Not the direction I saw this going, but I can work with it.
“I don’t remember your name, but I know you have a scar on your chest. From the base of your throat to here.” I draw a line down my chest to where my sternum ends. His eyes widen and he sits forward a bit.I knew it.He always showers before everyone else gets up and never goes shirtless like the others. So how else would I know that?
“You remember that?” His voice lowers with thought—with hope.
I nod slowly. “I dreamed of it.”
He sets his book down and shifts on his seat to face me. “You dreamed of me…shirtless?” A devious smile curls the ends of his lips. My cheeks catch fire and my heart pounds harder.
“No…yes. It’s not like that.”It was like that. His amusement doesn’t fade. “I want us to get along, okay? I only pushed you away because you’re constantly doing the same to me. Can we put our differences aside?”
Mori’s face sullens, then he looks down and furrows his brows with intent. “Fine. But don’t expect much pastgetting along,” he snipes. I grin at how unthreatening it sounds. I’m starting to think he’s all teeth and no bite.
“What are you always reading anyway?” I lean forward to steala glance at his book. He pulls it behind his back and a boyish grin flashes across his lips.
“I’m afraid I don’t like sharing what I read.”
“Why? Is it a weapons manual?” I tease, fully prepared for him to confirm such a boring fascination.
His brow quirks. “A weaponswhat? Do you truly think I’m that dry?” I reach for the book behind his back while he’s still reeling at my comment, and he jerks back, raising his arm high so I can’t reach it. In the process I lose my grip on the bar of his fitness bike and slip.
We both fall to the ground, his back hitting the soft pads covering the floor, and me tumbling down onto his chest. The workout equipmentclanksand our feet are wrapped up in the pedals and one another.
I groan from the pressure my ankle has on it, but no pain flares up my leg. My eyes spring open and I look up, my nose only a breath away from Mori’s. His eyes light up as mine do. A nervous smile creeps up the corners of my lips. Heat pulses through my veins.
“I can’t feel any pain.” The words seem lost on him as he takes me in. His throat bobs as his eyes drift down to my lips. Then all of the other sensations dawn on me as I become very aware of how we’re touching.
Mori has one hand pressed to the ground, supporting us at a slight angle, his other arm is securely wrapped around my back. My heart stammers.
“Then I guess it wouldn’t really make sense for me to ask if you’re okay, would it?” he murmurs an inch from my lips. The warmth of his breath making my core twist greedily.
I remember that warmth between my legs. The way it made pure ecstasy roll through my lower stomach and draws aches through my core, begging to be filled by him.
My throat bobs. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t.” My trembling voice seems to spark eagerness within him.
Mori inhales sharply, his hand tightening over my lower back.
His gaze is heavy and lingers long after he asks me anyway, “Are you all right, Em?” His words are simple, and yet they reach deep inside me, stirring up emotions that I didn’t think someone like him could.
“Yes,” I whisper back.
After a second he seems to remember himself and clears his throat.
“Here, sit up and I’ll get our shoes untangled from the pedal.” I do as he says, and try to not let his birch scent and his warm body beneath mine make me irrational.
Why do I wish that he would’ve kissed me?
6
EMERY
Three daysof reciting the plan repeatedly until I can say it without even thinking is finally good enough for Mori. His standards are ridiculous and this strategy is shit. I’ve thought of a better one, but I don’t see the possibility of anyone actually listening to me, so I keep my mouth shut.
It’s the first full day we’ve had off from drills and strategy training. It’s a shame there’s not much for us to do around here. We’re only allowed upstairs if Thomas escorts us there like a nanny.
An exasperated breath escapes me as I crack open a book I snagged from Mori’s stack. He hasn’t noticed its absence yet, and if he has, then he doesn’t care to make it known. I wasn’t sure if reading was something I enjoyed, but after the first few pages I knew that this was something I cherished.
My eyes slowly flick over to Mori, looking devilishly handsome in his workout sweatpants and gray hoodie. Of course he never takes a day off from drills. I force my gaze away before he has achance to catch me staring like he already has four times since that night in the gym.
