Taming the Storm

“No.”

“I saw the video online, and you looked—”

“We looked nothing. The video was nothing. Just a bet.”

“Okay.” He smiles. “I’m glad to hear it.” He moves close again. “Really glad.”

I stare at Robbi. He’s sweet and good-looking, and he smells nice. Clean. Soap and aftershave. Like a man should smell.

Not as amazing as Tom smells, but that’s a good thing.

I don’t need anything resembling Tom right now. I need the exact opposite of him. Something to make the knowledge that he’s kissing Ashlee hurt less.

That’s why I lean into Robbi and tilt my face up to his, offering him my mouth, letting him know exactly what I want.

He smiles softly, his hands lifting to cup my face.

I close my eyes as he moves in.

The moment Robbi’s lips touch mine, I feel a sharp stab of guilt.

Ridiculous, right?

I feel guilty for kissing Robbi while Tom has his tongue stuck down Ashlee’s throat.

Ignoring the guilt, I push myself into the kiss, putting my hand around the back of Robbi’s neck, and I open up my mouth to him.

He seems to like that. I feel him smile against my lips, and then his tongue slips into my mouth.

It’s…nice. His kiss is slow, gentle. Nothing like Tom’s kisses. Robbi’s lips are surprisingly soft for a guy. Not like Tom’s lips, which are firm and delicious.

Stop thinking about Tom.

Robbi’s fingers thread through my hair, and he deepens the kiss.

This is a mistake.

No. This is good. Perfect. Robbi is great.

I shut my brain off and keep kissing him.

Then, out of nowhere, a prickly sensation creeps up my spine, and my Spidey sense has me suddenly stopping the kiss. I press a hand to Robbi’s chest, pushing him back.

He stares at me, breathing heavily. His lips are swollen with my red lipstick smeared across them.

“Wow,” he breathes.

I see a figure behind him, and suddenly, he’s wrenched away from me. Where Robbi was now stands a seriously pissed off Tom.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Tom growls at me.

“Excuse me?” I blink.

His face darkens. “I said, what the fuck are you doing?”

I narrow my eyes at him, my hands going to my hips. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

He scowls. “Making a fool out of yourself—that’s what this looks like.”

Well…that hurts.

Tears sting my eyes. My anger hits, full force.

“Fuck you!” I spit at him.

“Am I missing something here?” Robbi’s voice comes from behind Tom.

Tom’s head swivels around to Robbi. The look Tom gives Robbi would take down any man—quite possibly a polar bear, for that matter. Tom looks that scary.

“Yeah, your teeth, if you don’t walk the fuck away.”

Robbi looks past Tom to me, his eyes questioning.

Tom turns fully to face Robbi. “Don’t look at her. Look at me.” His voice is as hard as stone. “Whatever you thought might happen with Lyla isn’t happening. Ever. Do you read me?”

Robbi scowls and takes a step toward Tom. “And if I don’t read you? Then, what?”

Tom lets out a humorless laugh. He moves so close to Robbi that I would definitely call it an invasion of space.

It causes my heart to ramp up speed.

Tom leans down into Robbi’s face and says with intention, “You really should learn to close your dressing room door, Kraft. You don’t, and someone passing by could hear all kinds of things.”

I see something flash over Robbi’s face. Something I don’t like.

Tom straightens up. “Lyla is a no-go area for you. So, I’ll say it again. Do. You. Fucking. Read. Me?”

Robbi backs away. “Loud and clear.” He looks at me over Tom’s shoulder, giving me an apologetic face. Then, he turns and disappears into the crowd.

Tom turns to me and grabs my arm. “We’re leaving.”

I wrench it free. “I’m not going anywhere with you, you freaking Neanderthal!” After smoothing a hand over my hair, I grab my purse. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure your girlfriend over there is waiting for you to finish what you started, so you’d better get back to it.” I jerk my head in the direction of a stunned-looking Ashlee, who is still standing where he left her.

His jaw tightens. “Ashlee’s not my girlfriend, and you know it.” Something flickers through his eyes. “That’s why you kissed Robbi, isn’t it? Because you saw Ashlee and me—”

I hold a hand up, cutting him off. “Don’t get ahead of yourself there, Casanova. I kissed Robbi because I wanted to. Because he’s hot and a really great kisser. A better kisser than you in fact.”

I might as well have just stuck my tongue out at him and said, Na-na-nana-na.

God, I’m pathetic.

Tom’s eyes narrow to slits. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re acting like a child right now.”

“Me?” I yell, slapping a hand to my chest. “I’m not the one who just kicked a kid out of the sandbox ’cause I thought he was playing with my toys.”

His face tightens, his eyes darkening to mega scary. “He was playing with my toy.”

I hide the shiver I feel at his words. Instead, I scowl up at him. “My God, you are an egotistical bastard!”

“Yeah, and you’re a crazy bitch. We’re leaving. Now.”