Tori swatted my thigh and I bit back a whimper as my cock reacted with an interested little twitch in turn. The things I’d let this woman do to me.
I caught her wrist in my hand, grinning like I wasn’t already losing my mind from being this close to her. Blood was rushing south and there was no way I could hide my growing erection in these shorts.
“Unnecessary force.”
“You deserved it.”
I twitched my brows up once and smirked. “By all means, keep going, Love.”
The second the word ‘love’ slipped out, her eyes widened. It was just the merest fraction, but it was enough to give me a rush of something warm and reckless.
She pointed at me. “Don’t call me ‘Love’.”
I shrugged. “Hard habit to break.”
“Try harder.”
“No promises.”
Her glare sharpened, but there was a faint flush across her cheekbones, barely visible, like she hated herself for reacting at all.
I leaned back on my hands, relaxing my shoulders and softening my smile. “Can I ask you something?”
“Oh God, what now?”
“When you opened the window…” I scratched the back of my neck. “…you didn’t look surprised to see me.”
Her jaw worked for a second, like she wanted to deny it but couldn't quite bring herself to lie.
“Because … who else would be throwing rocks at my window?”
I blinked. “Uh, not sure what that means.”
She shrugged one shoulder, eyes flicking away. “I don’t exactly have people lining up to climb into my room at midnight.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Riiight … so I’m special?”
She scoffed. “Don’t get a big head. You’re just the only idiot persistent enough.”
The defensiveness lurking behind her words told me the truth. There was no one else, and I had to admit, I quite liked the idea of it. It wasn’t just stupid to get possessive; it was dangerous and unfair, but I couldn’t help it.
“I mean, you didn’t have to open it,” I probed.
“I also didn’t have to let you climb in.”
I swallowed. “Yeah. That too.”
A beat of silence stretched, thick and charged with some kind of energy making my abs clench.
She looked away first, picking at the seam of her comforter. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It is to me.”
Dark eyes snapped back to mine, and for once, she didn’t hide how it affected her.
I dragged in a slow, measured breath. “I know you think I’m all … easygoing and clueless and whatever else. But I don’t bother people at midnight. Ever. I don’t…” My voice dipped, softer, “I don’t reach out when I feel messed up. I just push through.”
“And now?” She spoke equally as soft.
