What?“Hell, no. I’d want you in my bed every night.”
“That’s what I thought. So why should Nathan agree?”
I cringe at her rationale. She’s got me there and that notion pains me. “Fine. Don’t take the job. But please,pleasetell Nathan about it. Make sure he knows what you’re giving up for him. Maybe he’ll work harder to look after you.” Blair opens her mouth to speak, but I stop her, holding a finger to her lips. “Don’t sass me with your ‘I can take care of myself’ bullshit. Heshouldbe looking after you.”
“I wasn’t going to,” she mumbles against my fingers, sending a spark to my cock.
Down, boy, now is not the time.
“If you’d let me speak, I was going to thank you. That’s oddly nice considering you hate the guy.”
“Come now. I don’thatehim.” I wave her off and she scoffs in disbelief. “Idespisethat asshole. And nothing in this world will ever convince me that you’re right for each other.”
“I don’t—”
“I’ll respect your wishes,” I cut her off. “You want me to accept your relationship, so I will. But I can’t stay away anymore. Not now that I’ve seen you again.”Not now that I’ve tasted your lips.
“That’s not fair and you know it.”
“For who? We’re friends. Are you not allowed to have friends?”
“I am.” She rolls her eyes. “But you and I have never been friends. That kiss was anything but friendly.”
“I’ll tell you what… I won’t kiss you again,if you promise this isn’t goodbye.” The words taste bitter in my mouth, but I mean them. I may not care about Nathan, but I’m against cheating in general. Usually. Despite what my past with Easton’s ex might suggest.
“Zane.” Blair folds her arms over her chest like I’m being unreasonable, but it does nothing to change my mind.
“The ball’s in your court, Little B.”
“Fine,” she huffs, brushing her hair behind her ears when the cool night breeze blows it across her face. “This isn’t goodbye.” She gives me a shove, and while I could easily stand my ground and block her in, I allow her to move me, watching as she stalks toward the driver’s side of her car. Holding back.
I’ve already pushed her too far tonight.Baby steps.
“This isn’t goodbye,” she repeats. “It’ssee you later.Much, much later. Think…another life.”
Jesus. I flinch, the finality of her words stabbing me in the chest. And she’s none the wiser.
Without a backward glance, Blair jumps into her car and slams the door closed. From the light of the streetlamp, I catch hercringe when her injured hand hits the steering wheel, but she doesn’t give in. And before I know it, she’s driving away. All while I’m left with a blood-soaked T-shirt and her whispered whimper playing through my mind.
The wind tickles my naked skin and I laugh at myself, jamming the heels of my hands into my eyes, groaning. Loudly.
Maybe time apart isn’t such a bad thing. I’m so fucking gone for her that it’s embarrassing.
But fuck if I can stop it.
After another quick detour, this time to find a new shirt, the buzz of chaos is almost comforting when I finally arrive at the airport. The more people, the easier it is to blend in.
I’m too late for an earlier flight, so I’m stuck waiting around for my original late one, regretting how I’ll feel come morning. We may not have a scheduled practice on Tuesdays, but I’ve never missed an early morning workout, and I refuse to let tomorrow be the exception.
When the shrill tone of my alarm blares at 4 a.m., I slam my palm down on the clock beside my bed, groaning into my pillow. That is, until the image of Blair’s wide eyes and heaving chest flits through my mind and I can’t help myself.
It was worth it.
Kissing the perfect curve of her mouth was like coming home after a rough day.God, I can still feel her lips. Still taste her.She was sweeter than I remember, and I can’t decide if it’s because she’s forbidden fruit or I justreallylike the taste of her.
Either way, I want more.Too bad I promised I wouldn’t kiss her again. Me and my damn morals.
Accepting the inevitable, I drag my tired ass out of bed and throw on my workout gear. Ignoring the sting of my eyes, I force myself to scarf down a banana before jumping in my car and slapping my cheeks a few times. Anything to wake the fuck up.
