“You know you want it, sweetheart. Open those legs for me,” the prick has the nerve to say.
Fuck no.
“Get off her,” I shout, ready to beat this dude’s ass for being disrespectful.
“Knox!” she scolds. “Stop cheating!”
“What are you, her boyfriend?” he slurs with too much confidence. “She came onto me!”
“No, he’s not my boyfriend,” Hadleigh answers.
I turn my gaze to her. “He’s gettin’ too handsy. Game’s over.”
“Fuck you,” he spits.
I stand taller, ready to bash in his ugly mug, when Hadleigh pushes me back. “Let’s go, Knox. He’s not worth gettin’ arrested.”
She knows my history too damn well.
But that’s where she’s wrong. Sitting behind bars because of him would be worth every damn minute, especially if it meant he’d never get the chance to touch her again.
“You wanna fight, is that it?” The douche stands, but I have a good three inches on him.
Hadleigh squeezes my arm tighter, but I ignore it and step into him, daring him to punch me.
“Do it,” I push. I’ll let him get one hit before I pummel his ass to the ground.
“Knox, stop it!” Hadleigh hisses, wiggling her way between us. “Look at me.”
“Move, Hads.”
“Yeah, bitch. Move.”
I see red as I try to get Hadleigh out of the way, but she stands on her tiptoes and cups my face. The split-second distraction has me taking a step back and locking eyes with her. Before I can say anything, her mouth crashes on mine.
Quickly stabilizing myself, I grip her waist and pull her closer. She moans as her tongue slides between my lips and twists with mine. I thread my fingers through her hair, tilting her head back so I can dive deeper.
“Hads…” I groan when she creates space between us.
She blinks up at me, then notices the guy is long gone. Motherfucker was all talk and couldn’t walk the walk.
“What was that for?” I ask.
Her throat moves as she swallows hard, and I can tell she’s trying to regain her composure. “I panicked.”
I arch a brow.
“I didn’t want you to fight on my behalf, Knox. You’ve gotten into enough trouble with the law.”
I grunt with an eye roll. “I was gonna let him hit me first.”
“That would’ve solved nothing.”
“Are you sure that was your only reason for kissin’ me?”
“You’re so full of yourself, you know that?”
“Answer my question.”
“Pfft. Don’t think I didn’t see what you were doin’ over there, mister no shirt. That girl was about to swallow your tongue and straddle you like a horse,” she says.
Moving my lips to her ear, I whisper, “Did that make you jealous?”
“After what just happened, I think you’re the jealous one here,” she retorts.
“I don’t get jealous, Hads, but I wasn’t about to watch you get taken advantage of by that pervert. Now quit stallin’ and answer my question.”
She casually shrugs. “I wanted to know what all the hype was about. All the girls you’ve kissed always make a big deal out of it. Personally, I don’t see the appeal.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“And you’re still an arrogant jerk.”
“Maybe so, but you still want to stick your tongue down my arrogant throat,” I counter.
“God. You’re gonna be insufferable now, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you take me home and see?”
I shouldn’t be pushing this to happen, but I can’t stop spewing my thoughts. I’ve treated Hadleigh like an annoying little sister for most of my life, but with one kiss, she has me wanting to tear off her little shorts and explore every soft inch between her thighs.
Since we’re in San Angelo and only ten minutes away from her condo, it doesn’t take long for the Uber driver to get us there. I wasn’t sure how she’d handle my request, considering she’s given Kane mixed signals since high school, but right now, her message is loud and crystal clear.
“I bet your night would’ve ended a little differently had Sarah Cooke won you,” she says, leading us into the living room.
“Oh, I would’ve gone right from the restaurant to fuckin’ her in my truck. Then I would’ve kissed her good night and went to the bar alone to find the next one.”
“Jesus. You’re such a whore,” she spits out with distaste on her lips, but I don’t miss the way her nipples harden beneath her shirt.
“And you’re way too easy to fuck with.” I grin, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into my chest. My erection is painful as she pushes into me.
“I might’ve kissed you for other selfish reasons, too,” she finally admits.
I dip my head lower and ask roughly, “And what’s that?”
“I’ve wondered a time or two what it’d be like…”
“And?”
She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer until our lips are centimeters apart. “Take off your pants, and I’ll tell you.”
CHAPTER TWO
HADLEIGH
My heart pounds as a painful migraine settles between my eyes. The alcohol I drank last night is giving me a run for my money as blood rushes to my head. I regret the two shots I took before Knox nearly punched in that guy’s face. I’d only been playing his stupid Kiss a Stranger game hoping that he’d get jealous and kiss me instead. We’d never crossed any lines before, and I’m not quite sure what to think. I went on the date with no expectations, but when I started drinking, I felt more confident than I had been.