by Hart, Rebel
“Then, come on and shut up before we’re both in a hell of a lot of trouble.”
I scoffed as he took my hand again. “We wouldn't be in this damn situation had you not fought in the first place!”
“No one asked you to intervene.”
We started running again. “Yeah, well. Fuck me for caring, I guess.”
We kept running until we got around the front of the building. Among the chaos and the insanity, the pain in my back and my wrist grew. I was pissed off at the entire world. For Clint and his bullshit fighting ways. At those boys for whatever the hell they’d been doing on the football field. For that asshole that actually knocked me down.
I’d never been knocked down before.
Clint makes you weak.
Ain’t that the fucking truth.
We didn’t stop running until we got to his bike. He tossed me a helmet and I slid behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I tried to ignore how wonderful it felt as he cranked up the engine. And just as the police were speeding into the back of the school, we sped out of the front.
“Hold on. We’re gonna take these corners a bit sharp.”
I wrapped my good hand into his leather jacket and let my hurt wrist fall between his legs. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths of the wind as it swirled around our bodies. It felt like I was inches away from the asphalt as he careened out of the parking lot. It felt like we were breaking the sound barrier as we sped off into the distance. Even with my eyes closed, I knew where we were headed. I had the turns and directions memorized.
And when the stench of my neighborhood wafted under my nose, I felt my stomach clench.
I sighed as Clint pulled into my driveway. He put his kickstand down and turned off his engine, but he didn’t move. I rested against the breadth of his strong back. I felt tired. Anxious. And yet, happy.
Happy to be against him again.
“Why are you such an idiot?” I whispered.
Clint cleared his throat. “Your mom home?”
I shook my head. “She’s out putting in job applications.”
“Good for her. Let’s get you inside, then.”
“You’re coming with me?”
“I’m sure as hell not leaving you in this condition, no.”
He slipped off the bike, then eased the helmet off my head. He smoothed my hair down around my face, then tucked some loose strands behind my ear. His touch ignited a fire in my gut. I didn’t even understand how much I’d missed it until I felt it again. I let out a soft sigh, wishing for nothing more than his palm against my cheek.
But he pulled his hand away before he caved to the temptation.
“You need help?”
I scoffed. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Just a question, Rae.”
“And a dumb one, at that. I can hold my own, Clint. Despite the fact that that douchebag knocked me off my feet.”
“I should’ve killed him for that.”
“And spend the rest of your life in jail? Nice.”
“Does anything ever make you happy?”
I planted myself on my feet in the driveway before my eyes met his.
“Yeah. I’ve got plenty that makes me happy. But bullshit boys and their stupid fights don’t happen to be one of them.”
I turned on my heel and made my way for the porch, figuring he’d leave, drive off into the distance and never come back. So imagine my surprise when he stayed behind me, following me into the house. He closed the door behind us as I made my way to the couch. I watched as he found his way into the kitchen, and I wondered what he was doing. I started to stand up to go find out, but he must have heard me.
“Stay there, Rae. I’m coming with ice.”
I leaned back into the couch with a sigh before I winced. I felt like utter shit. Clint came around the corner and sat down beside me. He reached for my wrist and slowly molded the ice pack to it. I watched him work, his bruised eye trained on my swelling skin. He helped me lean up before he slid my shirt up again, taking stock of the small wound on my back. And when his fingertips fell against the dried blood, I flinched.
But not because it hurt.
“You’ll be bruised. The cut’s only topical, though. We’ll give the ice a few minutes on your wrist, then we’ll move it to your back.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He leaned me back into the couch before settling into the cushions beside me. I couldn't take my eyes off him. Couldn’t stop looking at him as his hands fell between his legs. He stared hard at the wall, licking his lips, which were cracked open and bleeding. I wanted to lean against him, but wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.
“I’m sorry.”
Clint’s words pulled me from my trance and I furrowed my brow.
“Wait, what? Why?”
He sighed. “I’m sorry for getting you hurt.”
I shrugged. “Well, you didn’t hurt me. So, yeah.”
The pain that rose up in his eyes left me breathless.
“No, I didn’t. But, I was reckless. And that got you hurt.”
I had no rebuttal to that statement, either. Because he was technically right.
“How about we deal with one blow at a time, Clint. Okay?”
He nodded slowly. “Deal.”
He moved the ice pack from my wrist to my back, leaning me up just enough to slide it between my skin and the couch cushions. I shivered at the cold as he leaned me back. Then he reached for my swollen wrists.
“Let me know if any of this hurts,” he said.
And one by one, he began to softly massage the joints of my fingers.
32
Clinton
I mindlessly massaged her fingers as she relaxed further into the couch. One of the few times Cecilia and I had ever interacted with one another was the one time my father ever did any real damage to my body. He had dislocated my wrist to teach me a lesson, then popped it back in once I agreed to clean up my bathroom. Cecilia had come in and help me clean it, then massaged my fingers before wrapping my wrist in an ace bandage to heal.
To this day, I can fully remember just how amazing that massage felt.
Rae sighed with relief as I slowly popped every knuckle. One by one, down her finger, until I’d traced all five of them. I massaged her palm slowly, being careful with the bones in the top of her hand. I worked my way toward her wrist, getting lighter and lighter until she flinched. Then I began backing up, making my way down the hand, back into the palm, and up to the tips of her fingers.
Giving myself time to process everything I thought. Everything I felt. Everything I wanted to do, but couldn't.
“You wanna tell me what this fight was all about now?”
I settled Rae’s hand against my thigh, feeling her heat penetrate my jeans. Did I want to come clean? Did I want to open up to her? Did I want to let her in again?
Yes. Yes, I did.
I licked the blood off my lips. “This weekend was rough. Dad came home.”
She paused. “What did he do, Clint?”
I shrugged. “The usual. Cecilia stepped in this time, though. And he wasn’t happy about that.”
“Is she okay?”
I snickered. “He punished me with a hand wrapped around my neck, and he punished her by leaving her behind while he jetted off on yet another business trip. Yeah. I think she’s okay.”
“So you lashed out at those guys because you needed… an outlet?”
“It’s the only thing I know how to do when I’m confused and angry. It’s the only way Dad ever taught me how to deal with shit.”
“And you think that’s productive?”
I shrugged. “Maybe not.”
“I wouldn’t think so either. Since you weren’t doing a very good job of fighting.”
I grinned as a soft chuckle bubbled up the back of my throat. I looked over at her, finding her smirking at me as her hand moved down to my knee. She squeezed it before moving it again, and I ached for her touch against my body again. I love
d how she made me smile. How she had this ability to light up my world, even at a time like this.
“Don’t be a smartass. It’s not a good look.”
She giggled. “And yet, it’s in my blood.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t think it’s genetic more so than a chromosomal defect.”
“I’m shocked you even know what that is, considering you almost flunked out of sophomore science.”
“And here I thought you never paid attention to me.”
She snickered. “The only thing I paid attention to during that class was Mr. Blackman’s ass. He had a nice one.”
“And you weren’t staring at my ass? How rude.”
“Yours wasn’t very nice back then.”
“So you were looking.”
And all at once, her face flushed red. It trickled down the nape of her neck, forcing me to swallow back a growl. I enjoyed bantering with her. I enjoyed making her flustered. The big, bad, tough girl from the wrong side of the tracks, melting into a puddle of embarrassment.
It looked spectacular on her.
“Well, Rae. The good news is that your wrist isn’t broken.”
She rolled her eyes. “I could’ve told you that.”
“I’m sure. Can you tell me what it actually is, then?”
She glared playfully at me. “It’s sprained, jackass.”
I patted her head. “Good job, Rae. You get a gold star.”
“You’re a dick.”
“And you love it.”
Her eyes whipped up to mine and I saw something flash behind them. Something hot. Something passionate. Something way too fleeting for the moment. She looked away from me, casting her eyes down into her lap. So I decided not to back her into a corner over it.
I mean, I’d already gotten her to admit she enjoyed staring at my ass.
“Here. Let me get that ice pack real quick.”
My hand pressed against the back of her shoulder and she leaned up. I heard her groaning a bit, which meant her muscles were already stiffening from the jarring impact. I stood up and took the ice pack back into the kitchen, tossing it into the freezer. Then I rummaged around for a washcloth.
“Time for some heat,” I murmured to myself.
After drenching the washcloth in hot water, I wrung it out. I walked back into the living room, watching as Rae’s eyes found mine again. I felt her studying me carefully. Trying to figure out her next move. I motioned for her to sit up and placed the washcloth against her bare skin, and the hiss that left her lips filled my ears.
“Does that hurt?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. Just jarring, after the cold.”
“Do you need a couple minutes?”
“No, no. I’m good. You can leave it.”
“All right. Lean back for me. Like you did with the ice pack.”
And after sliding her shirt down, she eased herself back into the cushions.
I sat down next to her. “You never should’ve charged that field, Rae. The hell were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about you, and how stupid you looked.”
“You put yourself in harm’s way for nothing. You know I can handle myself.”
“And so can I, believe it or not.”
“Says the girl who got knocked on her ass with one push.”
She scoffed. “What? You saying I’m not tough?”
I growled. “No. I’m saying you could’ve gotten much worse, and I don’t like the thought of you getting hurt.”
“Well, I’m already hurt.”
“I mean more hurt, Rae. Stop twisting my words and accept the fact that I give a shit.”
She giggled. “How does that feel to admit?”
I grinned. “Probably more painful than that wrist of yours.”
“You sure about that? Because it’s a pretty gnarly sprain.”
“Gnarly? You been surfing lately?”
She shrugged. “And if I have?”
I smiled. “I’d tell you I’d love to see you in that body suit sometime.”
“And here I thought you liked me naked.”
“I never said anything about not taking it off.”
She blushed again, deepening that color against her beautifully-tanned body. I loved watching it. I adored everything about her reactions. The way she made her hair fall into her face to draw a sort of curtain between us. The way she shivered as I tucked that same piece of hair back behind her ear. The way she turned toward me, begging me silently with her eyes to touch her.
I especially liked the way she nuzzled against my palm, too. Once I offered it to her.
“I’ve missed you,” I whispered.
Rae’s eyes fell closed as I cupped her cheek softly. “I know.”
“I’m sorry for not having the balls to choose you over Roy and the others. I should’ve had a different answer when you confronted me.”
She nodded softly. “I know, Clint.”
“You deserve better, you know.”
She opened her eyes, locking them with my own. She lifted her head from my palm, leaving me wanting more of her heat. More of her skin. More of her body against mine. She scooted closer to me, letting her hurt hand settle against my thigh again. I swallowed hard, watching her face slowly gravitate to mine as the washcloth slid out from her shirt. Her eyes held me. Pinned me. Rooted me to the couch. And as her breath pulsed against my lips, she shook her head.
“Now that I don’t believe.”
I snickered. “You should. I’m not good.”
She shrugged. “Neither am I.”
“Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that. You’re the best, Rae.”
“Then so are you.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Aren’t you the one that pointed out just how much we have in common? You know, back when you stalked me at the park.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t stalk you.”
She smirked. “You stalked me a little bit.”
“I really didn’t. I honestly found you by happenstance out there.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine. You don’t have to admit it. But you're the one who said we were more alike than we seemed. So, if I’m worth it, you’re worth it. Logic dictates it.”
“Logic, huh? You a fan of all that nonsense?”
“Am I a fan of basic arguments and winning them? I mean, I am a girl.”
My eyes fell to her lips before I licked my own again.
“Yes. You are a hell of a girl, Rae.”
She scooted closer to me, our thighs pressed together. Heat crept up the nape of my neck as her hand slid up my thigh. Up my abs. Up my chest, until it settled against my shoulder. She had her arm almost around me. Almost giving me permission to wrap her up and pull her into my fucking lap.
Then her eyes fell to my lips.
“Do you have them now?”
I paused. “Do I have what?”
She giggled. “The balls, silly. Do you have the balls now to make the decision you should have made?”
“Depends. Are you giving me a second chance at the choice?”
And as she nodded, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into my lap as our noses nuzzled softly together.
“Yes,” I whispered.
33
Raelynn
I furrowed my brow. “Yes?”
Clint nodded. “Mm-hmm. Yes.”
I grinned. “I mean, positive answer. But you might have to be a bit more specif—”
His lips crashed against mine and I slid my fingers through his hair. He tasted like metal and blood and sweat. The grass from the football field wafted up my nose as he tightened me against him. I felt his chest heaving, gasping for the air I robbed him of. And while I knew I needed to still be mad at him, I wasn’t. I should have still been mad at him, but I couldn't be. He was an ass, yes. He had been an ass today, and he’d be an ass tomorrow. Starting a damn fight like that.
But…
“Oh, Rae,” he growled.
Which felt fantastic.
All at once, he whipped me around. My back lay against the couch cushions, my legs spreading to accommodate him. He fell against me, like a weighted blanket, comforting me as his hands explored what they wanted. He sucked on my lower lip and I arched into him, feeling fire rush through my veins as my legs began trembling. I slid his leather jacket away from his shoulders, not wanting any layers separating us any longer.
Even though I was still upset with him.
His words were punctuated with kisses. “I. Choose. You.”
I sighed. “Say it again.”
“I. Choose. You. Rae.”
I moaned as his lips fell to my breasts. The way he stripped me of my clothes seemed effortless. The way our clothes mingled on the floor was like a song to our ever-uniting bodies. The warmth of his skin made me shiver. The heat of his tongue iced me over. I slid my hands down his back, feeling the pebbled muscles underneath his taut skin rolling for me as he sank in between my legs again. Our bodies clad in nothing.
Except one another.
He grinned. “And here I thought you hated my guts.”
I scoffed. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. I still hate your guts.”
“Uh huh.”
“I really do. You’re a dick who pulled a dick move today. I hope you know that.”
He nodded slowly. “I do. And you should hate me. You should always hate the kind of person I am.”
“Now, get back down here and let me taste you again.”
That cheeky little grin crawled across his face as I fisted his hair. I brought him back down to me, allowing his tongue to fill my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close, rolling my hips against him and feeling him growing against me. His hands ran over my waist, massaging my hips, exploring my thighs, cupping my breasts. I rolled us off the couch as my giggles filled the back of his throat. He held on tightly to me, catching me as I fell on top of him. And with a grunt, I straddled him. Placed my hands against his chest and leaned up to get a good look at him.
