I grin as I lean into her neck, nuzzling my nose against her skin. “That’s not true at all. I can be a very, very good boyfriend with enough motivation. I’d do anything for…”
Tingles break out over my skin. Holy shit. Was I really about to say I’d do anything for her? I can’t start making her think this is more serious than it is. It’s only about sex. She won’t officially be my girlfriend when I’m fucking her out of my system.
My obsession with her has taken a toll on me. Not being able to have something I’ve wanted for years has fucked with my head.
It feels like love, but it’s only an illusion. Love is supposed to be comfortable and easy.
Nothing about Amy is easy. Making her my girlfriend would only make this possessiveness I feel for her that much more potently toxic.
Then again, what would be the harm in indulging the fantasy for a few months? Harper was officially my girlfriend multiple times, when all the while I was pining for someone else. That’s about as toxic as it gets.
I wouldn’t mind letting her be my girlfriend for a few months if it will make her trust me. She has nothing to fear from me. I may hurt her in the end, but I’ll be so, so good to her in the process it will be more than worth it for her.
“For the right woman,” I finish.
She pins me with a hard stare. “You mean you’d get in a fight for her?”
I shut my eyes, my gut sinking. “You heard about that?”
“Seth told me about it,” Amy says, her eyes narrowing. “Nick told him that it was about me. Is that true?”
I shrug, hoping it didn’t look as jerky as it felt. “Your dress was really tight. A guy said something that was…irritating.”
Amy studies me for a moment, her eyes narrowed. “Irritating? You get into physical fights when you’re irritated?”
I grin, squeezing her thigh. Hopefully, I can play this off. She can’t know how alarmed I was by my own behavior. “Over you, I do.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “That’s not flattering. And I’m pretty sure it’s not even true. What really made you get into that fight? Was it to make Harper jealous?”
Goddamn it, does she really still think this is all about Harper? How can she be so naive to think I would expend this much effort, spend this much time with her—all to win back someone I can’t see a future with?
She’s not going to let this go easily. So I have to give her something. Something that won’t reveal too much. It’s too soon.
“It wasn’t really a fight,” I say. “I didn’t punch him or anything. But your makeover has been kind of…unsettling forme. I’m not used to other guys giving you a lot of attention. Except that Cody twat.”
She scowls. “Don’t talk about Cody like that, and why would you care if other guys give me attention? You’ve never even been nice to me. In fact, I’d say you’ve been cruel.”
I wince, hating that it always comes back to that moment in the quad. It’s the only time I’ve ever been guilty of hurting her on purpose.
“I know it was cruel,” I say, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter. “But I really didn’t mean for it to be. I mean… I knew you’d be upset, but…I didn’t think you’d hate me as much as you do.”
She sighs. “I don’t hate you.”
My stomach jolts, and I whip around to face her. “You don’t?”
Her shake of the head is so slight, I might not have noticed it if my eyes weren’t fixed on her, hungry for her response.
“Not anymore,” she says. “I’m still…distrustful, I guess. I’m a little scared of you, to be honest.”
The vulnerability in her voice compels my body forward. I brush my lips against her cheek. “I want to earn your trust. Let me.”
She turns to me, and her soft breath brushes down my neck. “For now, we can start with a kiss.”
I’m startled when she reaches up and places both palms on my cheeks. Her hands are cold, and yet a warmth that I’ve never felt before washes over me like tropical rain. Her lips meet mine, and it takes everything within me to savor the moment. To not devour her.
She’s kissing me. It’s a big deal.
Amy nibbles on my lips a few times before slipping her little tongue into my mouth. One brush of my own with hers, and I lose all control. I lift her at the waist and pull her up as I climb into the passenger seat. It’s such a tight squeeze that I stumble abit, and Amy laughs. After setting her on my lap, I yank her head against mine.
