Free Guardian Of Fate (Fate Series) by L.J. Kentowski Page B

to sit next to him. I didn't really notice that my heart was thumping so hard, but I looked down at my chest and saw it rapidly rising and falling. Our knees were almost touching as our bodies angled in, slightly facing one another. The closeness, and the fact that I felt half naked, did little to dispel my anxiety.
    "I'm better now, thank you." I tried to ease back on the bench, but there was little room left on my end. "You know, I was really surprised to see you at the apartment yesterday. What's with the change of heart? When we met, you said you were just passing through. Now you're going to rent an apartment?" And in my complex, no less! I thought to myself.
    He laughed. "I told you, Cassandra, I like what I see here."
    I didn't want to look him in the eyes, but I did. His penetrating gaze made me feel like he was hinting at more than location. "Yeah but I thought you were just—"
    "Hitting on you?"
    "No, I was going to say kidd—"
    "I was."
    "You were kidding? Then why are you looking at_—"
    "I was hitting on you."
    It took me a minute before my brain processed his quick response, and when it did, I was still at a loss for words. I must have looked like an idiot with my mouth hanging open, which I only realized after I saw where his eyes had fallen.
    Well, this was awkward. Here I was looking my worst, sweat dripping down my face (and other unmentionable areas), sitting with the most gorgeous man I had ever met, and he just told me he'd been hitting on me. I felt like someone was playing a cruel joke on me, or my willpower was being tested by a higher authority. My life was a wreck, and all of a sudden, I have two guys either asking me out or hitting on me? What are the freaking odds of that? None to one, because I didn't believe that this was happenstance for a second. Something was going on.
    "Look, I'm flattered, Hunter. I really am, but I don't have the time for someone in my life right now."
    There was no disappointment, surprise, or even understanding on his face. There was only a cold hard stare, looking deep into my eyes, almost daring them to look away. "So where does Caleb fit in?"
    "Caleb?" I shouldn't have been surprised that he had brought Caleb up, since he saw us at the apartment yesterday, and even mentioned him earlier. I really didn't even know what was between Caleb and me anyway. I wasn't about to share with Hunter what I didn't understand yet.
    "Yes, Caleb. I saw you two at the apartment, remember? What were you doing with him?" His penetrating eyes stayed riveted on mine. I felt the need to squirm from them, but I stayed my ground and looked right back.
    "We ran into each other at school and he walked me home. It was nothing." Why did this guy make me feel so defensive?
    "Did you kiss him?"
    "What?" I couldn't believe his candor. Unfortunately, my brain reacted to his question, and I pictured the near kiss between Caleb and me, broken up only by Nora's interference. I could feel my cheeks blushing from the memory. My reaction made it evident to Hunter to conclude whatever he wanted to from it.
    I don't know why I cared what he thought of my reaction, or the near kiss with Caleb, for that matter, but I let out a resounding, "No!"
    "Good."
    His lips were on mine so suddenly that my brain refused to process that it was wrong. My first reaction was to gasp, which his tongue took complete advantage of. Each caress sent shock waves throughout my body as his tongue sensually mated with mine. My mouth seemed to have a life of its own, seeking its own pleasure in the dance. I breathed in through my nose and his powerful scent, a mix of lavender and musk, intoxicated me. His hand, entangled in my hair, grasped the back of my head, and kept me locked in his hedonistic torture.
    He groaned inside my mouth, a deep, vibrato tone that seemed to pulsate into my body. I opened my eyes, to see him watching me so intently, I felt he might actually be reading my forbidden thoughts. He smiled against my lips, and