“Then prove it.” I stared into his blue eyes, waiting for him to let down his guard and kiss me.
He stared back, eyes blazing with desire and the fear he tried so hard to hide and deny.
It only took a minute before his lips crashed down on mine again and the pull we’d tried so hard to resist won out.
In two days when we said goodbye, would I regret not walking away sooner?
Chapter Twelve
Austin
“You sure you want to do this?”
Makenna gazed up at me, fear filling her eyes. “I do.”
I raised an eyebrow, not buying her words. “I won’t think you’re a chicken for backing out.”
She lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m not backing out.” Mak lifted her hand and jabbed me square in the chest. “Maybe it’s you who wants to back out.”
I laughed, grabbing her wrist. “Darlin’, I’ve never been afraid of a little needle.”
“Aren’t they so cute together?” Gigi asked Pike, standing off to the side inside the Inked waiting room.
We both turned, staring at them.
“Yeah, babe. Whatever you say,” he told her as he brushed his lips against her forehead. “We ready to do this?”
Mak nodded and stalked away from me, heading toward Gigi. “Never been more ready for anything in my life.”
I shook my head, unable to wipe the dumb smile off my face. Pike stared at me, not moving, just watching as the two women disappeared inside Gigi’s room.
“You got it bad, brother. Really bad.”
I stiffened, narrowing my eyes. “I do not.”
“Maybe you don’t see it now, but next week, when you’re gone, you’re not going to be able to get her out of your head.”
“I’ve had plenty of women.” I shrugged, moving across the waiting room toward my brother. “What’s one more?”
He placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing. “I’ve seen you with plenty of women, but none have your balls so locked up in a vise like this one. You can deny shit all you want, but there’s something different about this one and the way you talk to her.”
I looked him right in the eye, straightening my posture. “I’m not denying she’s great. I’m not even going to say I don’t like her, but we’re friends and will probably always be friends. Nothing more.”
Pike laughed, releasing his grip on me. “Whatever you say. You ready for a few hours of pain?”
“I’ve already had a lifetime. What’s a little more?”
My brother rolled his eyes. “You’ve always been dramatic. How do your military buddies put up with your shit?”
I followed him into his room, kicking off my boots as soon as I entered because I was going to be comfortable, or at least as much as I could be. “They’re no better. If you think I’m dramatic, you should meet the others.”
“Maybe I will. Gigi keeps talking about visiting you in California soon.”
“I’d love that.”
“Me too.” He motioned for me to sit, and I did, waiting as he moved around the room, grabbing a pair of gloves. “We still doing this on your stomach?”
“Still the stomach.” I lifted my shirt over my head, exposing the very little bit of skin I had left untouched.
