Vicious by Sinden West Page A

muttered.
    He watched me for a second, before sliding down to sit beside me. He passed his beer to me, and I took a sip, and then another as it washed away the acrid, bitter taste of vomit. That was better. I passed it back, but he didn’t drink from it. He just let it rest against his outstretched, jean- clad thigh.
    “Why have you been ignoring me?” I asked. I didn’t care about acting like a clingy, desperate girl. I didn’t care about rejection.
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t know you wanted me to talk to you.”
    I screwed up my face at him. “What? That’s a stupid thing to say. What girl wants someone to screw them and then pretend that they don’t exist?”
    He stayed silent for a second as if thinking about what he was going to say, finally, he said, ”You don’t seem like most girls though. You seem to like being by yourself, you’re…cold. It’s hard to know what you’re thinking…” he trailed off, and then took another sip of his beer as if he couldn’t think of anything better to do with his mouth.
    “I’m not cold,” I said quickly. “There are a lot of really good things about me, you know. I’m actually warm and very nice.” I cringed at how desperate I sounded as his mouth quirked into a smile.
    “Relax. I wasn’t saying those things to be a prick. I was just being honest. You want me to lie to try and get you into bed again?” He was watching me, waiting for my reaction.
    I shrugged and stayed silent. His small smile widened to a grin, and he leaned in closer to me. “Without sounding like a complete pig, you are really good in bed. And warm, definitely warm. That’s one warm body you have there.” His breath was hot on my cheek. “I’m sorry I ignored you all week. Let me make it up to you,” he said softly. His lips were pressed to my cheek, and then they moved to the corner of my mouth. I sat still and just concentrated on breathing. “Violet…”
    I turned and kissed his smiling mouth with ferocity. His hand came up to cup my cheek. His hand was so warm that I fe lt like I could melt beneath it and that the ice would drip away until it became torrents of water and all that would be left underneath would be my hot, beating heart. And that was nothing compared to the heat that I was feeling inside me, purely from just the touch of his lips. I ran my hands through his hair and pulled him closer toward me. I wanted him inside me.
    As if reading my mind, he pulled back. “Do you want to get out of here?”
    I nodded, and he helped me to my feet, never letting go of my hand as he led me to the front where his car was parked. “Let’s go back to my place,” he said.
    I shook my head. “No, I want to be outside, I want to be underneath the moon.”
    He stared at me for a second. “Okay, Violet. Wherever you want to go.” His hand rested on my thigh as he pulled the car onto the road and headed out of town. “Have you ever been to Lake Brennan? It’s pretty, and it’s quiet.”
    I rested my head against the head re st. “That sounds nice. Anywhere that the moon can see me is where I want to be.”
    If he thought that was weird, he didn’t say anything. He just rubbed my leg and continued to drive. Brennan was where the rich people lived. The shoreline of the lake was dotted with hou ses that were accessible only through locked gates and long driveways. Unless you had a boat, then you could walk right up onto their lawns and ruin their view.
    “I feel like we should be arrested for just being here,” I whispered excitedly as we pulled to a stop outside a driveway with intimidating iron gates.
    “Nah, people only come here really in the summer. Besides, we’re not breaking into their house. Come on.” Damon pulled my hand and helped me climb over the gates. It was surprisingly easy with all the fancy filigree ironwork creating perfect foot and hand holds. I felt a sense of accomplishment as I climbed down the other side. Hand in hand, we ran toward