Free Heat of the Storm by Elle Kennedy Page A

felt.
    Her silence dragged on far too long. Each second ticked by painstakingly slow, and Wil ’s expression went from impatient to irritated to resigned.
    The ride came to its conclusion, and a lanky teenager stepped to the platform and lifted up the bar.
    Without a word, Wil slid out of the car. Mac trailed after him, struggling to meet his powerful strides.
    “Wait,” she said in frustration, latching onto his muscular arm. “I need to tel you something. Please, Wil , wait.”
    Her peripheral vision caught a flash of red, and she turned to see Hol y standing by the exit gate, clad in a filmy red dress that swirled around her thighs.
    “I’m tired of waiting,” Wil replied flatly.
    He shrugged her hand off him and marched to the exit. Hol y frowned when she noticed his expression, which Mac imagined to be fierce and resentful, but the brunette didn’t have time to react because, in an instant, Wil pul ed Hol y into his arms and kissed her.
    Mac’s heart promptly plummeted to the pool of pain and bitterness in the pit of her stomach.

Chapter Six
    Wil wasn’t sure why he’d decided to kiss Hol y.
    They’d agreed to some tame hand-holding and a few pecks on the cheek, but the ire coursing inside him like a volatile ocean current had inspired this impulsive decision. Screw Mac, and her excuses, her fear, her denial. She didn’t want to give him a reason to stay? Fine, then he’d show her exactly what she would be missing. To hel with her.
    His mouth closed over Hol y’s, swal owing the shocked little sound she made. Carson would kil him, yes, but to hel with him too. Placing his hands on Hol y’s round bottom, he pul ed her toward him, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and kissing the living daylights out of her.
    His body reacted the way it always did when his tongue was in a warm female mouth. His cock grew hard, his pulse quickened, but he suspected the result had more to do with the fact that Mackenzie was watching. He sensed her presence, felt her beautiful blue eyes on him, and he knew she stil stood by the gate, witnessing this kiss.
    To his surprise, Hol y responded to him, twining her arms around his neck and sinking into his body. Her smal breasts pressed against his chest, and though they stimulated a pleasurable sensation, it was nothing compared to the way Mackenzie’s ful breasts had felt on his bare chest.
    Damn her.
    He fondled Hol y’s ass, tangling his tongue with hers, wishing it could be this simple. Kiss another woman, love another woman.
    But it wasn’t, and the hopeless realization that he could never get over Mackenzie Wade prompted him to end the kiss.
    “I’m sorry,” he murmured against Hol y’s lips then slowly drew back.
    She stared up at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. “It’s fine.” After a second of hesitation, she lifted her hand and touched his chin. “Are you okay?” He practical y choked on the word “no”.
    Hol y shot a discreet glance behind them, where he knew Mac was stil watching. “Let’s go then.” Nodding, he took Hol y’s hand and led her away, needing to get the hel out of this damn carnival. Away from Mackenzie and her goddamn excuses. He didn’t look back, not even once, and when they were far enough away, he stopped walking and shot Hol y an apologetic look.
    “I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.
    A devilish glint fil ed her green eyes. “Nope. Carson is going to kil you, you know.”
    Wil suppressed a groan. Oh, he knew al right.
    He’d be lucky if his friend didn’t skin him alive.
    At least Hol y seemed to take it wel . She’d obviously recovered from that spontaneous kiss he’d launched at her, the flush gone from her cheeks and a wise look in her eyes. “You’re done, aren’t you?” she asked quietly.
    “With Mac?” Pain stung his heart like a wasp. “I think so.”
    They began to walk again, making their way through the crowd of happy, smiling people. They reached the edge of the lot, and instead of heading