I practiced football. I let my world fold in when I was on the field until all my problems shrank down into the people across from me. Until there was no issue I couldn’t simply lower my shoulder and power through.

Zoe shouted, “Go!”

Charli exploded into a sprint, arms and legs pumping. Her head strained forward as she ran, like every muscle in her body was desperate for an extra drop of speed.

I’d seen Zoe run, and Charli still wasn’t a match for her. But she’d gotten better.

I waited for her to notice me as I stood with my arms folded across my bare chest. The cold air was already starting to dry the sweat from me.

Zoe eyed me. She planted her hands on her hips, emphasizing how broad and strong she was for a girl. Muscles stood out on her arms that a lot of guys probably would’ve been jealous of. “Do you have to?”

“No.”

Charli noticed me, then. She was dripping sweat and her skin looked more pale than usual. She planted her hands on her knees, bending down as her chest heaved. “Get a life, Cassian.”

“I’ll take yours, if you’re offering.”

Zoe made a disgusted noise. “Could you please just go back to screwing your way through the female student body of our school? Charli is perfectly happy to leave you alone. You’re the one who keeps forcing her into your life.”

“What made you think I want her to leave me alone?”

Charli looked up, but she seemed a little off. Then she suddenly lurched as a mouthful of vomit rushed out of her mouth.