Strike (Sphere of Irony 2)

Ellie’s gaze shifts from me to Dax and back. I see an impish sparkle in her blue eyes right before she smirks. “Thanks Dax. I was worried, but Adam wants to—”

“Adam wants to what?” Ellie’s boyfriend, Adam Reynolds, wraps his arms around her waist, leaning his lightly stubbled chin on the top of her blonde head. He’s exactly what you want for a lead singer, tall and lean, with tousled black hair and a permanent grin. Charming as well. “Spend time with his girl?” Ellie tips her head back so Adam can reach her mouth, giving her a quick kiss.

It takes everything in me not to squirm or fidget as they give us another peek inside their relationship. A prickly heat creeps up my neck and into my cheeks. If Dax weren’t standing so close, close enough to catch his alluring masculine scent, maybe it wouldn’t be so uncomfortable, but Adam and Ellie are always snogging when Dax and I are around. Their intense heat combined with Dax’s close proximity makes every cell in my body ache to spin around and press against his huge, muscular form.

“Ummmm, yeah,” I stammer. “Go. Spend time together. Be happy and loving and snog all night. I’ll find a way home. No need to bother Dax.” I have to allow him an out. He isn’t my keeper and isn’t responsible for me.

I can’t bring myself to look at Dax directly. If I do he’ll see right through my lie. He’ll know I want him to insist on taking me home. That it will make me feel that a teeny tiny piece of me somehow belongs to him.

Dax immediately rebuffs my option. “Nonsense. I’m taking you home.” Even though I can’t see his face, I can tell from his voice that our discussion is over. Somehow, I knew he wouldn’t allow me to walk home alone, and that controlling, possessive streak of his brings a smile to my face that I can’t hide.

“Fine. See El? Dax is taking me home. Go.” I bodily push her and Adam out the door of the DK. Hawke and Gavin, their American band mates, have already left. Only Dax and I remain in the cramped back room.

“Ready?”

Dax has gathered his guitar and is holding open the door for me. “Yes, I suppose,” I say, flashing him what I hope is a sexy smile and not an awkward grimace. A second later, I feel utterly ridiculous in my pathetic attempt to seem flirty. I’m not flirty, not even close.

My attempt must not be as pathetic as I thought, because Dax’s usually glacial expression lights up and he grins back. “After you.”

Wow. Being able to pull that single smile from him gives me a heady sense of power. Dax doesn’t smile for just anyone. In fact, I’ve only ever seen him smile for Adam and… me.

Forgetting about my inadequacies for a change, we chat comfortably all the way to the tube station, have a laugh at the confused tourists on the train, and jostle each other playfully as we make our way to my flat. In fact, we’re having so much fun we don’t realize how handsy we’re being with each other our joking has me pulled against Dax’s wide chest, my head tilted back to stare into his molten brown eyes.

Our laughter cuts off abruptly. Something flickers behind those dark irises of his. Something that sends tiny sparks zinging down my spine, flooding my body with warmth. He looks as if… as if he’s going to kiss me. But he wouldn’t do that, right? I’m the sporty girl. The boring one. Not the gorgeous type a bloke like Dax would go for. Yet there’s no mistaking the heat in normally ice-cold his eyes.

Dax lowers his head, his nose brushing against my cheek. An uncontrollable shudder wracks my body and goose bumps cover my skin. His breath is hot on my ear. The contrast between hot and cold overwhelming my body is as thrilling to feel as it is confusing to see in Dax’s ever-changing moods. “Kate…” He inhales a ragged breath, as if merely speaking is painful.

Before I can blink, Dax’s huge, calloused hands are framing my face and his mouth brushes across mine. At first it’s just a whisper, a tease, the contact barely there. Then, I hear him inhale sharply and his lips press down forcefully, melding with mine, urging me to open up with quick flicks of his tongue. I melt against his solid body as he dominates the kiss, completely under his spell to do with as he wishes. It seems to go on and on—a small slice of paradise in this blighted spot of East London.

When he finally pulls back, greedily stealing a few more nips at my mouth, he closes his eyes and moans. “I knew you’d taste like heaven. You’re an angel, I just knew it.” His vo

ice is so quiet I wonder if he meant to say it out loud.

Naturally, I stand there like an idiot, saying nothing… doing nothing. I’ve been kissed into complete stupidity.

Dax swipes the pad of his thumb over my damp lips. “See you at school tomorrow.” Without giving me a single hint of what he’s thinking, he turns and leaves. I touch my mouth, running a finger over the same spot Dax touched. My heart leaps into my throat, fluttering so fast I fear it may explode.

Great. I’m ruined. My first kiss and it was nothing less than brilliant. Dax Davies just ruined me for every other man from now until the day I die.

Dax

Finally. I have nine days before my next fight, so if I play my cards right, I can get Kate to drop her knickers for me before the seven day no shagging period. I swear I’ve become obsessed with her. For some reason Kate’s tall, athletic body and natural beauty are all I think about day and night. Even that husky voice of hers makes me hard. At this point, no other girl will do.

Fuck. I need to get laid. I’ve spent the last four days imaging Kate beneath me, naked and sweaty and screaming my name. Now, there’s only half an hour left of school and it feels like it’ll never end. My dick can’t take much more of a wait. It’s about to burst through my trousers from my lewd and frankly, quite creative thoughts.

“Oi! Dax!”

Adam claps his hand on my shoulder as I stuff books into my locker. “Yeah?”

“I can’t make practice today. Ellie asked if I’d hang with her. Her mum’s expecting some test results today and she doesn’t want to be alone.”

Ellie’s mum has cancer, which just plain sucks. They’re good people, her parents.

“No worries. Are you going to her place?”

“Nah, we’re going to have a bite or something.”

Now I have a reason to speak to Kate. I’ll offer to walk her home.