Damn.

How can I stay mad after he says things like that? Besides, it was just an excuse. A huge part of me wants to spend alone time with him, too.

He grins. “You just forgave me, didn’t you?”

“Don’t be so full of yourself.”

“Only if I get to fill you.” He brushes his nose against mine. “Told you, I’m not hard to satisfy.”

“You’re just so persistent and annoying about it.”

“Annoying, yes. Why is that news? You always called me annoying when we were kids. But” — he lifts a finger — “you always came back to my side.”

“That I did.”

“Because you can’t resist me.”

“Stop being so arrogant or I’ll kick you.”

“Come on, Green. Arrogance is kind of my image.”

“Even with me?”

“Especially with you. What if you leave me after I shed the image?”

“Not going to happen. Besides, you were always an arrogant, proud arsehole.” And it’s probably why he’s refusing Lewis’s help about the addiction. He doesn’t want to appear weak in front of someone he believes ruined his life years ago.

“Proud arsehole, you say?”

“The worst,” I joke.

“Have you seen my friends? I’m sure I score low on the arsehole scale compared to them.”

“Ro does.”

“Ronan. His name is Ronan. And believe me, he’s not what he seems. He likes to think he’s Switzerland when he’s in fact an imperialist power.”

“Really?”

“He’s Death, after all.”

“And you’re War.”

“Easy to start and hard to end.” He grins. “Remember that, Green. Actually, make it impossible to end.”

For some reason, my heart thumps so loudly, I actually stop breathing for a second to come to terms with what he’s said.

Impossible to end.

He doesn’t want it to end.

“You weren’t easy to start, Xan.”

“Yes, I was. You always fantasised about me, remember?”

“And you about me.”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Wait, what did Aiden mean by you winning the case in the human rights court of law?”

He thins his lips but remains silent.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

I poke his side. “Xander Edward Knight, since when do you hide things from me?”

His lips move in a sly smirk. “I love it when you call me by my third name. You sound hot.”

“You’re not changing the subject.”

“Bossy, too. Hmm. Now, I want to fuck it out of you.”

“Xan! Stop deflecting and tell me.”

“Fine. It’s Aiden being the usual fucker.”

“For what reason?”

“He knew I was a virgin and never let me live it down.”

I burst in laughter. “So he called the case a human rights one?”

“Stop laughing.” He scowls, pulling me closer into him.

“Sorry, I can’t. It’s so funny.” I try to hold it in but laugh anyway.

“Let’s see if you’ll be laughing when I fuck you until you can’t move tonight.”

My thighs tighten at the promise, but I say. “Back to being arrogant, aren’t we?”

“You still like me.”

“Maybe.” I pretend to look elsewhere.

He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to stare at those eyes that are so deep, I feel like I’ll never find a way out of them sometimes.

“Say it, Green.” There’s a certain edge in his tone, as if he’ll take things to a different level if I don’t comply.

I wiggle free from his hold and sprint down the street to our houses, calling behind me, “Catch me and I might tell you.”

I might not be an athlete, but I always did decent at running, I mean decent enough to run ahead from him and reach the house before he catches me.

I’m panting after only a few seconds. Thank God the distance is short. My hair sticks to my temples and my clothes are glued to my back.

But I’m already near my front door. I’ll –

Strong arms wrap around me from behind and lift me off the ground. I squeal as his warmth and mint scent envelop me whole.

“Got you, Green.” He nibbles at my ear. “You really thought you could outrun me?”

“Ugh,” I try to squirm free.

“Don’t be a sore loser. Pay up.”

“Fine. Let me down.”

He does, but he keeps an arm around me as if he doesn’t trust me not to try to run again. While I pant, his chest barely rises and falls with the effort.

“Are you a robot?” I groan.

“We need to work on your stamina.” He ruffles my hair. “But first, payment.”

I grab him by the T-shirt, get on tiptoe and kiss him. Just a peck before I pull away.

“That was the appetiser, right?” He runs his forefinger over his lips and I’m transfixed by the sensual movement.

Definitely an appetiser, considering all I can think about right now is kissing his lips until the morning.

“Let’s go to my house,” he says. “Dad won’t be home for a while.”

I fold my arms. “First, give me back my thing.”

“Your thing?”

“My bracelet.” I extend my hand. “Give it back.”

I thought I lost it somewhere that night I was transported to the hospital, but it wasn’t in my personal belongings. There’s only one option as to where it went.

Xander raises an eyebrow. “And here I thought you forgot about it.”

“Never. It’s been with me for seven years, after all.”

He reaches into his jeans and pulls out the bracelet. It’s clean, not soaked with blood like the last time I saw it.

I’m so glad it isn’t. Blood isn’t something I want to see for some time.

Xander takes my scarred wrist in his. Although I removed the stitches, it’s still ugly with long marks. He lifts it to his face and brushes his lips against them. My heart flutters and it takes effort to breathe.

I’m a mess every time he does things like that.

Then he clasps the bracelet around my wrist. “Don’t ever remove it.”

I nod.

He reaches into his other pocket and pulls out a pack of M&M’s, digs into it, and places a green one in front of my mouth. “Open up.”

“I can eat on my own.” I try to snatch the pack, but he keeps it high over my head. “Ugh. You’re unfair.”

“We can stand here all night or you can open that mouth.”

I huff, but I let my lips fall open. The moment he places the M&M inside, I lick his fingers, causing his eyes to darken. Xander’s eyes spark every time I brush my tongue against his skin.

“You’re killing me, Green.”

“Mmmm.” I grab the pack from him, take out a blue M&M, and place it in his mouth. “Have one, too.”

While I brush my lips against his fingers, Xander swallows mine into his hot mouth, lapping them with his tongue. A flash of desire grips me, and it takes everything in me to speak in a semi-normal tone. “You never told me your favourite flavour.”