Page 113 of Pucking Bad Boys

“Hi.” That reminds me of the way she greeted me the night we met.

I close the distance between us in a few short strides. “Hi.”

The air between us is crackling with electricity, and for a second, I wish we could go back to that night. When she wasn’t Mack’s girlfriend. Not kissing her that night is my biggest regret.

“Can we help you, Becker?” Mack stops by Talia’s side; the hostility in his eyes could fill the entire campus. He used my full name, like my parents did when I got in trouble as a kid.

I scrub a hand over my face. “I’m beyond help.” I admit.

“Why are you here?” He insists.

“I don’t know.” I lie.

In reality, I know exactly why I’m here, but if I told him, he would kick my ass, and I wouldn’t even blame him.

“Then let me take a guess.” His tone is as hard and cold as freshly resurfaced ice. “You kissed my girlfriend. You’re here because you can’t stop thinking about that kiss. And you want to kiss her again. How am I doing?”

There’s no point in lying now. “You nailed it.”

I stand my ground. If he wants to hit me, I don’t even brace myself because I know I deserve it.

There’s a beat of silence before Mack nods. “I thought so.”

But rather than punching me in the face, my brother surprises me with his next words. “That kiss was hot. Talia, baby. What do you want? It’s up to you. Do you want to kiss Becks again? If not, he can fuck off.”

“Come again?” I wouldn’t be surprised if he started laughing and finally hit me.

“It was a hot kiss.” Mack repeats. “It’s up to Talia if she wants to kiss you again or if she wants you to go.”

She looks at my brother, and he nods. “I do.”

I’m about to turn on my heel to leave when she clarifies.

“I want you to kiss me again, Becks.”

For a couple of seconds I don’t dare move a muscle, bracing myself for them to start laughing, confirming that this is some kind of elaborate prank. Or maybe part of some crazy dare.

But when all I can see in Talia’s eyes is the same desire that’s making me feel like my heart is about to explode in my chest.

I’m not sure what the fuck is going on here, but I can’t pass on the chance to kiss Talia again.

One more step is all it takes to close the rest of the distance between us. I reach for her face, tracing her delicate jaw with myfingers and looking into the crystal clear blue of her eyes. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” I rasp out.

When I lower my head to kiss her, she meets me halfway.

And the way she melts against me, her mouth soft and hot on mine, is enough to make me lose my damn mind.

I press on her lips, demanding entrance. I take control; my kiss is hungry, hard, almost bruising.

It’s a fucking defense mechanism. I can’t afford to let Talia totally in. Not when she’s Mack’s girlfriend.

Whatever is happening right now, it’s probably the result of some kind of temporary insanity.

Maybe there’s something in the water, or in the beer we drank tonight. Even though none of us had more than one drink.

But whenever this madness ends, I know she’s gonna go back to him. To protect myself, all I can do is take, giving as little as I can.

Earlier downstairs, Talia was more timid. Maybe it was because we had an audience. We aren’t alone now either, but it’s just Mack who keeps his watchful eyes on us.