A Shattered Heart (Fractured Lives 2)

He chuckled darkly. "Sweet, naive Kat. Don't you see? I'm the most selfish person there is. I wanted you, so I made you mine. I've been laying the groundwork for this for months."

"Liar," I said

, calling him out for the second time.

"You doubt my claim?" he asked, nibbling on my wrist before moving up to the bend in my arm.

I nodded, though his lips were doing a pretty good job of distracting me. I realized that had probably been the plan from the beginning.

He tugged me closer until our bodies were pressed against each other. "Kat, I knew the moment I saw you in the bar that I wanted you. I wanted to wipe away the haunted look in your eyes and smooth out the crease of grief between your brows," he whispered in my ear, making the small hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end. "I wanted to be the reason you started living again." His mouth moved from my ear to my lips, swallowing any reply I might have had.

I could have told him I didn't need to be saved. I could have reminded him I was strong. More importantly, I could have confessed that my grief had morphed to guilt a long time ago. I said none of this though, because he was right about one thing. He was the reason I'd started to live again. I would probably regret it. I was sure I would get a second chance, and this time when the world came tumbling down on me it would crush me for good.

Fourteen

"We need sustenance," Brian said, pulling the blankets off me later that afternoon. My room was bright with the midday sunlight shining through my bedroom window. He was trying to kill me.

"There's food in my kitchen," I replied, dragging my pillow over my face to block out the sun. "I have blackout curtains for a reason."

"You don't have food. You have coffee and a bag of moldy cheese." He tugged at the pillow covering my face, but I held it fast.

"Scrape the green stuff off; the cheese beneath it is still good."

"Not a chance." He gave the pillow another tug, pulling it from my face. "I want real food."

I squinted in the sun, waiting for my eyes to adjust. "Order a pizza," I said, noticing he was already dressed. My own nakedness felt awkward. I wanted to ask him to give me a minute alone so I could get dressed, but the appropriate words refused to come.

"Nope. I want to go out."

"Then go."

He sat on the bed, making it bounce. "I want to go out with you."

I shook my head climbing from my bed with my sheet still clutched to my chest. I skirted around him to my dresser and pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. I avoided his eyes as I got dressed, trying to ignore the awkwardness of the moment. It was one thing to be naked in my bed, but it was a whole other to stand in the middle of my room buck naked. In the movies, clothes seemed to magically appear on the characters after sleeping together. Obviously, cinema magic had failed me.

"You know I've seen you naked, right?" he asked with amusement once I let the sheet fall to the floor.

I glared at him as he laughed. He climbed from the bed and stopped in front of me. The difference in our heights was obvious as we stood toe to toe.

"You're cute when you're pretending to be mad," he said, tugging me close and dropping his lips to mine.

"Who says I'm pretending," I scolded, though the slight curve in my lips gave me away. I looped my arms around his neck, dragging his mouth back to mine. My tongue was first to make a move as it slid along the seam of his lips, seeking entrance.

"Food," he ordered, seeing through my ploy.

"Pizza," I countered, running my tongue along his jawline in an attempt to distract him.

"Kat, we can't stay holed up in your apartment."

I sighed, dropping my arms. "Why not? My apartment is nice," I lied.

He snickered. "Whatever helps you sleep at night. I want to go out with you. Please," he begged.

I narrowed my eyes. He knew my weaknesses as well as I knew his. "Fine, but it has to be around here."

"Done. Get dressed," he said, sauntering out of my room.

I'd been played. Brian definitely thought he had the upper hand. Two could play that game.