Yet, as always, I can’t control my emotions. I bolt, vigorously pulling up on my dress again as I run. It rolls into a thick band of elastic, like a belt squeezing under my armpits. I rush behind a table and head for Jace, who is gawking as my freed chest bounces with every stride.
Just as I reach him, I’m yanked backward and lifted in the air. I’m over Grayson’s shoulder, the world spinning around me. I thump my fists on his back.
“Put me down!”
“Since when doyouspit on me?” he growls.
Suddenly, I’m airborne.
A scream tears from my throat before water silences everything. I plunge deep into the pool, the cold wrapping around me like shock. I kick off the bottom, shooting toward the surface.
I reach air and gasp in my first breath, but just then, water splashes my face and my shoulders thump against the wall. My hair is yanked back, tilting my face up, and then—
Grayson’s mouth crashes into mine.
His tongue slams inside, and unlike Jace, my body is shaking like I’m being electrocuted.
I feeleverything.
Too much.
I push my hands against him, the cotton of his shirt wet against my palms, clinging to his sculpted chest underneath. Despite my best efforts to push him away, he’s stronger and doesn’t budge. I turn my head, breaking our kiss.
He persists, his mouth tasting my face, my neck, his caresses hurried and hungry. I squirm, trying to slip away.
“I don’t like you,” I hiss. “I hate you!”
He finds my mouth again and murmurs against my lips. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do! I hate you!”
But stupid freaking tears betray me, rushing from my eyes like a dam breaking.
His desperate kisses continue, his words branding down my neck. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I’m so fucking sorry.”
My voice cracks. “You left me!”
And, I break.
My forehead drops to his shoulder. I sob, ugly and loud, and his arms close around me like a vice, holding me to him like he’s afraid I’ll vanish. His cheek presses to my head, anchoring me while his hand strokes my hair — long, slow, soothing.
His deep voice murmurs, “I’m sorry. I’ve missed you every day. I swear.”
I cry harder. “Why? Why did you leave me? I was so good to you.”
“You were.”
“Then why!”
He sighs and grumbles, “It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not!” I try to push off him again, but his arm stays locked around me.
And that’s when I feel it. He’s shaking, too.
I cry more, not wanting to fall prey to him again.
He keeps me close, though. Quiet. When I finally stop, I sniffle as I raise my head and gaze into those hazel eyes that always paralyzed me.
