I crack a smile. "I know."
He scans my face, then inhales deeply before replying, "I understand. There are too many people up there."
"Where's Chelsea?" I blurt out, then silently scold myself. My face heats all over again, and I bite my lip.
He doesn't flinch. "Hopefully, heading home."
I arch my eyebrows, with hope blossoming in every cell of my being. "Why?"
His gaze drifts to my lips. "She can't get what she wants."
"You mean you?" I let the words slip out before I can censor myself.
Amusement lights his expression. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" I ask, tilting my head.
He grins. "Okay. You're right. But doesn't that make you happy?"
I gape at him with my heart violently banging against my ribs.
He lowers his voice further, sets my veins on fire with another lewd once-over, then murmurs, "Well? Tell me you don't care she left, sugar, and I'll apologize for getting the wrong impression."
My mouth turns dry. I barely get out, "The wrong impression?"
He nods, licking his lips.
I wait him out, unsure if I'm imagining this or if it's real.
He slides his callused hand on my thigh, caging his fingers around it and applying enough pressure to make me gasp.
With confidence, his words slide across my neck like smoke, then coil around me. He says, more to himself than me, "Yeah. I didn't get the wrong impression."
A kaleidoscope of butterflies riots inside me, trying to lift me off the ground.
He rubs his thumb on the inside of my thigh, asking, "Want to know a secret?"
"Yeah," I whisper.
"Your game of cat and mouse is driving me insane. But I've caught you now. So game over," he declares.
"Wh-what?"
"Don't act innocent, Willow Cartwright. You've been running from me all night," he accuses.
"What? No, I haven't! You're the one who had Chelsea draped all over you any chance she got!" I point out.
A wicked grin carved from trouble appears on his lips. He claims, "I think you're exaggerating."
"No, I'm not."
"Aren't you?"
"No," I insist.
He closes the distance. His breath hits my ear, thick with heat, and every word slides into my bones when he murmurs, "The only one I want draped all over me is you."
My mouth waters. The butterflies in my stomach wage a new, ferocious war. My heart races so fast, I get dizzy.
