Perhaps we had both lost our damn minds? He opened the door and stepped inside, checking my place out to make sure it was safe. And what did I do? Waited at the door like a good girl.His good girl.Tingles rushed through me, settling in wet heat that pooled between my thighs.
I wasn’t stupid or naïve. I knew exactly where this was going.
When Austin returned, he opened the door wider for me like the last time he’d carried me home. But this time, he stood there. He didn’t step outside or wait for me to invite him in. My hesitation must have irritated him because he simply took my hand and gently pulled me inside before shutting the door behind us.
“Austin—“
“Hush,” he clipped, his body looming over mine. I watched as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing heavily, slowly. Up and down and again. My heart was racing inside my chest, about to skip right out from between my ribs.
Not from fear but actual excitement.
“You’re not leaving for three months,” he clipped, that beautiful jaw of his clenched tightly. Almost painfully. Something came over me. Maybe it was the intense way he was glaring down at me with those beautiful blue eyes or the fact he looked almost in pain. Either way, my hand rose between us to soothe and stroke his jawline.
“Okay,” I gently agreed.
“I’m serious, Elizabeth. You don’t just agree because you’re scared of me or?—“
“I’m not scared of you,” I cut him off, softer than I ever spoke to anyone.
“I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Austin,” I semi-shouted just to get him to really listen to me. “I’m not scared of you.”
“Your hands are shaking, angel.”
“Not from fear,” I admitted, tipping my own chin a little higher and not letting my gaze waver from his.
“You sure?” his head dipped a little lower, just enough for me to feel the soft exhale of his every breath brush against my tingling lips. “Even if you think I’m stalking you?” His tone wasso sinfully raspy my nipples puckered up beneath my sports bra, straining against the material for his attention.
“Youarestalking me,” I argued and found myself smiling. “But I’m not scared of you.”
“Elizabeth—“
“You can call me Liz.”
“Fuck.” His jaw clenched again, and my brows bunched.
“You’re going to hurt yourself like that,” I whispered, hardly recognizing the gentle tone of my voice.
“You can’t leave for three months,” he repeated, and I found myself playfully rolling my eyes.
“And why is that?” I asked, slightly breathless. No one, not my sisters or parents, had ever asked me to stay or not go. And here was a man I couldn’t stop thinking about ordering me not to.
“Because I said so.”
“Austin—“
“I like you`” he blurted, his impassioned gaze making me stand in place. “I like you a lot.” His hand cupped my face, tipping it up to force our eyes to lock. “I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t even be here.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not any good for you, Elizabeth,” he growled. A muscle under his eye ticked.
“Liz,” I corrected. He shut his eyes as he took a deep breath.
“I’m a Hart, for fuck’s sake. You should know better than even letting me put my hands on you, much less letting me into your place.”
“Austin—“
