Five minutes?

God, I'd been lost in a black cloud of hate. I didn't remember moving my feet.

Zoe held something to me; my shirt, my jacket. “Put these on,” she said. “It's freezing out here.”

“Not yet. The air feels good.” Closing my eyes, I swept my hair back. The wall behind me felt stable. I needed stability right then.

Lowering my clothing, Zoe made a tiny sound—it drew my attention. Her lips twisted, a worried frown. “Seriously, are you okay?” she asked, her breath turning into steam in the December night.

Lifting my hand, I looked over the damage. Skin had been torn back, everything wet and hot-pink. Both of us winced, the pain becoming real. It was a dull throb, but it fucking hurt. “I'm fine,” I said quickly, recognizing her fear.

She set my clothes on the ground. Reaching out, her small fingers curled around my wrist, turning my hand gingerly. “Why the hell did you do this to yourself?”

I didn't mean to laugh, but it came out anyway; dry as sand. “Reese had it coming. The pain was—is—worth it.”

Zoe's grip tightened. “Help me understand. One second you were beating down Magnus with all the fires of Hell at your back, and the next you're attacking Reese.”

“That asshole was lying to you.” Reclaiming my arm, I cradled her shoulders. Zoe looked so tiny in my grip, a figurine made of paper. “You thought he wasn't taking any of the winnings. He was taking half.”

Before my eyes, Zoe grew—a moon rising. She stood taller than I'd ever seen her. Her agony created a convincing illusion. I thought even her hair was swaying, snakes that coiled and wished to bite. “He told me that he wanted me to keep every penny. All along, he was actually taking from me.”

She twisted to stare at my bloody knuckles where they rested on her. Zoe whispered, “You found out, so you knocked him on his ass. You did that... for me?”

I wanted to see her smile again. I had the awful fear that this tragedy would break the muscles that allowed her to laugh so freely. How could this news not put her heart in a vice?

Remembering how terrified Reese had looked, I found some strength. My chuckle was sarcastic. “Call me Mr. Romantic.”

Tension became a drop of water. It hung from the tip of an icicle, waiting to freeze or to fall. Maybe the ice would come with it, impaling us both.

Zoe was no longer swelling. Her anger deflated, but it wasn't sadness that filled the holes. I kept waiting for her to shout, to cry. Reese had already betrayed her once. Now, with this brand new wound, she'd crawl into her own skin and never come back out.

That man... he would pay for what he'd done to her.

I was ready for her to reject the whole god damn world—and me with it. Wrapping her hands behind my head, Zoe shoved me into the wall. Raw heat exploded on my lips, her kiss meant for a familiar lover, not for a man in an alley.

A man who had bled for her.

If it was done for her sake, I'd turn every fucking street red.

Stealing my breath, she slid against my bare chest—reminding me that I was still wearing just my jeans. On reflex, I curled my arms around her body. Her heart hammed through her spine and into my palms. I imagined myself cradling it, keeping it safe.

How the hell had we gotten here?

- Chapter Eight -

Zoe

Salt and sin. Huck tasted like everything I imagined he would.

He stood up for me. I bit his lower lip, tugging. He fought for me. Gliding my tongue over the roof of his mouth, I reveled in each groove.

Huck won't betray me.

I wanted it to be true. I was willing to let myself believe it could be.

It's always easier to believe something when you're floating in a cloud of lust. I'd been struggling every second to resist this man. Huxton was sexy as hell, but it was more than that.

My ache for him had grown deeper than just a hunger for his warm skin, firm hands and firmer cock. The way he could ripple his body... the intensity of his eyes...

There were many reasons to crave Huxton Blake.

My sole reason?

He had decided, without me begging or praying, to stand up and fight for me. Not in the ring, and not for money, he'd gone head to head with the man who had wronged me.

Reese had strung me through the mud. What a fucking liar. How long had he been playing me?

Six months. Did he skim cash from every fight?

This meant I owed more money than I thought. It was soul crushing, the terror of walking backwards when you thought you were moving into the future.

Nehro had never said a word. He knew, and he'd been happy to leave me ignorant. He wanted me to fail... he wanted me to default on that awful contract.

He probably prayed every night for me to give in and spread my legs for him.

Why did so many people seek to use me?

“Zoe,” Huck breathed, his fingers coiling in my scalp. I gasped as he wrenched me away, demanding space between our lips. Facing him was hard, my head was swimming. I couldn't focus. “Zoe, why—fuck, I can't believe I'm saying this. Why are you kissing me?”

Oxygen wheezed through my open mouth, but struggled to touch my brain. Everything inside my skull felt warm and wet and too big to be kept inside. “Because I've been dying to kiss you since you drove me home on your motorcycle last night.” Last night. Had it really only been a day since we'd met?

I didn't care. I wanted to feel something good for once. Hope... hope was tantalizing.

I leaned forward, wanting to taste him again.

His hands held me steady by my hair, so rough they lifted pinpricks of light behind my eyes. Lowering my gaze, I stared longingly at the massive shape outlined in his jeans. I whispered, “You want to kiss me, too. Don't tell me you're any different.”

Huck's chest broadened, air sucking in until he was at full capacity. “Babe, I am different.” He yanked me forward, his forehead crushing against mine. “I wanted to kiss you hours before that ride. The minute I first saw you, sitting in that chair, crown on your head like a fucking queen... I knew I had to have you.”

My world became his eyes and his smell and those wicked lips. That was all that existed.

That was all I needed.

In a whirl of my own hair, Huck spun me. Rough, cool stone dug into my shoulders. It trapped me in place. But Huxton... he put that solid wall to shame. He was far harder than the brick behind me.

I'd kissed him once, seconds ago. His mouth made me forget I'd been the one to do it first. He made me forget everything with his soft lips and sharp teeth.

Being kissed by Huxton was akin to inhaling a typhoon. He stripped me raw, made it impossible to think.

He shoved a knee between my legs, forcing mine apart. Cupping my jaw, angling my head, he licked the arch of my throat. “God, you taste fucking amazing. I need more of you.” Lowering his face, he bit my shoulder through my jacket. “I want to see all of you, Zoe. I'm going to peel everything away until I expose you. I'll lick every inch of your skin and back again. Would you like that, babe?”

All I could manage was a moan.

Chuckling darkly in his throat, Huck teased his other hand up my thigh. “That's a yes if I ever heard one. Fuck, how wet are you right now?”

Shit, he's killing me. This was happening fast, a landslide I was being smothered under. I couldn't speak, and I didn't dare try. Whatever I said... it would reveal too much. More than I was willing to admit.

Blushing, I tried to shake my head—his palm allowed nothing. I had to look down my nose to see his face. His smirk was jagged and delicious.

Huck whispered, “You don't want to tell me out loud? That's fine. I can see for myself.” His wide hand grazed the top button of my jeans. With the last of the cool stone vanishing under my growing heat, I trembled.