Crimson Desire (Hollow Hearts #2)

everything that had gone down with Luke. His rejection still echoed in my mind, cutting deeper th

everyone knew what had happened. He was...

her. She was making her way toward me, that usual mischievous grin plast

stance, but she was practically bouncing with

ned. "Oh my God, gi

lip. "What? What ar

ugh we were in the middle of the campus. "I saw you leave with him last night

quickly glanced around, hoping no one was eavesdropping. "Krystal,

ulling me to a stop. "Come on! I need to know!

hing I wanted was for her to know how much it bothered me.

. "Hung out? Amari, you don't just hang out with Lu

e to cut her off. "Krystal, I'm not

closer. "Did you give him your first kiss then? Or

stration bubble over. "I said no

o tell me. What was it like? Was it all hot and ste

ice sharp. "Nothing happened! Can w

sighed instead of pushing further. "Fine, fine. But don't think I

d to escape, to hide away from all the qu

to lose myself in some quiet, bu

u

e here. Of course

he bookshelves, casually flipping through a textbook, but when he saw me, his eyes locked on mine. Th

Amari. I tried to convince myself, but

is voice like a mag

ssion of indifference, but my voice ca

ff the bookshelf an

Miss A

tary flip, but I forced m

d him. I didn't want to deal with him

hed out and gently grabbed my arm, pulling me back

inking..." He took another step closer, making sure there was no room

confused.

d as he cocked his

? I didn't reject you. I just wanted to make sure you weren't doing something you'd regret when your h

trying to hide how flustered I was. "

as even possible, and his hand

id, his tone now more serious but

e to s

e still interested-if you're not going to hold a

a beat. Was this

ether to feel relieved or

is voice hushed but drippi

can do it on my terms. My family heard I brought a woma

denied it!" I ne

He heard you are a pre-law student

t the...a

relationship with my father so y

e and when I turned, I s

." I wh

t, we can date-officially. If you're not mad at me, that is

ough I could feel the heat in my cheeks. "Yo

do. But I don't mind if you're the one to decide how this goes. You ju

felt like he was daring me to make a choice

," I said, trying to sound firm. "Yo

distance between us so small I co

here's the deal: if you're not angry with me, then let's

he other part? The part that had been wanting thi

y voice softer than I intended. "We

No strings attached. Just be my fake

feel like I wan

, my voice alm

ened, and he le

ed, like he neede

mask my nervousness. "What

id, that wicked smi

at doesn't sound like

playful but sure of himself. "I

rgue, but no words cam

" I muttered,

razy too," he shot back, tucking a

s touch. But at the same time, I cou

pered again, his voic

hen let out a breath I hadn

d, my voice b

a split second, I wondered if I had j

iss Atto