Read Online Crushing on the Bully by Sarah Adams - Free Book Online Page A

not!” Clarissa spat, “It’s just common sense.”
    She felt her cheeks go pink, because Skull was right. She had thought about him too much.
    “And as for real life, you don’t know anything of the world, Bookworm, you live in your little cushioned world and think that everyone outside of it is doing something illegal,” Skull laughed.
    “I do not,” Clarissa said, “I just happen to know you do illegal stuff. I saw you beat the holy crap out of that guy, Skull!”
    “And did you ever take just a freakin’ second to wonder why?” Skull said, his voice rising slightly and his eyes narrowing.
    Clarissa took a step back from him and held tightly to the shop key.
    “It doesn’t matter why, Skull! You still hurt someone!” she said, hot angry tears fell from her eyes even as she tried to blink them away.
    “And you think he hasn’t? You think...” Skull stopped short and paused for a second, “I’m not discussing this here and now.”
    “Then when?” Clarissa asked then said, “I don’t want to know. I just don’t want to, okay? I don’t want to know all about your illegal activities. I’m going home.”
    Clarissa turned on her heels and headed in the direction of South Avenue. She wasn’t going to get involved any more than she already had. Her feet stomped against the pavement with every quick stride she made.
    “Clarissa!” Skull called after her.
    She stopped in her tracks and took a deep breath. That was the first time he had actually used her name.
    “What?” she shouted back at him without turning to look.
    “Don’t do this,” he called.
    Clarissa could hear his footfalls against the sidewalk and she wasn’t sure what to do. She liked him, but was that going to be enough? She wanted to get to know him better. Hell, she wanted to help him if she could, but she had been told by her mother and other female relatives a woman should never date a man she thinks she can change. People don’t change for other people. They might lie so that you think they’ve changed, but they don’t really change. People only change for themselves and Skull didn’t seem like the sort of guy that wanted to change.
    “Don’t do what, Skull?” Clarissa asked, “Walk home?”
    “You know what I mean,” he sighed.
    “No, I don’t,” she said and crossed her arms.
    “Fine, I’ll tell you what I can,” he sighed and stepped in front of her, “but not here.”
    Now that they were standing under the streetlight Clarissa could see that his injuries looked much better than they had the night before.
    “Fine, whatever,” she said trying not to dissolve into tears again.
    “Do you want to come back to my place?” he asked.
    Clarissa shook her head.
    “Fine, we can talk at your place then,” Skull said and took both of her hands in his, entwining their fingers.
    “Fine,” Clarissa said and looked up into his deep brown eyes before rising to her tiptoes and brushing her lips against his. She wasn’t sure why she kissed him, but once their lips met her questions were answered.
    Skull’s tongue passed through her lips and danced into her mouth. Her tongue moved against his and her worries faded away. Skull offered a freedom she hadn’t even begun to ponder before meeting him. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, but at the same time she didn’t want to let go of his hands. There was something sweet and intimate about holding his hands while they kissed and Clarissa didn’t want to lose that.
    “Let’s get going,” Skull said when the kiss finally broke.
    “Okay,” Clarissa grinned at him and wiped her eyes to rid herself of the last tears that still clung to her long lashes.
    “Where’s your helmet?” he asked her.
    “At home,” Clarissa frowned.
    “At least it’s a short ride,” Skull said and helped her onto the bike.
    Clarissa held tight to Skull and listened to the roar of the engine beneath their bodies. The little voice in the back of her head told her