Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“You’re the reason I can’t have nice things.”
I scoffed out a chuckle. “Shut up and close your eyes.”
“Harley! You can’t be serio—” Cash interjected.
“Screw off, McGraw!”
“Fine. I’ll let you kiss me.”
“What?!” Shiloh and Cash shouted simultaneously.
“But if you stick your tongue in my mouth, I’ll bite it off.”
“Harley! Don’t let him steal your first kiss!” Shiloh shared.
I cocked my head to the side. “You’ve never been kissed?”
She blushed, shrugging. “So.”
I already knew that, but it was still shocking to hear the words fall from her lips.
“I ain’t like those brainless cheerleaders that will let anyone kiss them. Includin’ you.”
“Says the girl who just said I could kiss her.”
“Only cuz you dared me. You know I can’t turn down any of your dares. Even if they get me in trouble. I don’t back down for anyone. I’m a Jameson. I’m a badass mothafucka. I ain’t made that way.”
I grinned. Her feisty personality always got to me. She was the perfect enemy, up for anything. The challenge of our dares, pranks, the ongoing war between us was as addicting to her as it was for me.
“So, I’ll let you steal my first kiss.”
“Harley! It’s your first kiss! Don’t do this!” Shiloh countered, further pissing me off. “It’s too important to you. He just wants to hurt your heart. Don’t let him take something that means so much away from you. He ain’t worth it!”
Knowing this meant something to her.
That it was significant.
Cherished.
Guarded.
Only made me want to steal it even more.
Needing to show her who was boss.
Me.
Forever.
I owned her. She belonged to me, and she proved it every single time she said yes, because Harley never said no.
“Shiloh, why don’t you learn how to shut your mouth?”
Harley pushed me. “Don’t talk to her like that. She’s just lookin’ out for me, you kiss stealer!”
Cash’s hands were still fisted at his sides, getting tighter and tighter the longer this went on. Only fueling my hatred for him. This was going to hurt him, and that fact alone made kissing Harley much more satisfying.
“Leave her alone!” he roared.
“Hey, tough guy! Which one? Harley or Shiloh?”
“I said leave her alone!”
“Oh, so it’s Harley again? Why? Are you going to take her place? You want me to bully you? You never learn, do you, Cash?”
“What was that?”
“You heard me. Grow some balls already, bro. Unless you don’t have any cuz you’re really a girl . Always being Harley’s protector, but news flash... I’ll always be in her life too.”
“That’s funny comin’ from you, Jackson. The only thing you want is attention. You’re a jock who walks around school thinkin’ you’re untouchable. That every girl wants you and every guy wants to be ya. You treat everyone like shit and just expect them to fall at your feet. You can’t stand the fact Harley doesn’t want ya. So you have these pranks, these dares, all this bullshit just to get her attention. Newsflash, Jackson... I will always be in Harley’s life when you have nothin’. No one other than your dumbass jock friends, who only like you cuz you’re popular. I have somethin’ you will never have and you can’t stand it. Who has the bigger balls now, bro?”
“I’ll show all y’all who has bigger balls...” Shifting my glare back to Harley, I asked her, “You ready?”
“Cash.” She looked at him. “I got this.” Bringing her gaze back to mine, she added, “He’s right though. Cash will always be in my life cuz I want him to be. You, only cuz our families are close. If I didn’t havta see you or talk to you, I’d be livin’ my best life. Don’t get it twisted, I don’t love you. I don’t even like you. Especially now, kiss stealer. Let’s get this over with. Do it so it’ll be another dare I beat you at.”
I smiled. “Close your eyes for me, baby girl.”
Everything she said went in one ear and out the other. Her words meant nothing to me. She meant nothing to me. People couldn’t hurt you unless you let them, and I would never let her get to me. She was just the girl...
I hated.
Harley took a deep breath and wrenched her eyes shut so tight I could see the wrinkles in the corners of her lids.
Leaning in close to her ear, where only she could hear me, I whispered, “Relax, Toots. I’m not going to hurt you. At least not right now. You’ll like it. I promise.”
“Like I would ever trust you, Jackson Pierce.”
I grabbed onto the back of her neck and pulled her toward me. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Taking one last look at her face, I bent down to reach her mouth with mine.
She sucked in a breath, and I was struck with the smell of cherry from her lips. My pulse sped up.