A couple of kids walked by us, their eyes wide with curiosity. Cameron grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his truck until we were secreted away between his vehicle and the one beside it. “I know we give you a hard time but it’s better this way.”
“Better?” I sucked in a harsh breath. “For who? You? Jason?” Anger vibrated in my chest as I glared at him.
“I…” he breathed out. “Look,”—Cameron pressed his hands e
ither side of my head, caging me in. “I only did what I did at the pep rally because Jason was ready to destroy you.”
“So you were saving me? Please.” Bitter laughter rose up my throat. “You did what you did because you’re just like him. He dishes out the orders and you come running like a good little—”
“Watch it, Sunshine.” His words were low. Gravelly. As if this was all some game to him. But it wasn’t a game, it was my life. And it was falling apart all because of them and their stupid rivalry with Rixon East.
“Or what?” My back pressed further into the side of his truck, pinned in place by his intense gaze.
“You really want to know the answer to that question?” Cameron’s brow rose, a silent dare.
This felt different. I was angry, yes, but I couldn’t deny there was something else simmering beneath my skin. Something unfamiliar. A deep yearning I tried to fight, tried desperately to ignore, every time I found myself in close proximity to Cameron Chase.
“What’s the matter, Sunshine?” He leaned in, dipping his face to mine. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Why?” The word spilled from my lips. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“What is it you think I’m doing?”
I swallowed as his eyes flicked to my mouth, the way they had before in the janitor’s closet and again in my kitchen the other morning. “Toying with me like this,” it came out a whisper.
“What if I told you this isn’t a game?”
Not a game?
What the hell did that mean?
“I- I don’t understand.”
Cameron moved closer, his legs brushing mine. My hands flew up, landing on his chest, desperate to keep him there. But the second I touched him, his eyes shuttered, a carnal growl rumbling in his chest. He swallowed it, shaking his head a little. When he met my gaze again, his irises had turned dark. His eyes hooded.
“Cameron?”
“Just give me a minute...” A beat passed, and another, energy crackling between us like an electrical storm.
I needed to go. I needed to push him away and move. But I was rooted to the spot, lost in his gray-blue eyes and all the things he wasn’t saying. My heart galloped in my chest, my mind swimming with confusing thoughts. Cameron wasn’t the good guy here, I knew that. Yet, I couldn’t break whatever spell he had cast over me.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Cameron,” I finally said breaking the tension. “I should go.”
“You can’t go,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“Cameron, I’m not doing this.” Whatever this was. “I’m not—”
One of his hands slid along my collarbone, gliding up my neck, his thumb stroking the skin there. I fought a moan. “You can hate me, Hailee. I deserve it, I know that. But don’t insult me by pretending you don’t feel this.” He dropped his head to mine, inhaling deeply. “Tell me you feel it.”
I could feel something all right, digging into my thigh.
Swallowing hard, I tried to process what was happening. Why my heart was a runaway train, crashing against my ribcage as if it was trying to escape. Why my skin tingled and I felt hot all over.
“You feel it,” he whispered again, his warm minty breath dancing over my face. “I know you do.” If I lifted my chin a fraction our lips would touch. We’d be kissing. But I didn’t want that.