Page 154 of Ruthless Court

Still sharp.

Still guarded.

Still Hannah.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“Checking something.”

“What?”

“Whether you still look at me like you hate me without these.”

Her voice drops.

“I do.”

“Liar.”

Then I kiss her.

Twelve

HANNAH

Kane Haverhill kisses like he plays when he stops overthinking.

Direct. Controlled. Certain he’ll get where he wants to go.

His hand slides behind my neck, fingers catching beneath my hair as his mouth moves over mine.

For one stunned second, I forget every reason this is a terrible idea.

Then his thumb brushes my jaw.

Heat races down my throat and settles low in my stomach.

I kiss him back.

One mistake.

A very good one.

His breath changes. The restraint in his hand tightens, and he angles closer across the console.

The kiss deepens.

I taste mint, rain, and the Twizzler he stole from me.

That snaps something back into place.

I press one hand against his chest.

Kane pulls away, breathing harder than before.

His eyes stay on my mouth.

“What was that?” I ask.