My mind was blank. Everything else forgotten, except for the heat of the mouth against mine. I groaned softly as Damien deepened the kiss, his muscular arms moving around me to hold me to him. More was all I could think. I wanted more. His tongue moved against mine and I held on tighter. My fingers intertwined with his soft hair, dragging my hands through his hair.

There was something familiar about him. Like we had done this before. Almost like a feeling of deja vu.

My mind was still trying process what was happening when the warmth of his mouth lifted from mine. I could only stare up into the darkness in his eyes, breathless and suspended in same heat I felt simmering inside me. The part of me that didn’t want him to stop.

Then he smirked.

That brought me back down to earth with a thud. The realization of what just happened began to sink in. I shoved him away.

“You…uh…you.” I could not string a sentence together I was so angry. I wanted to lash out at him and wipe that smug smile off his handsome face. “You kissed me.”

I was so horrified at what had just happened. One second we had been arguing and the next. I swallowed trying to gather my thoughts. The bigger implications dawning on me.

“Because you wanted me to.”

My cheeks heated. No that wasn’t possible. It wasn’t possible.

“No, I didn’t,” I argued, trying to remember back to the kiss. But all I could remember was his lips on mine, and how I had responded. The physical overpowering any logic.

“Yeah, you did.” His smirked deepened and my mouth feel open. The gal of the man.

“Are you so conceited that you think every girl wants you?” I asked him, feeling so frustrated with him that I could physically wring his neck.

“No. Only the ones who are acting like a jealous girlfriend.” He shrugged it off. His ego growing by the second.

“Have you gone stark raving mad?” I gasped, indignant at what he was suggesting.

There was no pretense with him, just the hard truth. No matter how hard it was to swallow.

“No. I’m quite sane. In fact, I’m seeing everything clearly.” He moved closer to me like a predator and I backed away like prey with survival foremost in my mind, not trusting myself to be close to him again for fear of what I would do.

Embarrassingly I had kissed him back. Just like he had stated. And I had no idea why. Why did I want him when I couldn’t stand him? It made no sense.

“The more important question is why you’re jealous Tessa?” His eyes flickered to my lips, reminding me of what had happened.

My mouth fell open but I could not utter a word. He was wrong, so wrong. He annoyed me, he was an asshole.

He neared and all I could do was hold my breath. I struggled between wanting to shove him away and pull him closer locking my lips to his not caring all the consequences of doing that.

“No. Never. Not in a million years,” he murmured. “Isn’t that what you said?”

Memories of my mouth moving against his, me groaning. I reddened, embarrassed.

“It seems I have to remind you that you’re the one who kissed…me,” I reiterated, holding onto whatever self respect I still had at this point.

“It was purely to test a theory Tessa.”

I didn’t want to hear anymore. “I’ve heard enough. I want you to leave.”

He smiled slowly, bringing his mouth closer to mine. I could not move, all my attention fixed on him. I held my breath, my eyes on his and then they fell to his mouth.

“You wanted me to kiss you. You can deny it all you want but we both know the truth.”

I truly hated him in that moment. For a few moments he stayed exactly where he was, so close to me that it would take a small effort on my part to press my mouth to his. I wet my lips, fighting the urge kiss him with what little control I still had.

His eyes flickered to my lips and back to connect with my gaze. I was sure he was going to kiss him, I could see him lower his eyes to my lips. But then he stepped back and I could breathe again.

“I’m sure your grandmother would be mortified to hear about your behavior today.”

Not once since I had made the decision had I even considered how my grandmother would react if she found out. Damn.

“Are you going to tell her?” I asked, feeling nervous that he would tell her just to get back act me.

“Not if you behave.”

Behave. What did that mean?”

“Behave?” I echoed. I frowned as it occurred me how it would upset my grandmother and it’s the last thing I wanted.

“Yeah, no more ditching me.” His eyes hard.

“Are you threatening me?” I lifted my chin, hating that I was at disadvantage and

“Take it whatever way you want Tessa.”

I folded my arms as I glared at him. I wanted to tell him to go to hell but fear that my grandmother would find out made me keep silent.

“See you tomorrow,” he said before he left, closing the door behind him.

I stood unmoving staring at his exit, hating him more than I had only moments ago.

“Ugh,” I said, trying to expel the weight of emotion filling up my chest.

Why did he make me feel so much? I barely knew him. I hated him. It was there. But there was more. More I couldn’t decipher.

I hated that he was right. Now that some of my anger had worn off I could see my actions more clearly. I had been jealous. Why? That was the question. I didn’t even like him, why would I care who he kissed? I gave a shuddering breath trying to get myself together.

I put my hands to my face, feeling the heat on my cheeks. Embarrassment hitting me full force. There was no way to explain my rash actions but I would show him he was wrong. Even if it killed me.

Indifference, that would be my tool. Ignoring him, showing him that he meant nothing to me. I would not allow my anger or any other emotion to influence my actions in future.

Then something occurred other than me. Joey. Just when I didn’t think things could get any worse.

My mortification turned to guilt. How could I have kissed Damien when I loved Joey. He was my boyfriend. A boyfriend I had just cheated on.

Moment by moment, the guilt weighed more heavily on me.

What was I going to do? Every time I closed my eyes all I could think about was Damien and the kiss we had shared. It didn’t matter how much I hated him, it didn’t matter how guilty I felt, it didn’t change the past. It didn’t erase it or my part in it.

I only two options with Joey. I could tell him the truth but I ran the risk of losing him. Or I could keep it a secret and hope Damien didn’t let it slip.

But I was torn between what I knew was the right thing and the easier way out which was also the cowards way out.

How could I even explain to Joey that I had allowed a guy I barely knew and hated to kiss me. It made no sense to me, how on earth could it make any sense to him?

But reasoning wouldn’t lessen the blow. There were no excuses. I had done it, even if I couldn’t explain it, it didn’t erase it. I would have to face the reality that I had effectively cheated on Joey.

Joey. Who didn’t deserve any of this?

The repercussions of my impulsiveness were going to be far and wide.

Damn Damien.

Now he had had something to hold over me and I didn’t like that one bit?

Then I realized, if he really wanted to be vindictive he could tell Joey what happened. Would he do that?

I didn’t trust him.

What was I going to do?

There was only one option. The hard choice. The one where I was going to hurt Joey.