The same that must have shone in my own eyes because I wasn’t trying to hide it like he was. But I could see it staring right back at me all the same.
Licking my lips, I taunted him, daring him to have a taste, but if there was one thing I knew about Reid Cunningham, the man had the restraint of a damn saint.
His gaze shifted down, but it moved beyond my lips this time, landing right on my chest. I could feel my nipples tightening with every breath he took.
“I’m not stupid,” I murmured, lifting my backpack and holding it tight to my chest, in a pathetic attempt to protect what was left of my heart.
Fat chance.
“I didn’t say you were stupid, I said what youdidwas stupid.”
“Same thing.”
Twisting his wrist, he checked the time then looked back at me, irritated. “You done being a brat? I have to pack. We have to catch a flight first thing tomorrow morning.”
“What? Where?”
“New York.”
“Reid, I don’t want to go back to New York. It’s too close to Jersey. It’ll be like walking into the lion’s den.”
He reached down, wrapping one hand around mine with a gentleness that made my soul weep with relief. “I told you that you’re safe now. Here or there, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
His words meant so much to me. They brought me comfort. Reassurance. For the first time since leaving Florida, I believed everything would be okay.
Let’s just hope I could say the same about my heart when it was all over.
“Ifeel stupid,” she groaned as we made our way out back to the veranda.
I continued my stride, not sparing her a glance. “I thought we weren’t using that word.”
“I can use that word whenever I want.Youcan’t,” she fired back.
I chuckled, stopping just before we reached the door, and then I couldn’t help but look at her.
Christ, she’s beautiful.
The last twenty-four hours had been a practice in control and patience. This stunning creature was forever testing both. It was bad enough I worried for her safety but now I was constantly concerned about her health.
“You feeling okay, Gidge?”
She gave me a small smile, shaking her head. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me so much. Yesterday was emotional for me. Seeing you again, I was nervous and didn’t have much of an appetite. That’s the only reason I was feeling bad.”
“Well from now on, no skipping meals, got it?”
The strap of her dress slid off her tan shoulder and my breath froze in my lungs. Instinctively, I reached over to put it back in place. The smooth skin beneath the tips of my fingers sparked a current of heat throughout my entire body, centered right at my dick, which had certainly taken notice since she showed up on my damn doorstep.
I’d been trying not to pay attention to how beautiful she was but it was impossible to ignore, especially when she looked at me with those warm brown eyes. Eyes that had a way of penetrating all of my defenses.
“What are you going to tell them?” she asked.
“The truth, what else?” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, worrying it back and forth. “You’ve met my family before. Why are you so nervous?”
She shrugged, biting down on her lip even more. I fought every urge to capture it with my own teeth, suck it and lick it until the taste of her burned within my blood.
I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her.
Even back then, the need that coursed through my veins had gone unmatched by anyone. I thought it might have been the forbidden aspect of it.
