Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 70 - Arisa -

Khaleel dragged me down the pathway behind Jackheights. I went along with him for as long as I could, for as long as my mind could stand it. Up ahead, I spotted the playground where Dobberman and his pack of creeps kidnapped me. My heart throbbed ready to drop down to my stomach. It was the wrong way, I wanted to tell Khaleel. My home wasn't anywhere near there.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, pulling back on his arm. The pathway was strangely quiet, especially since classes at Jackheights had already ended. I expected there to be more bodies around. Maybe it was better that there weren't. I could use this opportunity to confront Khaleel and his unacceptable behaviour.

"Hey!" I snapped. "I'm talking to you!"

Khaleel stopped dead in his tracks. The playground was to our right and a long-chained fence to our left. It was separating Jackheight's soccer field from the suburban neighbourhood. I watched Khaleel turn to face me, his intense aura lingering in the air. "Go out with me," he said. "Date me."

"No, thank you," I replied firmly.

Khaleel's grip on my hand loosened. "Give me a reason instead of a reply."

"I just think you and I would run into a lot of problems as a couple."

"Elaborate," he ordered.

I exhaled sharply. "I can't date a guy my friend likes."

"What friend of yours likes me? Vice Prez? She already shut me down. You don't have to worry about her."

I snatched my hand away. "Why do you insist on asking me out anyway?"

"What kind of question is that?" Khaleel seemed offended. "I ask you out because I want you."

I hung my head, frustrated by the whole situation. "See, you say 'want' not 'like' which are two totally different things—"

Khaleel's feet crept towards me, causing my feet to shuffle backwards. Eventually, I walked off the path and shifted towards the greenery surrounding the fence. Khaleel towered over and placed his hands on either side of me. I looked up at him anxiously, hoping he wouldn't be dumb enough to escalate the situation any further.

"Wanting someone is no different than liking them," the idiot said softly. "If it was then I wouldn't be interested in the two of you."

He was unbelievable. How could he stand there so confidently, trying to seduce me, and then tell me he was crushing on two girls? The audacity. He moved in closer. I could hear voices now, conversations in the near distance being carried out by other students from Jackheights. They were walking down the pathway, and I was sure if they looked past the shrubs and foliage, they would be able to spot us.

"You don't think there is a difference between wanting something and needing it?" I asked. "Needing translates to a necessity, and wanting something is a personal desire."

Again, Khaleel's body inched closer to me.

"I don't think I'm a necessity in your life so it must be the latter," I said, looking up at him. He was so close, I could inhale his scent. It was strong, bold, and yet still attractive. His brown eyes enveloped me for a second as my mind worked out ways to escape his inevitable touch. His head was lowering, and his lips closing in on me, but I wasn't about to let that happen.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, covering his mouth with my hand.

An uncomfortable moment passed.

Khaleel moved his head back and got a hold of my wrist, urging me to release his mouth. I was hesitant at first but I convinced myself that he got the message. More conversations murmured behind him, as the students eventually made their way past the playground. Khaleel held my gaze through it, not once breaking concentration.

"I'm sorry too," he said.

He moved so quickly, I barely processed the outcome. One second, he was holding the back of my head, and the next, he was forcing me into a kiss. My eyes widened in shock as his lips pressed onto mine. I was ready to yell and kick him where it would really count when the worst thing happened. I got curious. I let his other hand bring me into his arms, and gave his tongue access to mine. It was suffocating. Kisses with Khaleel Abdul were absolutely suffocating.

'Keep those beautiful eyes of yours, Arisa Hoffman, on me,' Loyal's voice snapped me out of it.

I muffled a, "Stop," at Khaleel and accidentally bit his bottom lip.

"Ah, fuck!" he cursed stepping away.

My eyes glistened as I turned up to find him bleeding.