Page 74 of Liar

Except I’m riding on an emotional roller coaster right now. Side to side, up and down, down, down. I’ve kissed him a thousand times in my mind. In different scenarios—me on top of him, him on top of me, bodies entwined—yet with the same passionate ferocity within each sizzling moment.

I need something more than disappointment tonight.

Hands on his shoulders, I crawl across his lap to straddle him. Then, I do what I’ve dreamed of doing, and kiss the loving life out of him.

His lips soften beneath my own, his tongue following my lead.

I can’t believe he’s allowing this. No, not allowing,participating.

My body becomes butter. The worst two days of my life melt away. I won’t have a scholarship to convince Diego I must stay. But I could have a life here, anyway. A life with Hayden.

My body moves in tempo with our kiss, until I can feel him hardening.

So, this is what it’s like.

I lean forward, angling my head to deepen our kiss as I press my chest to his.

This is better than a thousand kisses.

And he likes it. The rigid feel of him beneath me says it’s so.

He cups my face with his palms, gently yet with enough firmness to hold my head steady while he takes control.

I wince and gasp as a lightening jolt of pain tears through me.

He snaps his head back in alarm.

The interior lights come on, his hands fall away, and everything changes in a blink.

“What. The. Fuck.” With two fingers beneath my chin, he turns my head sideways. I try not to flinch as he runs his thumb across my swollen cheek, removing what’s left of the concealer. Assessing the damage and, as his eyes narrow, drawing the correct conclusion. This injury didn’t happen on stage.

“How did this happen?”

I stare at him. His rage is as frightening as it is fascinating.

“Your partner?”

“No.”

“Someone punched you.”

Smart man. One who’s probably given his ferocious share of beatings and can easily recognize another’s handiwork.

I nod my head yes.

“Who.”

“El Calaca. I reminded him of your warning. As you can see, he didn’t care.”

His lips draw tight. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

“I tried avoiding the cartels and staying out of trouble.” I pause, thinking of Eduardo’s duplicity and the Sureños invasion of my lavandería. Does he know? Did Javier inform him? “But not only is it impossible to do so in Loreto, sometimes it sideswipes you when you least expect it.”

I wait for him to say something.

From his silence, it’s clear he wants me to continue.

“El Calaca approached me while we were shopping for my dress. He wouldn’t leave us alone. I pulled my gun on him.”