The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(38)

“Dani!” Someone yells, catching my attention. I look over and see Doc tripping her way over to me.

Bobby comes up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist trying to steady her.

“Yeah, Doc has had a little too much to drink,” he explains, eyeing over my shoulder. I look to see what Bobby is looking at and see Shadow walking toward us.

“How much have you drank?” I ask, looking back at Doc. She flips her long, blonde hair over her shoulder and giggles like I just asked the funniest question.

“Seems Bobby likes drunk girls,” Shadow says coldly from behind me.

Doc giggles and nods her head in agreement.

“Let’s go,” Bobby orders Doc as his eyes narrow with anger at Shadow.

I watch Bobby help a stumbling Doc toward the parking lot. I sympathize with her. Bobby can be more than encouraging with his alcoholic beverages; no girl could say no to him if they wanted to.

“What did you and Tom have to talk about?” Shadow asks, taking a swig of his beer bottle casually.

I look up at him. “Why, jealous?”

Shadow grits his jaw as his finger slides down my back, his touch shooting sparks through me. My body wants him more than I have ever wanted anything, the depriving release becoming unbearable.

“You don’t want to tempt me, Dani,” he warns, skipping his hand down and grabbing my ass firmly.

I sigh from the contact; my body wants more of him but Shadow won’t budge. He walks away from me, and looking back, he smirks, making my bikini bottoms melt.

Feeling the urge to pee, I start making my way toward the bathroom; on my way, I hear loud moaning and panting. I look into the darkness where the noise is coming from, the bright moon lighting up the night for me to just barely see. I spot Locks sitting on the ground with his pants pulled to his ankles, a bottomless Candy grinding on top of him. He brings Candy closer, biting on her shoulder when his gaze catches mine. I quickly avert my eyes to the ground and keep going. Seeing him cheat on Babs has me sick to my stomach. Where in the hell is Babs? Surely she stayed?

After doing my business in a sandy, wet bathroom, I leave and am immediately snatched to the side of the building. My mouth opens, ready to scream, but is slapped shut with a muscled hand. My eyes go wide with fear and I notice Shadow, whose face is full of humor laughing at me.

“Asshole!” I yell, slapping his arm in anger.

Shadow growls and pulls me closer.

“Your temper has a way of turning me on,” he whispers against my collarbone.

He runs his nose up my neck, making my head fall back against the brick bathhouse. He slides his hands down my frame until they reach my ass where he digs his fingers into my flesh. The feeling of his rough grasp makes me moan and my body sparks alive, wanting more.

“Man, I miss this,” he moans, tightening his grasp on my backside with one cheek in each of his large hands. My breathing becomes heavy with lust, I bring my mouth toward Shadow and smash my lips to his, demanding contact. He immediately nips my lip with his teeth and slips his tongue into my mouth, devouring my senses. That feeling I get when I’m with Shadow slams forward, the feeling that nothing else matters. He’s the air that fills my lungs, and every time he pulls away, I am deprived of that refreshing breath which keeps me alive.

My hands trail down his bare, chiseled chest to his red board shorts, his excitement for me pressing against the fabric. A loud bang erupts in the sky, and colors of red, blue, white, and zinging gold illuminate around us, our bodies tangled in a Fourth of July display. Shadow trails his finger down my stomach over my belly button and plays with the elastic of my bikini bottoms. My body vibrates with desire, craving for him to go further.

“Mine in leather is very tempting,” Shadow whispers into my mouth as he continues to kiss me. I smile against his lips; my plan to bring Shadow to his knees with the leather bikini is working.

Ear-piercing whistles sound off in the distance, catching our attention. He breaks away from our kiss and looks at the fireworks lighting up the night sky before he releases his grip on me and pulls away.

I sigh in frustration, pissed he’s refraining going any further with me when he clearly wants to.

“Why are you resisting?” I pant, my voice heavy with lust.

Shadow smirks as he runs his hands through his black, ruffled hair. “Your body may want me, but I’m greedy. I need all of you, Dani,” he replies somberly. “Including your heart.”

I swallow the lump building in my throat; I’ve always loved Shadow, even when he broke my heart. If I hated anyone, it was myself for not being able to hate him.

“I’ve always loved you, Shadow,” I whisper candidly, emotion muffling my voice.

Shadow walks up close, grabbing the nape of my neck and forcing me to look up at him. “How can you love me? How can you love me when I deserted you when you needed me?” he asks, his tone deep and angry, giving me the impression he doesn’t feel worthy of my love.

What am I supposed to say to that? He’s right. I should hate him, should plot my savage revenge which flows like a raging river, but I do love him. I’m so damaged that I can look past the manic beast before me and see the caring man he wants to be. Most of all, I can relate to his darkness, our desperation so thick we’ll do anything to feel something beyond the poisonous pain which consumes our lives.

“Do you still love me?” I ask.