Excerpt: Fire Eater

Whatever breath I had to scream escaped my lungs before I could use it. A body pressed hard against my back, crushing my chest, never allowing me to catch a complete breath. At least not enough to scream. But who would come to help me anyway, the outcast, the enemy?
“You’re utterly miserable at tracking. It’s embarrassing.” The voice rang in my ears.
I struggled underneath him and he let me turn over onto my back, but now locked my hands above my head and my waist between his knees.
“What is with you?” I demanded.
A crooked smile crossed his lips. “Too rough?” he asked.
“I’m not joking!” I growled. “What is with you?”
His smile faded. “What do you mean?”
I scoffed. “As if you’re that oblivious! Before you wouldn’t even meet my eyes and now this? What is it? Just tell me. No walls, no evasions. I want to know what is bothering you so much.”
He sighed and nodded. “I…want to know the truth.” He said slowly. “Are you in love with Joshua?”
“Joshua?” I repeated. What did he care about Joshua? I shook my head. “No, I’m not in love with him. Why does that matter to you?”
One of his hands cupped my cheek. “No walls?” he asked.
“No walls.”
He closed the distance between us.
“It matters because I’m irreparably in love with you.”
My heart pounded loudly in my ears. My breath caught in my throat and a laugh of joy escaped from between my lips.
David’s eyes narrowed on mine, his face hard.
My eyes widened and my mouth fell open at his reaction. He thought I was laughing at him. He thought I didn’t love him back.
“No!” I screamed, grabbing his face when he turned his head. “I love you.”
He turned his eyes to the side, his expression unreadable.
Tears blurred my vision. I only had one last chance. I raised my head and touched my lips to his. At the moment of contact, flames engulfed us, but I didn’t stop. He wasn’t putting in any effort. I locked fingers in his hair and pulled him closer.
But he backed away.
He backed away.
He didn’t meet my eyes. “That only proves your lust.” He said huskily.
Ha, it had affected him. I couldn’t hold back the smile.