Hating You, Loving You by Crystal Kaswell

Author:Crystal Kaswell [Kaswell, Crystal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Chloe

We make it through the rest of the seven-mile hike without another mention of the night we spent together.

But my thoughts never turn to the Malibu canyons or the Pacific Ocean or the million-dollar houses on the cliffs.

They stay on Dean.

He's sorry he hurt me.

He still regrets it.

Still thinks about me.

But is that enough?

He's still my boss.

This is still a terrible idea.

And my heart…

It's still committed to his.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chloe

"Do your best with my banana." Dean slaps the piece of fruit on the desk.

It's Wednesday. The night before the test. Four days since he apologized. Since I fell asleep thinking about all the ways he could make it up to me.

Okay, that's bullshit.

I've fallen asleep thinking about him every night for a month straight.

I pick up my gun. Stare at the yellow flesh. I'm at work and I'm paying attention, dammit. "A star?"

"Whatever inspires you."

"Sure." My fingers curl around the metal. At this point, the weight and feel of the gun are familiar. It belongs in my hands. It makes sense there.

Dean goes into a trance when he's working.

Maybe I can do the same.

I turn the gun on. Focus on bringing it to the fruit's flesh.

There. I draw a curved line. Round it. Finish the other half.

The room quiets as the tattoo gun's hum ceases.

It's October now. Even in Venice Beach, even five blocks from the beach, the weather is cooler. Which means the air-conditioning is at brisk rather than ice box.

At the moment, it's silent.

Our breath is the only sound in the room.

My inhale is sharp. My exhale is heavy.

Dean moves closer. Until he's right behind me. Inches away.

Then pressed against me.

His hard chest against my back. His crotch against my ass. His arms around my shoulders.

My heartbeat picks up.

My stomach flutters.

My body buzzes with desire.

His touch feels so good.

Right now, I need good. This might be my last chance to kiss and make up with my body.

But can I trust him?

Can I muster up the guts to turn around and kiss him?

His fingers trail down my arm. My wrist. The back of my hand. He picks up the banana and studies it. "Good."

"Yeah?"

"This is it."

"It how?"

"You're graduating." He sets the fruit on the desk. Steps backward enough to release me. "Do a more complicated design this time."

"You have a banana?"

"Not one you can ink."

"In your dreams."

"Pretty sure needles on my dick falls into nightmare."

"Then how did you get the piercing—"

"Raw willpower."

"Bullshit." I need to tease him. I need to feel like today is a normal day and not the one before I meet my fate. "It was narcissism, plain and simple."

"Damn, sunshine. Slow down. I don't know those SAT words."

I turn and stare up at him. "It was all your ego."

"It is massive." His smile lights up his bright eyes.

"But that wasn't enough. You needed jewelry."

"And this." He takes my right hand between his. Traces the lines of each ring with his thumb.

"What about it?"

"Why is it you're adorning your right hand?"

I wiggle my left hand. I'm wearing rings on every finger there too.

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