Swish by Marian Tee Read Free Book Online

her first time to stay out this late, and not knowing the reason for it ate at him.
    “Where have you been?”
    She did not even think of lying or asking why it was his business to know. There was something ominous in Helios’ voice, telling her she would be better off not arguing. And so she said quietly, “I joined a photography club. Tonight was a lunar eclipse…”
    A photography club. Maybe that club was made up of yet another group of men?  
    The words were out before he could stop himself. “And do you have a secret crush there, too?”
    Helios’ snide question had her blinking in hurt confusion. “What are you saying?”
    “You tell me.” His control had snapped, his mind filled with visions of MJ surrounded by men. And this time, those men were not of his club, men who were not under his control and did not owe him allegiance.
    “I’m beginning to wonder if your secret crush even exists at all. Or maybe it’s all a product of a cunningly crafted strategy so you can flirt with everyone, have everyone’s attention, and nobody will think you’re a slut—”
    MJ’s slap cut the rest of his words off.
    For a moment, they stared at each other. MJ’s eyes flashed with hurt anger. Helios’ gaze seared her with contempt…and something else that she couldn’t name.
    And then he moved. 
    The next thing she knew, he had her half-lying on the table and he was standing between her legs. “ No one ever touches me .”
    That was when she remembered Hallie’s words.
    And her heart broke.
    The pain his cruel words had caused left her, pushed away by the pain she felt for him. She whispered, “I’m sorry. I won’t ever touch you without your permission. I’m sorry.”
    There was so much she wanted to say but knew it wasn’t the right time to say any of them. So she could only stay quiet and immobile, looking at him and yearning. She yearned to touch him. She yearned to touch him so he would know he wasn’t alone. The same way that she had thought of him all these years, all those times she had lain on the ground and told herself that she wasn’t alone because somewhere in the world, there was a person like him who could save her. Who would want to save her.
    Just wanting to save her was enough.
    “Don’t look at me like that.” His voice was raspy with need. With her soft and pliant body under his, Helios knew it would never be the same between them again. Now that he knew how she felt, how perfect she damn felt next to him, it would not be the same. He wanted to fuck her, wanted to possess her, wanted her to make him her world.
    But something had changed , Helios realized. One moment, she was hurt and confused. The next moment, she wasn’t. Instead, she was…she was looking at him like she wanted to be kissed. Like she wanted to be touched. Like she wanted to be his.
    His breath hissed out. She felt so fucking nice under him. He wanted to touch her skin, wanted to feel her hair curl in his hand, wanted to know the shape of her breast. 
    He watched her brow furrow. 
    And then she asked, “Is this okay?” 
    A pained laugh escape him. He had told her not to look at him a certain way, and she had taken him literally. No one was like her. No one. And , Helios realized grimly, that was exactly why he wanted her . 
    MJ’s frown had Helios looking grimmer, and she tried to scowl instead. At that moment, she would have done just about anything he asked her. Anything just to make sure he would never think of the time when he was made to feel alone and rejected. Screwing up her face in her most terrifying scowl, she asked, “What about this?”
    The question, asked so earnestly, destroyed what little hold he had over his passion. Helios managed to say, “I don’t like how you look when you’re scowling either.”
    “Then how do you want me to look at you?”
    “Like you’ve had the best kiss in your life.”
    MJ’s lips parted. “H-how do I even…”
    “Like this,” Helios growled, and he