5. Leilani

That smile on his face is way too sexy, and I need to get away from it ASAP.

I can”t go letting my guard down now. One quiz win does not suddenly turn Asher into a nice guy. Sure, it makes him a million times sexier than he was before…

Dangerous. Don”t go there!

I step forward, suddenly desperate to get away from him, and don”t notice how slippery the stairs are until my feet are skidding out from under me.

“Whoa.” A strong arm catches me around the waist, helping me down the last two steps until I”m securely on my feet… and in his embrace.

The air puffs between us, little white clouds that give away how fast my heart is racing.

It’s just the shock of nearly falling down the stairs. That’s all it is.

Except…

He still hasn”t let me go, and my hands are still clutching his jacket.

I need to release my grip, thank him, step back—anything!

But I”m just standing here like a moron, breathing.

Breathing and… and wanting.

Wanting to…

My body acts before my brain can stop me, and I don”t know if he leaned in first or if my eyes were saying something I didn”t realize, but our lips are now suctioned together. His grip around my waist tightens as I tug on his jacket, pulling him that much closer. When his tongue skims my lower lip, I open my mouth without hesitation, inviting him in.

He tastes perfect, remnants of Coke and ketchup and salt. This heady combination of manly awesomeness and my favorite kind of food. I lash my tongue against his, all thought expiring as I”m caught in this uncontrolled moment.

His hand glides up my back, splaying between my shoulder blades while I tip my head, changing the angle of our kiss. I deepen it until I feel like I”m moving into his mouth, finding a happy home there.

He feels so good.

So hot.

My body starts to burn, to yearn, to?—

Oh fuck!

Like the screeching of brakes just before an accident, I get hit with?—

No, I can”t think about that.

Fuck. Shit!

Stop!

I lurch away from him, reeling at what I”ve just let happen. Reeling at my own weakness.

Breaths punch out of me as I wriggle myself free of his grasp, then crack him across the face with my hand.

His head jerks to the side, and I quickly fist my fingers, tucking them into my chest and wincing while he tries to figure out what just happened.

“What the fuck?” He rubs his cheek, turning back to face me with an indignant frown. “You couldn”t just say, ‘Stop, please’?”

“I—”

“What is wrong with you?” He takes another step away from me, flicking up his hand. “You leaned into me.”

“I didn”t mean to do that.” I rush out the words. “I don”t want to kiss you.”

He goes still, narrowing his eyes at me while he rests his hand on the hood of his truck. “Yes, you do.”

“No, I?—”

“You do.” He points at me. “You just don”t want to admit it. But you fucking loved that kiss.”

“That”s not possible.” Crossing my arms, I raise my chin and glare right back at him.

“Why?” He shrugs. “I enjoyed it.”

“What?” I frown at his smirk. “No, you didn”t. You hate me.”

He looks to the sky with a soft groan. “I do not hate you.”

“Well, you should,” I snap. “I hate you.”

And that”s when everything playful and good and nice that we”d shared tonight disappears. It evaporates after my three little words and is quickly replaced with the old, familiar stoniness that Asher and I have been building our relationship on.

His eyebrows form a roller coaster as he gives me a skeptical frown. “You hate me?”

I should tell him no. I should admit how much I was enjoying that kiss, until…

No! I can”t tell him anything!

I can”t let my guard down like this. I have to be strong and in control.

So, despite the burning in my throat, I look him right in the eye and say it like I mean it. “Yes, I hate you. I have no idea what possessed me to kiss you. It was probably the win or something, but I quickly figured that it was the wrong thing to do. Because I hate you. And nothing you ever say or do will make me change my mind about that.”

His eyebrows pop high, and I may as well have just kicked him in the balls. A flash of pain darts across his expression before he evens it out to that pissed-off look he was wearing when we left Denver.

“Well, thanks for that shrute-tastic comment. Guess things are back to normal, then.” He stomps around his truck while I stay in my spot, still breathing like it”s the only thing I”m capable of doing. “Let”s go!” he barks, yanking open the back door for me.

I shuffle around to it, refusing to look at him while I slide into my seat and secure the belt around me.

He slams my door shut, then climbs in and slams his door shut, turning on the engine without a word and reversing out of his spot way too fast. “O Fortuna” starts blasting through the stereo. It gives me chills, but not in the inspired way I usually get when listening to this music.

It”s like an operatic omen.

My relationship with Asher is doomed. Not that it ever could have been anything.

You sure about that?

I snap my eyes shut against the question.

It”s doomed. I can”t have it any other way.

I can”t let myself go falling for a guy like him.

I can”t let myself go falling for anybody.

I”m better off on my own.