Page 13 of Carry On

My fight response faded in a flash as I gave in to his inexplicable urgency. I groaned against his mouth, unable to help it. He pushed me harder into the wall, his body completely covering mine. His fingers drifted along my jaw to the back of my head, and his fist anchored in my hair. Tipping my head back, he deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked mine, hot and hungry. Why I let him take control was beyond me, but I did. I was pliable in his rough hands.

The taste of toothpaste washed over me, mingling with that intoxicatingly earthy musk of his. It consumed me. My heart hammered wildly in my chest as I dragged him closer, needing more. Wanting more.

Fuck, I couldn’t get enough of him.

I met his hunger in stride, kissing him in a clash of teeth, tongues, and gasping breaths. My dick ached as it strained against my dress pants. It didn’t help that he was just as hard behind his jeans, something I felt as his hips rolled into mine. The friction was torturous. Using his belt loops, I urged him into doing it all over again.

He moaned, the sound deeply guttural and needy. It shot straight to my core and practically set me on fire from the inside out. The way I wanted him was wild and uncontrolled, foreign and insane. I’d never wanted anyone so badly in my life.

Without warning, he ripped away from me and retreated to the other side of the alley. The darkness swallowed him up. I immediately missed the heat and hard edges of his body on mine as I sagged against the wall, gasping to catch my breath.

“Go home, Linc,” Nash snarled, breathing heavily. Before I could say anything, he stormed away and disappeared. I could’ve followed him—and I almost did—but I was too stunned to move as I tried to wrap my head around what had just happened.

CHAPTER 11

NASH

Ibrokemyfuckingruleof not getting personally invested. Of not getting attached. Because of Lincoln Cassidy, I broke that rule, and I knew I’d regret it.

Point in case: I wasn’t in my comfort zone in an attempt to avoid him.

I stuck to a certain part of town to avoid certain kinds of people. I knew where the crazies weren’t, and I knew where to go to avoid regular people too. On any given night, it was a crapshoot which one was more dangerous.

I was careful. Always. I didn’t need to deal with more bullshit than what I already had.

At least… I was until Lincoln Cassidy made me reckless.

You did that all on your own,the voice reminded me.

I groaned and threw an arm over my face, hiding in my elbow as I tried to escape all of it—tried to forget.

But fuck, it was so hard to forget.

The tantalizing taste of cinnamon on his tongue… was it from gum? A drink? Maybe he liked cinnamon in his coffee.

I let out another loud sound of frustration. Why the fuck did I care so goddamn much? Why had I let him burrow his way so deeply under my skin?

Like you said… you’re stupid,the voice commented.

So fucking stupid.

Laughter dragged me out of my thoughts. I dropped my arm, awareness rippling down my spine. A group of college guys, rich by the look of them, wandered in my direction. Rich college kids just had a look about them, and usually, they had the fucking attitude to match too. It was something they inherited from their pain-in-the-ass rich parents.

There was a reason I avoided this area of town, and kids like them were it.

Well, you did it to yourself,the voice stated.

I tensed and waited it out. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be one of those nights. A guy could fucking hope.

“Hey, hey. What have we got here?” one of them said. Fuck. “You think he’s dead?”

Before I could say a word, something small and hard bounced off my stomach. I snatched it up quickly.

A rock. Well, a pebble. The least they could fucking do was be original. It wasn’t like it was a new concept. People had been doing this kind of shit for years to me and others. Some people just enjoyed the misery of the homeless. It was like we were cosmic entertainment strewn around the streets for them to do whatever they wanted to. Some days, I could handle it. Could take their stupidity in stride.

Today wasn’t one of those days.

But the others don’t deserve it,that voice cut in.You do.