Page 38 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)

“Wait,” I call, tipping my head back. I focus on the ceiling. “I… you can’t do that.”

“Why not? Last time I checked, you weren’t my boss.”

“Because…” Damn it. I wouldn’t sleep at night—I certainly wouldn’t be able to look at him again. Be honest with the asshole. “I would be mad.”

“Because…” He saunters closer.

His thumb presses on my chin until I lower my head. I meet his steely gaze.

“I don’t know why I’d be mad,” I clarify. “It’s certainly not because I’m jealous of you.”

He snorts. “I wouldn’t think you’re jealous of me, Sky.”

Oh.

Oh.

My face bursts into flames. The searing heat of a tomato-red blush works up from my neck. It’s not an attractive look, and it always belies my poker face.

“You want to kiss me.” He doesn’t even phrase it as a question. “I made you horny but didn’t let you come. Is that what you’re craving, angel? Or did you take care of that yourself?”

How arrogant can he be?

Still, all those times I may have kept tabs on him in high school out of the corner of my eye, or watched him play lacrosse in his yard with his brother and friends (oftentimes shirtless) plays through my mind like a silent film roll. All those years, I pretended not to give a shit.

He didn’t have to pretend—but he played the hulking neighbor role perfectly. Enough to scare away any prospects of dating.

My feelings are giant and scary, and they’ll swallow me whole if I let them. Not just my stale crush on Liam, but everything else locked away, too.

So, I lie—to myself and him.

“I don’t want to kiss you,” I say.

His smirk fades, and he searches my gaze.

My chest aches.

“You’re a shit liar,” he whispers.

His hand suddenly fists the front of my shirt, and he pulls me forward. Into him. His lips crash against mine.

I gasp. I can’t help but be reminded of how the ocean pounds the cliffside—it’s an unrelenting force like the man in front of me. We go from zero to a hundred. His lips are hard and commanding, and he takes advantage of my surprise. He slips his tongue into my mouth.

Fireworks explode behind my eyelids.

I don’t ever remember being kissed like this. And suddenly, in a perverted way, I’m glad he’s had the practice. Imagine if he sucked at kissing? That would make everything awkward.

My hands, which had automatically grabbed his wrist, now loosen.

Liam’s teeth graze my lower lip. Little flutters of pain zip through me, and I dig my nails into his forearms.

The door creaks, and a girl says, “You can’t do that in here.”

I push Liam away from me and sag against the wall. Ari stands in the entrance with her arms crossed, glaring at me. Me! Like I’m the one who initiated… okay, I suppose I had it coming.

I subtly wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. It comes back with a streak of pink. I probe my lip with my tongue, suppressing my frown.

Liam winks at me and slings an arm around my shoulders, cinching me into his side.