Page 98 of Terror Tuesday

His eyes sparkle with amusement. “Sure, O. You’re cute when you’re protesting.” Without warning, he dives into my neck and sucks on the exposed skin near my throat as I gasp. Shoving against his chest, I try to fight him off, but he presses me against the shelf harder.

“Stop—”

My words are cut off as he covers my mouth with his in a bruising, ketone-flavored kiss. Like gin and pennies. Especially when I bite down, and he squeals, falling backward while holding a hand over where I just bit him.

“I saidno.” Then, when I turn, he grabs my arm.

If only I had my knife on me right now.

Will I committwomurders only days apart?

“Come on, Olivia! This is what you want; I know it. Everyone thinks we should be together. I’m pretty sure your father probably wants us to be. And we can start by going to theOmegaparty as a couple this weekend.”

Nausea churns, bile rising hot in my throat. Would my father truly offer me up like some sacrificial lamb? Could he?

I spin to face him full on, narrowing my eyes and scanning his heaving chest as he gulps in deep breaths. Perhaps this is the man that the board would approve of me to be appointed to. A fantastic Hunter replacement. And he would make Olivia Cardell a fine match, I’m sure.

But I’m not that girl anymore. He doesn’t even scare me.

And looking at his face, even as he licks a drop of blood from his lower lip, I don’t think Nick Veldt wants me, either. He doesn’t look at me like…

Like Vanq…

Nor like Elliot.

Without a word or explanation, I turn back toward the group room, where the man Ishouldwant to be with sits. The one that a deep part of me yearns for. Even though it’s dangerous to do so, maybe in the privacy of that room, I could have something with him.

Just once more.

Elliot’s heavy eyes lift as I re-enter, his shoulders slumped and his mouth tight in a line. “Where’s our financial advisor?”

Nick brushes past me without a word and gathers his things, then heads back out the door.

“Um, we had a disagreement.”

Elliot’s eyebrows raise. “Oh?”

“Yeah…” I slide primly into the chair beside him, forcing my racing pulse behind a shy smile. “Nick recommended investing in cryptocurrency, but I told him I’m only interested in bonds with a pulse.”

Elliot gives me a tiny pity chuckle. Which makes me giggle. And makes him laugh.

Then, we’re both rolling with laughter that probably doesn’t fit my terrible joke, but it feels good. Tension shatters as we do.

“I’m sorry.” It’s quiet as I release it under my breath.

“Don’t,” he rushes out with such conviction, my heart stutters. “Don’t fucking apologize. I get it. I got rejected. And it fucking hurt. But you don’t need to say you’re sorry for stating what you want or not, Olivia.” His lashes flutter as he says, “Not with me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, though.” My nerves ball up in my stomach as I get ready to confess my sins.

The hope on his face makes me melt. “Hmm?”

“I-I don’t want to reject you. Iwantyou… It’s just…”

Slowly, he nods. His hand strokes through his messy hair. “Society.”

And maybe it’s deeper than a kiss, but his green eyes latch onto my face, and we hold our gazes. Intimately. Both of us see a future we wish we could have, but can’t. Perhaps a heated tear begins to form in mine because he gently brushes my cheek with his thumb.

“Fuck society,” he says.