Coldhearted Heir (The Heirs 1)

Jade must feel the same intensity between us because instead of fighting me off, she presses herself closer to me, and her lips part beneath mine.

I block out all my thoughts about what’s happening between us, what it might mean, and what our friends will think. I kiss her until all rationality leaves me, and I become nothing more than a thundering heartbeat, conscious only of what I want to do with this woman. It feels like we’re crashing around in a stormy sea.

God, her scent, and the feel of her body pressing against mine – heaven.

It makes tiny fireworks explode behind my eyelids, and ripples of pleasure rush over every part of me.

Blindly, my tongue finds its way into the warmth of her mouth, and our walls come crashing down around us. We stand in the ruins of the past two years, oblivious to how this kiss will change our future.JADEThis can’t possibly be a kiss. It feels like I’ve been drugged, my mind cloudy, and my feet swept from under me by the force of the desire taking over every part of me.

I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s addictive and so intense, it wipes out all my common sense.

Where I should be pushing Hunter away, my hands deceive me and find their way to his face, framing his jaw while my tongue mimics the sensual movements of his own.

Hunter’s arms wrap around me, and one of his hands grips hold of the back of my neck. The intensity spikes and the sparks I feel zapping between us turn into something akin to an inferno.

I’m surrounded by his masculine scent, and I’m all too aware of his muscular body pressing against mine.

I’ve only ever kissed Brady, and where he was like a cool breeze on a summer’s day, Hunter is the sun itself, scorching through me and threatening to leave ashes of me in his wake.

Brady.

The thought is sudden and harsh, clearing my mind in an instant. I yank back as shame rattles through my soul like a skeleton in the closet demanding to be acknowledged.

I failed Brady.

I’ve tainted every kiss he’s ever given me. I’ve betrayed the love we shared and the precious memory of him, I’ve fought so hard to protect.

With my breaths racing over my lips, swollen from Hunter’s kiss, my wide eyes sweep over our friends. They’re staring at us with similar shocked expressions on their faces.

“Jade.” Hunter’s voice is raspy, and it makes my eyes dart to his face.

Seeing his confused expression only makes my own turmoil burst to life, and not knowing what else to do, I turn away from him and run toward the exit.

Rushing out the doors, the night air is cool on my heated skin, and it causes me to shiver.

What just happened?

Why didn’t I push Hunter away?

Why did I kiss him back?

The betrayal I feel sharpens in my chest, and it makes my eyes blur with unshed tears.

How can I feel anything but hatred for Hunter after the part he played in Brady’s death?

“Jade!” Hearing how close Hunter is behind me, I don’t have time to steel myself for a face-off with him. He takes hold of my shoulder and comes to stand in front of me. There’s no longer any confusion darkening his features, but only concern. “Are you okay?”

I manage to shake my head.

No.

No, I’m far from okay.

Hunter tries to pull me into a hug, but this time I push him away.

That’s what you should’ve done when he kissed you!

It feels like I’m being torn between my guilty conscience and my confusion. The emotions Hunter made me experience were... were… I don’t even have words.

“Let’s talk about this,” Hunter’s voice gets through to me.

He can’t know. You have to hide your feelings, Jade!

I force my eyes to meet his and praying to all that’s holy that I’ll be convincing, I say, “It was just a game. A stupid kiss. It meant nothing, Chargill. I’ve had better.”

Not knowing how I’ll get home, I walk toward the street. I don’t get far before Hunter darts in front of me again, and grabbing hold of my shoulders, his eyes burn into mine as he says, “You’ve always been bad at lying, Jade. That kiss meant as much to you as it did to me.”

It meant something to him?

The thought is fleeting, and being so close to him, the embers of desire stir back to life, but I’m too upset and manage to pull away from him.

“I’m done talking about it.”

When I start to walk again, Hunter calls after me. “Where the hell are you going? It’s almost midnight.”

“I’ll walk to the campus,” I yell back.

“God, give me strength.” The growl is the only warning I have, and then Hunter grabs hold of me and lifting me off my feet, he throws me over his shoulder.