Nancy Carter
Making a bargain with Enzo Knight meant playing a game I wasn't ready for. I should have realised.
It seemed easy—a momentary diversion, a phoney connection to cause Jake to regret everything, a controlled fire I could start whenever I wanted.
Enzo, though? He did not execute easy tasks.
And it became abundantly evident the instant he planted another kiss on me.
The glances were unrelenting early morning.
People murmured wherever I walked, peering as if I were the central event in some convoluted drama series.
I passed several gals at the locker doors.
"She really kissed Enzo?" one of them said.
I knew it was more than simply a kiss. I heard they departed side by side.
"No way," Nina is not like that.
"Perhaps she is now.
I tightened my mouth and pushed my face towards a blank indifference.
Rumours are interesting in one way. You might own them or permit them to rule you.
And I was not ready to let these small-town rumours define me.
I therefore acted quickly when I saw Enzo sloppily lounging against the lockers like he owned the damned house.
I lifted my chin and strode right up to him, discounting the interested looks.
"Morning, boyfriend," I said, ensuring everyone heard.
His lips quenched, delight shining in his steely blue gaze. "Morning, Carter".
The air buzzed between us, and for a split second I almost forgot this was just a game.
Then I felt it—the clear presence of Jake observing us.
I turned slightly and saw him across the hall, his face thunderous. His hands closed into fists at his sides, his jaw tightened.
Positive.
Allow him to experience it.
Turning back to Enzo, I saw he was still staring at me, head slanted slightly.
"You're really committing to this, huh?" he said quietly.
You said we do things your way.
He grinned, as if he were savouring this a bit too much. Then, Carter, I expect you to be ready. Considering we are just getting started.
Then he grabbed my waist and dragged me in before I could register what was happening.
And planted a kiss on me.
It ought to have come out calculated. Just another action in this distorted game of retribution.
But my world slanted as the second Enzo's lips locked with mine.
His body pressed into mine with just enough force to for my pulse to go crazy. His hold was strong, authoritative.
I hardly had time to respond before his fingers crept into my hair, bending my head to help him to deepen the kiss.
Heat shot passed me; I forgot—that this was fake—one wild, careless second. That this was only meant to harass Jake.
Because nothing about this seemed phoney.
Enzo's smile against my lips seemed like he could detect the precise instant my brain short-circuited.
He gently withdrew; his breath warm on my face.
"There," he said, voice tinged with pleasure. That ought to give them something to discuss.
My heart pounding against my ribs, I was still whirling and then understood what had occurred.
There was an audience.
Students gazed, open-mouthed as if they couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.
And Jake looked as if he would blow.
His knuckles were white, his whole body coiled with strain from his tightly closed fists.
I felt a great surge of pleasure, but it was muffled by another.
I had the immediate, terrible awareness that I was not only playing this game as I glanced back at Enzo—his face inscrutable, but his fingers also remaining gently on my waist.
I was being played.
What I had just fucking seen defied belief.
Nina was only chatting with Enzo second. The next—he had her under his grasp.
He planted the kiss she expected. As she meant something for him.
And the worst aspect is also here.
She did not drive him off.
She gave him a kiss back.
My vision blurring at the margins, a searing, scorching wrath shot tore over me.
Enzo had always presented a challenge. Always stretching limits and always triggering beneath my skin. Still, this is what we have.
War was what we were experiencing.
Not thinking about anyone observing, I stalked ahead. "What the devil was that?" asked
Enzo turned slowly, his arm still hanging around Nina's waist as if he had every darn right to touch her.
He raised his brow. "You require something, Matthews?"
I put my hands tightly together. Alright. You should take your hands off my darling.
Nina let out laughter.
Not a nervous chuckle. Not some kind of bogus one.
a true, acute, cutting chuckle.
She said, slipping beyond Enzo's grasp and squarely confronting me: "Your girl?" "That's humorous, Jake. Last I saw, you were quite preoccupied with my closest buddy.
My gut sank.
The words really struck their point, and Nina knew by the expression in her eyes.
Crossing her arms, she said, "Look, I understand it. You assumed I would only sit in the corner and grieve over it. Surprising her, however, "I don't do heartbreak anymore," she nodded to Enzo, who seemed completely enthralled by this whole conversation.
My jaw became tighter. "So, what, you're with him right now?"
Nina raised her head, and for a minute I saw something flutter in her eye.
hesitated?
Uncertainty?
She then gave a grin. And it wasn't delicate. It was not polite.
It was absolute ruin.
"You will simply have to wait and see."
She turned then and headed off.
Enzo Knight was following her like he had already won.
Until we rounded the corner, far from the stares, whispers, and fire still blazing in Jake's eyes, I kept walking.
The second we were by ourselves, rounded on Enzo.
" What the hell was that?"
Enzo, utterly unconcerned, raised a brow. "What, the kiss??"
I moaned. Sure, the kiss. The bargain did not include that.
Technically, there were no prohibitions against it.
My scowl grew more pronounced. You could have issued a warning for me.
Enzo shook his shoulders. It wouldn't have been as entertaining.
I started to argue, but then his eyes darkened and his voice dropped.
"Besides," he murmured, stepping closer, "it worked, didn't it?"
I exhaled sharply, trying to ignore the way my pulse betrayed me.
Because he was right.
Jake had been furious. I had sought a reaction—and I got one.
But at what cost?
I swallowed hard, then took a step back. "This is just an act," I said, more to myself than to him.
Enzo studied me for a moment.
Then—so faint I nearly didn't hear it—he whispered, "Is it?"
The words sent a shiver down my spine.
Because I wasn't sure of the answer anymore.