My protective instincts scream at me to move and I lift my foot, but everything’s in slow motion. Before I can take a full step, a powerful blow sends me flying. The impact squeezes the air from my lungs.
The world goes blurry, and I blink several times to put things into focus. I’m lying on something hard, but it’s not concrete.
It’s Xavier.
“Delilah?”
He says my name like a caress. It sweeps over me, his breath skimming my lips. I stare down at him, more in shock at the tenderness in his voice than the car that could’ve killed me.
Gray eyes meet mine, the hue churning with concern. And something else I can’t identify. Whatever it is has adrenaline flooding my system.
Xavier reaches up to frame my face with both hands. The slight shifting of his position reminds me that our bodies are flush, causing my heart to beat frantically. More so because he’s touching me.
“Are you hurt?”
I continue staring at him, unable to form words. His expression has softened, but the lines around his eyes and mouth speak of deep worry. For me. Not in a good samaritan type of way either. It’s intimate.
“Answer me, or I’m going to lose my fucking mind,” he snaps.
“Huh?”
He shakes his head, a wry smiling tugging at his mouth. “I guess that counts.”
The haze of shock begins to lift, the gravity of my near miss sinking in. I shake my head to dislodge his hold from my face so I can think clearly. “What happened?”
“Besides you trying to get run over? Not much.”
I plant my hands on the asphalt and lift myself, peering around the parking lot. It’s the same as it was before, quiet and void of pedestrians.
“It’s really dark out here,” I say, still scanning the area. “It was an accident.”
He makes a noncommittal noise deep in his throat. Right before sliding his hands up to encircle my waist. I drop my gaze to him, my brows snapping together.
“Xavier?”
He drags his fingers along my sides, across my back and upward until he’s lightly gripping my neck with both hands. I remain still throughout his exploration, but my heart ricochets in my chest like a wayward bullet.
“What are you doing?” My voice comes out breathy. Husky.
“I’m checking you for injuries.”
“Oh.”
That sounds logical. Considerate, even.Ifit was someone else…
I stare down at the man underneath me as he continues to trail his fingers along my body, leaving my skin tingling under my clothes. His scrutiny is like a touch all on its own. It runs over my face, stopping on my mouth before he drags his gaze back to mine. Only now, there’s a glint in his silver eyes, making them shine like starlight.
“I’m fine,” I say. The tiny whisper is all I can manage. Being this close to him has my mind deadening and my body coming alive.
“I’ll be the one to decide that.”
My lips purse. “You don’t own me.”
“Not yet.”
“You shouldn’t talk to me like that.”
“Well, get used to it.”
