I drone out the rest of the world, my toes curling as my anger melts away. I don't care that we're in the public, or Simon's watching us with not-so-friendly eyes. Everything he said to me the other day wipes out of my head as I lose myself to him. Now, I know that he'd only been pushing me away maybe not to lose his job or get into trouble with my parents. A sense of guilt washes over me. I should have behaved better.

His lips taste like the softest candy floss, his tongue curling on mine with tenderness and sweetness I never knew of. A kiss to remember as he holds my waist firmly.

He pulls back suddenly, breathing heavily, his dark eyes clouded with lust and a fierce need. He tightens his hold, cradling my face against his chest. “I'm so sorry krivvy, I don't know what made me say those things — ”

“You came,” I whispered, looking up into his eyes. He looks subdued, unable to keep back anymore. I feel he wants to do things nobody's thought of with me.

“I couldn't forgive myself for pushing you away like that. I was just doing it for — ”

“For your job?” I ask while staring at his lips. “You'd get into trouble with Mom?”

His eyes hardened. “That would make no difference, I want you.” he pulls me closer as though I'll run from him. His trembling hands pushed my waist forward to meet his.

“You told me you're a bodyguard hired to protect me,” I say softly. He shuts his eyes quickly, guilt making the lines on his forehead bolder. I know my words hurt but that's what I felt when he said he didn't want me. That I'm just some dirty business he has to do to repay my Mom's favor. But I've been selfish too in thinking about myself in all of this. I should have found out his reasons and made him feel welcome and secure enough to indulge in something illegal with me. I shouldn't have been cold to him afterward. He deserves the world, if not more.

“In truth, I'm only your protector and nothing more,” his hands travel underneath my shirt, the cold from his fingers shooting up my spine. “But you're unlike anyone I've ever seen. You change my world, James. You make me want to live again.”

He leans forward, slowly and presses his lips at the corner of my lips, his hot breath tickling my skin as he exhales. He kissed up my arm but stops at my neck as my eyes snaps shut in pleasure. What has he done to destabilize me so much? How can a person I met recently give me the key to the love and hope I've been searching for forever?

Now I have it and I never want to let go. I need him for me, not gonna share.

You've always wanted this James, and now it's here, why let Mom ruin it all? Not like she's the one in love. She doesn't know how I feel.

I got closer to him, doubly sure of what I'm doing like never before. Simon's right, Michael is vicious. But I know he wouldn't hurt me. I can feel it already that he's the perfect one for me.

“Guys! Can we leave now?” Simon yells beside us, his voice surprisingly high over the thumping music. I jerk away from Michael but he holds me more firmly.

“No, we can't,” he barely looks at Simon. “I want all of him,”

“Say that to Mom, we're leaving tattooed man,” he grabs my wrist and pulls me but Michael still doesn't release me.

”James wants to dance, he's not done yet so we're staying,” he stares hard at Simon for a moment before his eyes revert to mine. “May I have this dance, my man?”

I blush. “I dunno Michael, it's getting late and my parents may return soonest if not now,” this is a pure lie, I just want him alone with me.

“As you wish,” he links his hand with mine and leads me out.

Everyone watches us in awe. Not that I blame them, Michael's aura is enough to give them the chills, then his being dressed in all black. “We're taking my car,”

“I hired a cab for us already,” Simon growls.

“Krivvy's going home with me, I'm his bodyguard,” Michael growls back, his blue eyes glittering.

“Well, kiss that job goodbye 'cause I'm gonna tell Mom all about it!! That you've been sneaking into his room and sexing him up without any of us knowing! She'll cut your balls!!”

Michael's unmoved. “Do whatever you please,”

“Simon,” I sigh at him. I know Simon's always been protective of me but he should know Michael wouldn't hurt me. I can tell he's not happy with this relationship.

Outside, he takes out his car key from his pocket and inserts it into the keyhole. He goes over to the passenger side and opens it for Simon and me.

I slip in, Simon following behind reluctantly. He lets out a sigh as Michael closes the door and goes over to the other side. When he's gotten in, he leans backward and clicks my seatbelt in place, his slender fingers lingered on my thighs as he retrieved them and pulled away from the club's entrance.

A quarter-mile home and we're all silent till Simon breaks the ice. “Okay fine, no one's gonna kill me for speaking my mind,” he shoots me an apologetic look then continues. “This is never going to work out. You can never be good to him. Look how innocent he is, how sweet and caring but you're nothing close to that so how can you claim that you love him? You're a ruthless killer, you've taken lives too in your past life,” he snaps.

Michael remains mute, his hold on the steering wheel tightening. I give Simon a vicious pinch on his arm before placing a hand on Michael's shoulder, ignoring Simon's profanities. His body relaxes at my touch as his eyes remain focused on the road ahead. At that delicate moment between insanity and time, he looks harmless.

“We're not fit to be together Michael,” I lean towards him before he reacts to my words. “Simon thinks we can't be together because we're from different worlds but I don't care.
I want you and that's what matters,”

“I'll always be yours, James,” he leans into my touch. Tension disseminates his body and I smile for the first time today. Also, I'm annoyed at Simon, he's behaving so petty.

“Wow, who's up for Kissing Booth 2? We're barely past the cinema,” Simon says oblivious to the subtle glares I give him.

“Do you want to watch a movie?”

“No,”

“Well, I do!” Simon snicker at me.

“Okay, we'll go home,”

Simon huffs beside me as the car goes silent once more. I sneak my hand up Michael's neck as he drives us home. He drives into the open gate and stops in the driveway. I hop out with Simon.

“A moment with Simon and I'll be there with you afterward,” I say after him. Grabbing my best friend, I pull him into the main house. “What the — ”

“Alright, I'm sorry. I may have misjudged him a little too quickly. But seriously that man is — ”

“Simon,” I growl, my patience wearing off. Why can't he just be happy for me? Why can't he be supportive now that I need it?

“I'm only looking out for you James, please don't be mad at me,” he lets out a bated breath. “We don't normally get like this. You're so smitten I want to howl. You're so soft and delicate but vicious when it comes to the one you love. I like that shit,” he smiles, engulfing me in a warm embrace. “I'll go to sleep now cause it's been such an exhausting night. Who knew I'd ever get tired of clubbing,” he moves into my room, and just before he shuts the door, he whispered. “If he does anything funny, scream. I'll be down in a second to cut his balls,”

I ponder over how I felt a moment ago. Simon and I rarely argued and whenever we did it wasn't heated like this. All the more, I become convinced that Michael is the right one.

I know he's behind me, hiding in the darkness. I know he'll always be where I'm at. Today, tomorrow, and the day after that.