Bared To You (Sinful Nights)

4: The First Kiss

Ashley

I ran practically the whole way home, my lungs burning. I had to know if Hayden was okay, or at least, not lying in a ditch somewhere after some ridiculous turf war over...me. The thought made my stomach churn more than the physical exertion.

I found out he wasn't in school anymore when I ran back to class and of course, Mr. Radio Silence wasn't answering his texts. "Hey, are you bleeding out somewhere? Asking for a friend. (That friend is me, i***t, because I'm not going to let my rival win this round.)" Nothing. I even tried calling, but it went straight to voicemail.

"Seriously?" I muttered, kicking a stray pebble as I rounded the corner to our apartment building. "Is he trying to give me a heart attack?" But luckily there was no ambush on the way back, though. No guys with bandanas and brooding glares waiting to jump on him. Good, right?

The moment I stepped inside our home, my heart skipped a beat as I went straight to his room, I hesitated, hovering my hand above the knob of his door. I knocked, pressing my lips to a thin line, there was no answer and then I pushed the door open.

The room was dark, the curtains were down blocking the sunlight, I looked around and saw Hayden on the bed, he was lying down on his stomach and I wondered if he was still breathing.

"Hayden?" I whispered, taking a cautious step inside.

In a blink of an eye, he was on top of me, pinning me against the doorframe. My back slammed against the wood, stealing my breath away.

Hayden had my wrists clamped above my head, his knee pressed firmly between my legs. His face was mere inches from mine, his breath warm and fast against my cheek. He smelled... different. Musky, wild, and undeniably Hayden which caused a shiver to run down my spine.

"What the hell are you doing? Who asked you to step into my room," his voice was cruel as he growled like a wild animal ready to bite. I stared up at him, momentarily stunned, and then my anger flared.

"You weren't answering your phone, I thought you were dead, you jerk!" My voice raised angrily.

I kicked at him, aiming for his shin, but he dodged with ease. He laughed and loosened his grip on my wrists while his hand slid down, grazing my skin in a way that made my stomach flip. I seized the chance and moved away from him.

"I'm fine," he said quietly, and at the same moment I noticed his stomach, he had something wrapped around it, and I saw blood stain on the bandage.

"Then whose blood is that?" I demanded.

"You don't have to worry about it," he replied dismissively ready to move away but I held him back.

"Didn't know you had this in you, you know fighting over me? I didn't realize you were so whipped." I mumbled as I moved over to touch the wound while he hissed.

"Don't flatter yourself, Ashley," he grunted "I didn't plan to. It's out of my control."

"Out of your control? Is that why you're wounded, what did they use?"

"He stabbed me with a knife," he replied casually and my eyes widened in shock, "it's not that deep."

I stared at him dumbfounded, "you should have went to the hospital instead of wrapping that silly thing on it."

"I'm fine, I will got it sorted out, my boys will definitely deal with him," he replied and I didn't want to know what boys he was talking about, I always knew that Hayden was into something bad but I never disturbed myself to find out about it.

"We should go to the hospital, I will call my parents and inform them," I tried to turn away but he held my hand back.

"Don't!" He grumbled

"Are you expecting me to leave you like this? No way!" I tried to pull away from his hold but he was stronger, even with his injury.

"Just help me wrap it up, I have first aid box in my bathroom," he mumbled and I look at him for a while contemplating if I should do that or not, I finally let out a deep breath.

I went into his bathroom and took the first aid box like he had said, I noticed some strange stuffs but I stepped out of there, I made him lay down in the bed and tried to clean his wound. He winced as I dabbed gently with the antiseptic wipe, his muscles tensing. "Sorry," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper in the quiet room.

"It's okay," Hayden said, his voice a low rumble. My fingers trembled slightly as I pressed a clean gauze pad to the cut. I kept my head down, focusing intently on the task, trying to ignore the way the air thickened between us.

He shifted slightly, angling himself better, and his good hand came up, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw. My breath hitched. His touch was light and tentative, but it sent a shiver down my spine. "You don't know what you do to me Ash," he mumbled, his voice was so low that I had to strain my ear to ear what he said.

I finally looked up, meeting his eyes. They were dark, intense, and held a look I couldn't quite decipher, his hand lingered, his thumb brushing lightly against my lips and my breath hitched.

His eyes dropped to my mouth, then back up to my eyes. "You know it takes a lot of strength not to bend you over... the way you look and move... you drive me crazy Ash."

"Stop playing around," I muttered, my heart was busy pounding fast and I wondered what was wrong with Hayden, he never spoke to me this way.

"Can I kiss you?" His voice was so low, sweet, and sexy that I felt what he said in between my legs, I had to clasp them together quickly.

Slowly and deliberately, he leaned forward. My heart hammered against my ribs, I knew I was suppose to pull away but I didn't. "Talk to me Ash, can I?"

"Yes" my voice betrayed me and before I could say other wise, his lips met mine, soft at first like a tentative exploration. Then, the kiss deepened.

His hand moved from my jaw to the back of my neck, pulling me gently down towards him. My free hand went to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.

His mouth moved expertly against mine, tasting and exploring. I kissed him back with equal fervor, pouring all the pent-up tension into the kiss. His hand suddenly moved to cup my boobs and it seems my senses came back. I stumbled back, but he moved closer, his hot breath all over my skin.

He was too close, too intimate. I saw something flash in his eyes, something feral and hungry. The look was sending me away but I can't do this anymore, it is wrong, I stumbled back, out of the room, and slammed the door shut behind me. I leaned back against the wood, my knees shaking, trying to process what just happened.

Did I just share a kiss with my arch-enemy?