“Well, you’ve got me here.”
“Just for a shirt.”
Without breaking eye contact, he reaches behind his head and tugs, stripping off the shirt he’s wearing. My mouth goes dry at the sexy, effortless move. I stare at the hard planes of his bare chest. His muscles flex, abs and biceps contracting.
I swallow.
Then swallow again, because once isn’t enough.
Easton hands his shirt to me. The cotton is soft and warm between my fingertips. It’s more faded than the photo of him with his family. He offers me privacy to change by turning around.
I wait a minute, studying his shoulders while he tousles his hair. My heart beats hard. Squeezing the shirt, I leap off a cliff I haven’t jumped from in years.
“Okay,” I say.
He turns around, brows pinching when he sees I haven’t changed. I hold eye contact with him while I peel off my brother’s jersey, dropping it to the floor.
His lips part. He pushes out an uneven breath, gaze dragging over me while I stand before him in my bra and jeans. The bra isn’t anything special, a simple gray racerback that does the job to support my breasts without killing my back.
Still, he can’t look away.
His throat bobs. “Damn.”
A small puff of laughter falls from my lips at his reaction. This is even better than his face when I showed up in the wrong jersey again.
He watches raptly, eyes burning as I pull on his green Heston University t-shirt. It nearly drowns me, hitting me mid-thigh.
It’s like being enveloped by him, wrapping me in his scent as if his strong arms are locked around me.
“Better?” I prompt.
My cheeks flush at my throaty tone. I’m trying—failing—to act cool. It’s impossible. Easton’s unwavering attention has astronger effect on me than I anticipated when I invited him to turn around.
“You wearing my shirt? Hell yes, baby,” he rasps.
Heat thrums in my core. We stare at each other. Time ceases to exist. There’s only the hot ache radiating throughout my body the longer he gazes at me like I’m the only one in the world that he wants.
Everything in me begs for him to?—
He takes a step in my direction, then another, moving closer like he’s pulled by an invisible tether drawing him in. Each step causes a fresh surge of sparks in my core. His attention drops to my mouth. My heart races and air rushes from my lungs in a dizzying exhale picturing what’s coming.
A knock at the door makes both of us jolt.
Noah opens it and pokes his head in. Easton whirls around, partially blocking me from sight.
“Come back to the party. They’re here.” He makes no apologies for interrupting us. Instead, he smirks at my change of clothes and Easton’s lack of a shirt. “You look good like that, Maya.”
“I’ll be right down.” Easton sighs.
He crosses to the door and shoves his snickering friend into the hall. The moment we had is over. We should go join the party.
I twist my fingers together, surprised at the disappointment rising within me.
Easton closes the door once Noah is gone. Then he catches me off guard by striding over, quickly eating up the distance between us. My stomach drops. He almost knocks me over when he reaches me, cradling my face in his hands.
The excitement that subsided races through me once more.
His eyes bounce between mine. I lick my lips. He exhales in relief before his mouth descends on mine, capturing my lips in a kiss.
