Sugar before the Burn

tray half-filled and her stomach not sure what it wanted.

yn

him, head tilted back, dark eyes watching people like they were all just background nois

oked good.

id Ava like him? Or was Zayne just a walking red flag dipped in

till star

beau

front of her. Her breath caught

naged, almos

. "Go get your food. You look like

yes widen

a warm whisper against her

down her spine, and her knees sligh

yne said

rd them, jaw tight. She didn't r

ing-and walked away like he had

?" Ava asked, he

g," Ele

th forced cheer. "And before you start being

yne whispered were still echoing in her h

ly knew anyone besides Ava, who had already disappeared into a swa

r phone

ld've worn som

looked around. Couldn't

other m

nd room ups

shou

lly sho

t were alre

ic and drunken laughter. To

open

d that looked too soft. Candles flickering like they'd been wait

known sh

doing here?

You should be ask

rward. "Why did you say tha

sto

owly. Each step like

onest you'd be with yo

by the waist, pulled her close, one ha

ened. Her pu

ay

it," he

"I want to go back downstairs. I'm n

iled faintly. "I'm not tr

at are y

ething." He slowly unzipped her jeans. Not

idn't s

n't ki

deliberately-tracing soft circles against her sk

flutter

s his fingers found her, gentle and expl

o know what my fi

nd screamed no, b

ust gently-rubbi

ga

ifting slightly, hips pushing forward. M

he asked, voice t

e breathed, b

't push

teasing patterns that made he

this," he

ispered back, v

y i

ha

want this

look away from him. "I want thi

alone-but with control, curiosi

ng to hurt y

kno

ed to remember what it's li

ive-they were invasive, emoti

ed the pressure, his fingers dancing across her sensitive skin. She felt herself getting lost in the sensation, her body archin

e st

sion. "Why did you s

e said coolly. "You hav

side her cra

s all for now. Shut

tood

tone wasn't angry

eart stung with humiliation and want. She walked out. Didn't

't look

t answer

st wen

ed and cried. Hard. The tears weren

the sheer mad

made her body listen more than her mind. How he kne

hone

uzzed

idn't

ot Zayne.

r her blanket, holdi

ngers stil

is touch refused