Page 18 of ’Til You Break

I didn’t chase off that handsy piece of shit out of some misplaced sense of familial protectiveness. But I’m not about to let anyone else touch Hannah again, either. Not when I have the power to stop it.

Because the more I try to fight it, the more I realize I’m the only one who’s going to touch her.

“Me? What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask, loud enough for her to hear, but keeping my voice low enough so as not to cause a scene.

“Dancing?” She rolls her eyes. Then, she mutters something under her breath, throws her hands in the air and storms away. I follow her until we reach the edge of the dance floor.

I reach for her arm, but the moment my hand closes around her wrist, I see Mark and one of his associates heading straight towards us.

Fuck.

Thinking quickly, I pull her into me. She stumbles against my chest, and whatever anger had driven her away melts beneath my touch. I hold her there, gazing into her eyes. Her hands settle around my shoulders while one of mine slides up her back and into her hair.

I dip her lower, tilting her head back as Mark and his associate walk past us.

After they’re gone, and it’s just Hannah and me, I lower myself slowly. Anxiously. I hover on the edge of extinguishing the fire burning inside me with a single kiss. My lips drift closer to hers.

So close I can taste the liquor on her breath.

Then the song ends.

The lights come up.

The DJ announces he’s taking a break, and the spell between us shatters.

“What the fuck?” she mutters, planting both palms against my chest and shoving me away.

She hurries off, but I don’t take my eyes off her.

This isn’t over.

Not if I have anything to say about it.

Chapter Seven

Hannah

Irun to the bathroom.

Everything happened so quickly that I haven’t had a chance to process any of it. But the effect Vik has on me is already in full swing. I hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, and my skin tingles everywhere his hands have touched. My body craves more, burning for Vik to finish what he started.

It feels wrong now. It didn’t when we were pressed together. Or when he tugged on my hair and dipped me low. I’d been so ready to accept his kiss without resistance.

I’ve fantasized about exactly this over the past few days, but coming so close to making it a reality has rocked my world. It makes me want him more than I’d ever admit out loud. A desperate need surges through me, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, made all the worse by the dampness soaking my panties.

We shouldn’t be doing this. Not here. Not at his place. Not anywhere.

So why can’t I stop wanting him? Why can’t I shake these feelings he’s awakened inside me before something else takes their place?

I slip into one of the bathroom stalls and pull the door closed behind me. Before I can slide the lock into place, the door swings open.

Vik is standing there.

“Come out, Hannah,” he says.

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not going anywhere—”

“Come out. Now.”