I pull my sunglasses out of my crossbody bag and pop them on, glancing in the direction of the bus stop. But I stop dead in my tracks, because that’s when I see him, and I swear my soul almost leaves my body.
Parked directly across the street, leaning back on a monstrous matte black and deep bronze Harley, once again dressed in all black, wearing aviators and his club cut, is none other than Sean.
He pulls his sunglasses off and looks at me in the same devastating way he did last night. Like he can’t look away. His thick arms are ripped and folded over his chest and his brow is furrowed in that mysterious scowl, like a million thoughts are running through his head.
You are stronger than how good he looks, I repeat to myself as I sort through all the questions running through my brain.
Should I pretend I haven’t seen him?
How the hell does he know where I go to school?
What does he really want?
Why do I want to know?
All of them fly right out of my head as he stands and begins to walk directly toward me in an even stride with his long lean legs. Sean’s moves are calculated, like even the cars coming down the street would stop and wait until he’s safely across. As he places his sunglasses inside his cut I watch him carefully; he just has this powerful confidence about him that I don’t think anyone questions.
Well, I know one thing, he better be ready, because I’m about to fucking question him. Ishouldrun in the other direction, but instead I head straight for him, my annoyance at him digging into my life, however he was able to do it, taking over.
It takes us a moment to meet in the middle of the busy sidewalk, but then I grip his arm and pull him toward the shade of a tree, away from the campus pathway, ignoring how his skin feels against mine. Summer classes means the campus isn’t as busy as it would be throughout the school year, but I still don’t need anyone from my classes watching me argue with this gorilla of a man.
“What thehellare you doing at my school?” I glance over his shoulder toward where I know the bus that’s due in five minutes will be coming from, and then look back up at his searing green eyes, which are now brighter with the sun.
“Did you follow me? Because, if so, you’re fucking unhinged,” I tell him louder than I should. We’ve garnered some attention; he’s clearly out of place here, and a few passersby have turned to look over their shoulders at him. He pays them no mind and ignores my shock. Instead, Sean moves his hands up and loops the first two fingers of each hand into the front pockets of my light, ripped jeans, and pulls me forward until I bump into his chest.
“You have no idea.” He looks down at me with a dark chuckle.
“Is that supposed to make me feel safer?” I hate how much my body likes touching his.
“It’s irrelevant if youfeelsafe, but just so we’re clear, youaresafe with me.”
“I somehow doubt that,” I lie.
Sean narrows his eyes at me, and I realize I haven’t pulled away from his hold. In fact, I’m leaning into him, gripping his shirt. I let go suddenly and push away.
“The biggest problem you have is that you try very hard not to want me when you actually very clearly do,” he says, assessing me like he can read my thoughts. “That takes way more energy than just giving in.”
“I don’t evenknowyou!” I whisper-yell. “Thatis my biggest problem. I met you less than twenty-four hours ago. In that time, you’ve invited yourself into my work cooler”—I use air quotes aroundinvited—“you’ve followed me to my school, and you’ve obviously dug into my personal business or you’ve just been stalking me all day!” I bite out between clenched teeth, a new thought occurring to me. “I hate to break it to your gigantic ego, but when a girl says that what happened with you was a one-off, it isnotan invitation to keep trying.”
Sean chuckles. “I didn’t hear you complaining about the lack of invitation when you were coming all over my hand.”
He nods toward his bike. I shift nervously from one foot to the other.
Good.He’s leaving, and just in time as I see my bus round the corner—
“Let’s go,” he bites out.
My eyes widen and I look from his bike back to him.
“I’mnotgoing with you,” I tell him, putting my hand on my hip. He sighs, lifting his eyes upward before looking back at me. I can see his wide jaw tic from a foot away and I just know I’m pissing him off.
“Yes, you are. One, because we both know the last thing you want to do is get on that bus in this heat.”
His eyes trace the lines of my face as I watch the bus approach.
“Two, youwantto ride with me.”
His voice reaches a lower octave, one that hits me in all the right places. I want to follow him, but because I refuse to give into him so easily, I move to push past him, heading toward the bus stop. I don’t even get two steps before a deep growl sounds behind me and I’m being picked up and hoisted over Sean’s shoulder.
