Tilting my head, I ask, “Why not? It would be nice?—”
Before I can finish, he’s in front of me, blocking the sun before sweeping me into his arms. I squeak as my legs move out from under me and get thrown over his forearms, dangling. The strong hold behind my back is nothing compared to the heat of his chest as it presses into me, seeping through my thin top.
I wind my arms around his neck as he starts to walk and meet his gaze, going red beneath the blistering jealousy in his eyes. My lips pop open, and he watches them, exhaling roughly. Any and all moisture disappears from my mouth as I hold my breath and wait for him to speak.
“If you want to be carried, it’s my arms you climb into. No exceptions.”
“That seems pretty claiming.”
His jaw ticks, and for a rare moment, I get to witness the perpetually happy, sweet Finn get angry in a sexy, possessive way. “Because it is. If I need to make a claim on you in front of our friends, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“Are you going to ask if I’m okay with that?” I murmur, fully aware that I’m baiting him now.
“Aubrey.”
I shiver against his chest at the growl in his voice, feeling the tightness grow between my legs. “Yes?”
“Keep pushing me and I’m going to keep you to myself tonight instead of sharing you with anyone.”
“And you think I don’t want that?”
He looks up and away from me, his throat pulling tight. For a sliver of a second, I worry I’ve pushed too far and contemplate apologizing, but then we’re turning off the sidewalk and into ashaded parking lot. I watch over his shoulder as the street grows smaller and the scent of fried food starts to drift away.
Turning forward, his car comes into view, and my stomach jumps. Finn doesn’t say anything as he keeps his strides even and calm, but I can’t look away from the way his Adam’s apple bobs with the force of his swallows or how his fingers are digging into my waist like he’s trying to leave his fingerprints on my skin.
“Where are we going?” I ask, my voice high in pitch.
“Somewhere I can do this without feeling like everyone is watching us.”
“Are you nervous about someone taking photos?”
It wouldn’t offend me if he was. The minute someone recognizes him, snaps a photo of us with him carrying me like this, and posts it online, it’ll become what neither of us has agreed on yet. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been posted about online, but this would be different from all the others.
This would connect us romantically. And it wouldn’t simply be a rumour we could brush off.
Finn’s expression draws in a bit. “No. I’ve never hidden you from the public, Bree. I don’t want to start now.”
“But you have to know what they’ll say this time. You’re literally carrying me bridal-style through the street.”
“Let them talk,” he says, as if it’s that simple.
“I’m being serious.”
His car is only a few feet away when he abruptly stops, his brows cinching. “Do you not want anyone to know?”
“It’s so soon. We’re not even officially together. This is our first date.”
I feel stupid as soon as I get the words out of my system, like I’m pulling an excuse out of my ass that doesn’t mean anything.
“What are you most afraid of, Aubrey?” he asks, softening his voice.
“I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Yes, you are. And I want to know what it is so I can help.”
Suddenly, we’re too close, and I’m too vulnerable. I release his neck and wiggle enough that he sets me down, albeit reluctantly. His hands linger on my body, smoothing down my shirt and pulling my hair over my shoulders. The caring gestures encourage a searing sensation of guilt to swarm me.
“I’m just not sure we should be rushing into anything,” I explain.
