Page 29 of Dare You to Run

We’re so lost in the kiss that I forget that we are not only in a public place, but that others are probably standing around watching us. I quickly pull back and gasp, my chest heaving and eyes wide. Hendrix’s chest does the same but instead of shock from what just happened, a sexy smirk is splayed across his handsome face.

I look around and see Danté stomping off towards the bar with Malik on his heels and Kinsley watching with a shit grin andflushed cheeks. We make eye contact and she quickly spins on her heels and speeds off to the bar with the others.

Clearing my throat I turn to Hendrix. “I’m sorry. I guess I got carried away. Excuse me.” I try to push my way off the chair but he stops me.

“I’m not sorry. Not one bit, little mouse.” The noise in the bar is suddenly drown out by the pounding in my chest. “Do you want to go back to my place?”

“Well I am staying there, so yeah.” I use my sarcasm to help lighten the tense mood.

He shakes his head slowly. “Not to the room you’re staying in. Tomyroom.”

Oh boy. Here’s where the tough part comes into play. I’m not a virgin, but I have little experience. I’m afraid that Hendrix would do things to me that I’ve only ever heard Aunt Viv talk about…unfortunately. Lord, I wish I could bleach my brain because I will never be able to unhear the atrocities she spoke of.

“What about Malik and Kinsley? You drove them here. And Danté is far too drunk to drive. I think it would be irresponsible of us to leave them to their own devices.”

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about them.”

My brain tries to find other means in which to delay. “I thought you hated me.”

“No, little mouse. I don’t hate you. It was a front to keep me from devouring you like the way I’ve wanted to since you hopped out of Kinsley’s old blue truck. Now, are you going to walk out of here with me, or do I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out?”

Now I’m hot under the collar because how dare he act like I’m just going to run into his bed and throw myself down for him to have his way with me.

“What makes you think I even want to go home with you? You’ve been nothing but an ass to me and now you want me to just roll over…literally.”

He stands tall causing me to crane my neck to look up at him. His blues turn dark with a hint of danger that seems to be permanent in Danté’s.

“Oh, little mouse. I can smell how much you want me. And if that kiss was any further indication, I’d say you’re about ready to lay across that pool table for me.”

My jaw drops at his audacity. So what if he’s right. I’m not about to let him know that. Instead of arguing with me, he takes my face in his hands and lays another kiss on me. I fall pliant in his hands.

Damn these hormones and his stupid, gorgeous face.

He releases me with a pop and asks, “Are you ready?”

His gravelly voice sends a tingle through my body and I’m completely helpless. I nod and he helps me off the tall chair and grabs my hand.

We work our way from the back of the bar to the front and run into Danté, Malik and Kinsley.

“We’re leaving,” Hendrix tells them.

“Alrighty then. Let me just finish thi–”

“No. You misunderstood me,” he interrupts Kinsely. “Dagen and I are leaving. I’ll ask Lainey to get one of the guys to take you back to my place.”

Kinsley mouths “oh” and it’s the last I see of her face before I’m tugged straight out of the bar and right into his car.

“Hold on tight, little mouse. You’re in for one helluva ride,” Hendrix says once we’re both inside and buckled.

I’m afraid to ask if he’s talking about his car or…

Himself.

TWELVE

“I-I,”Dagen stutters as we pull into the garage after having been silent the entire drive back to my house. “I think I should just go to sleep. I have some classes I need to check in with early in the morning.”

I bring my car to a stop, turn off the engine, and face Dagen. “If you want to go to your room, you absolutely can. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with. But I have a feeling that youdowant to come up to my room. So what’s holding you up?”