Page 31 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)
I wait, hovering there. Uncertainty floods through me as the seconds tick by, and then… finally he reacts.
It’s like his self-control was going, going…
Gone.
He shoves me against the dresser by my neck and seals his lips over mine. They’re hungry, searching. I part my lips, and his tongue sweeps into my mouth. He tastes like beer and something sharper underneath it, citrus with a bite.
This is a total invasion, and I don’t mind it.
I grip his wrist and go to war.
I force him out of my mouth, back into his. My own tongue has a quieter exploration, but any nerves are shoved away. It’s just the feel of him against me—his whole body pressed to mine, his grip on my throat sliding around to cup the back of my neck. His fingers wind in my hair, tipping my head to the side. Instead of keeping me away, he’s holding me close.
We go back and forth, and I get the impression that we’re trying to convince ourselves that something isn’t going on here.
I don’t feel more like a sparkler than human.
I don’t imagine a thousand more kisses from him.
I don’t want to release the live wire, because the electricity flowing through us is addicting.
Someone bangs on the door, and we jump away from each other.
“Time’s up, lovebirds,” they call.
Eli regards me for a moment, then slowly drags the back of his hand over his mouth.
He leaves me standing there, at a loss for words, and flings the door open. Jackie and Ian stand in the doorway.
Ian smirks at Eli. “Get your fill?”
“Fuck off, man. You think I would touch her?”
I would never kiss you.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Eli shoves past him and disappears. I slowly straighten, willing my heart to stop racing.
Jackie squints at me, a puzzle she can’t put together, then smiles. “How was it?”
“He just stood there,” I say, becoming just as much of a liar as Eli. “It was an unpleasant experience, to say the least.”
She nods. “He’s a jerk. Come on, maybe you’ll get someone good the next time around.”
I follow her back down the stairs, but my mind is a thousand miles away. Noah stands at the bottom, arms folded over his chest.
“The fuck, Riley?”
I blink at him. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve been searching everywhere for you. We need to go.” He juts his chin toward the door, where his friend waits. “He’s giving us a ride.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s the designated driver.” He glares at me like I’m an idiot, but he’s right: we discussed this.
“Okay, fine. Give me a minute.” I can’t leave my new friends without saying anything. What sort of impression would that leave? And I want to see Eli again—to know how to react to this. To him.