MacKenzie Fire(23)

“What are you doing?” I ask, annoyed, trying to right myself without looking like a complete fool. Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I pretend to be searching for something inside my purse. I hate that I can’t look him in the eye right now, but there’s no sense in denying it.

“You’re the one who attacked me.”

I raise an eyebrow and readjust the strap of my purse over my shoulder, abandoning my search and my reticence over looking him in the eye. “Attacked? Come on now, don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration?”

“Lemme see …” He rolls his eyeballs to the ceiling as he thinks, counting off on his fingers as he goes. “First, you shoot me. With a bullet. Then you toss me around in the back of a truck while you drive like a maniac through town. After that you give me a purple nurple…”

“Titty twister,” I correct.

“Whatever, … and then you stomp on my toe.” He looks at me and stops with the annoying counting. “And now, here you are body-slamming me in the hospital.”

I shake my head in mock disappointment. “So sad.”

“What’s so sad?”

He’s standing way too close for comfort, but I’m not going to be the one to back away and give ground. Let him do it.

“So sad that you’re so precious. I thought country boys were tougher than that.”

“Precious? I’m not precious.”

I stick my bottom lip out really far. “Awww, poor baby … how’s your nipple? Do you need some ice for it? Maybe a bandage? Good thing you’re in the hospital. Maybe you should go to the ER.”

“My mom’s gonna kill me,” he says, out of the blue.

I frown, confused. “Why?”

“Because-a this.”

He reaches up and actually tweaks my nipple. Then he smiles. Big. Real big. I can see his wisdom teeth he’s so damn happy.

I can’t move. I’m frozen in shock. “You … you just …”

“That’s right, City. I just got you back. Tit for tat.” He starts laughing. “Literally.”

My eyes narrow as I consider my options. “You are so going down right now.”

He sees the look in my eye and stops laughing immediately. “Hey now … this is a hospital, young lady. You need to behave yourself in here.” He’s waffling between laughing and being scared.

I take a step towards him and he moves back two paces. His hands go up in a defensive gesture. “I’m serious.” He points at me. “Act like a lady.”

That was the wrong thing to say. “When you treat me like one, I’ll act like one.” I leap into action, my boots giving a special spring to my step.

He tries to run backwards but gives up and spins around, tripping on himself to get away. He pushes off the wall to keep from falling.

We wind through hallways with me in pursuit, only slowing when someone is nearby. I chase him all the way to the cafeteria, where he finally slows to a walk. I pull up next to him and pinch his butt hard. He pushes the door open and we both walk through at the same time.

“Youch!” He scoots his pelvis forward, trying to move his buns out of my reach. “Easy now, City,” he says in a low tone meant only for me. “I have witnesses.” He straightens up and tries to look cool.

“Better watch your back,” I say, just as quietly. I separate from him and go over to the coffee area. I’m totally out of breath, but I try to hide it by breathing out of my nose. My nostrils are flaring trying to get enough oxygen into my system. I can’t tell if my heart is racing from the running or the chemistry that’s flared up between us again. He actually touched my nipple! How dare he! I’m still tingling from it and not because it hurt. It definitely didn’t hurt.

I feel something warm on my back and leg. It’s Ian standing way too close. His breath washes over my neck. “Better watch your back,” he says.

I laugh, too cool for school. “Wow, that was original.” Taking a coffee cup, I reach up with my other hand to press down on the button that will fill me up with caffeine. I’m not sure I need it at this point, but at least it serves as a distraction.

“Not original enough for ya? Okay, how about this one … better watch your neck.”

I frown as I put some sugar into my cup and stir it. “What … are you a vampire now?”

I sense his intention before I feel it. “Maybe.” His mouth is suddenly on my skin, the spot between my shoulder and my neck. His lips have clamped on and he’s sucking.

I spin around, completely taken by surprise. We end up face to face when his mouth is forced to detach from me.

“What are you doing?” Trying to act cool is taking every bit of talent I have in that area. My hand holding the coffee cup is trembling

He smiles, all lazy-like and smooth. I hate that he’s way cooler than I am. “Just getting a little revenge.”

My neck keeps tingling. It’s like his lips are still there. “You better not have left a hickey.”

He glances at my skin and smiles. “Or else, what?”

I debate in my mind what I should say next. That I’ll give him a worse one? No. He’s a Bambi killer. I don’t want to trade hickeys with him. Even though it felt really nice and I love the way he smells.