Page 37 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“Wren, stop.”

“Can’t. Breathe.”

“I know. It’s okay, just slow it down.”

She shakes her head, her hair swinging around her shoulders. She looks like she’s still caught up in the nightmare.

I realize two things at once.

If she continues like this, she’s going to pass out.

And…Evan is going to murder me either way.

So I grab her face and yank her forward, slamming my lips to hers.

I’ve kissed girls before. But tell me whymybreathing stops as soon as our mouths are on each other?

Tell me why my heart fucking skips?

And most of all, tell mewhyWren Davis kisses me back?

I lean into her, our mouths opening and tongues tangling. She tastes sweet, a faint remnant of sugar on her lips. Her hands creep up to my biceps, gripping me so tightly her nails cut into my skin. And her moan goes straight to my dick.

I nip her lower lip.

The little bit of pain breaks the spell, and she jerks away from me.

We’re both breathing hard. She tucks her hair behind her cheeks, wide-eyed and confused. Gone is the cocky girl who drives me nuts. In her place is a version of her that isn’t so…guarded. For just a moment, I can see who she’d be if she hadn’t gone through the childhood she had.

But she’s Wren, and I’m me, and as soon as she registers that, the walls slam back down.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she hisses.

I swallow. “You were screaming.”

“Because ofyou.”

“I don’t believe you.” My voice is low.

Her eyes inexplicably well with tears, and she twists sharply on her pallet of blankets away from me. She faces the wall, her shoulders so high they’re almost touching her ears.

“Go away,” she orders.

“Wren—”

“Go.Away.”

I don’t believe a single thing Wren Davis has ever said. And I don’t believe this either. I reach out and grip her shoulder, pulling her back around. But the expression on her face—pure, devastating fury—has me releasing her just as fast.

“Fine,” I spit out. My pride is more hurt than anything. “Stay in your little closet until the sun comes up. Hide from everyone—”

“I’m not hiding,” she whispers raggedly. “I just don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Feeling’s mutual,” I snap.

I jump to my feet and slip out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I make it all the way to my room before I lose my shit. I have a silent freak-out for ten seconds, then I wrangle myself back under control.

Kissing the enemy isnotallowed under any circumstances.