Page 17 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

Neco shoved him away, and Scott landed on his ass. Ignoring him, Neco curled his hand around the back of my neck, and propelled me forward. I felt like a naughty school kid being marched to the principal’s office. It took all my strength not to spin on him and deliver a roundhouse kick that would drop the arrogant bastard to his knees. The crowd parted for us as Neco strode toward the door. No doubt his thunderous expression was what had people scattering like autumn leaves on a windy day.

He led me to his Escalade, and yanked open the door. “Get in.”

I turned to him, over this whole damn night. “I’m thinking you might want to rethink your tone.”

His expression got darker, body carved from stone, but then surprised me by saying, “Please.”

I climbed in, but I wasn’t celebrating. I may have won that battle, but I got the feeling I had a war ahead of me.

CHAPTER FIVE

Ruby

We arrived at my apartment, after an excruciatingly silent drive. Neco’s weird vibes had been rolling through the car since we got in and I hoped he’d drop me off then go. He didn’t, of course. He climbed out and followed me to the elevator.

I knew why, but I wasn’t in any hurry to start this conversation.

The doors slid shut behind us, and with him standing a little behind me, his eyes burning like lasers into the back of my head, I started to fidget.

The silence was killing me, but what the hell could I say? “Sorry for living my own life, for finally moving on and not asking for your damned permission?”

God. Why was he was standing so close? His scent had filled the small space and—I shivered—I was sure I could feel the heat radiating from his big body right through my clothes.

I couldn’t take it another minute. “Look, Neco . . .” His fingers slid over my lower back suddenly, and I choked on my words . . .

“You quit your job?” he growled.

I turned to face him. “That’s exactly what I did.”

“Why?”

“You know why, and you know I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

His hands went to his hips and his head dropped, shaking from side to side. He was quiet for what felt like forever, then finally, “Don’t do it, Ruby. I’m asking you again not to take that job.”

When he looked up at me, what I saw had my belly dropping to my feet. “I have to.”

His lips flattened. “If you’re doing this to punish me . . .”

“What?” My heart jumped in my chest. I was so fucking sick of this, sick of myself. Of these feelings that wouldn’t go away. Neco had been my Superman, and last night, when he tried to take back that kiss, he showed me how he really felt. He might want me, but he didn’t want to want me. My fantasy of him and me together was never going to happen, and now, he was going to try to get in the way of what I desperately wanted, again. Suddenly, I was—furious. Hurt. Broken.

Done.

Done holding it in. Pretending that I wasn’t feeling what I was feeling.

My own anger rose higher, exploded past what was healthy, and mixed with the hurt hammering me, I just sort of . . . snapped, reacting in a way I never had before. I stepped closer to him, pressed my hand to his chest, and shoved . . . hard.

He barely moved, so I did it again, with both hands this time.

The elevator doors slid open. Neither one of us moved. Neco stood there, staring at me, green eyes shooting fire at me, through me.

“I wouldn’t do that again if I were you,” he said, voice low, hard.

The doors slid shut again.

“No? Why the hell not?” I shoved him again, this time putting my body weight behind it.

He grabbed my wrists suddenly and came at me, striding forward, forcing me back. His body collided with mine and I hit the wall behind me. Neco crowded in, teeth gritted.