“It wasn’t what you’re thinking. He’s not here anymore. You know that Jeep Gladiator that almost ran you down? That was him.”
“How do you know?”
Easton braces his hands on the opposite side of the small island when he finds the apartment empty. I sigh.
“It’s my ex’s truck. Johnny Werner, my brother’s teammate.”
His jaw clenches, a muscle twitching in his cheek. “FuckingWiener? I knew I should’ve broken his other arm.”
I blink. “What?”
“Nothing. You dated that asswipe?”
“In high school. For two years, until—” I cut off, not wanting to get into the whole mess. “I’d bet anything he’s probably just messing with me because I finally blocked his number like I should’ve done years ago.”
While I’m unblocking it with agitated movements to tell him off, Easton rumbles in frustration.
“Are you calling campus security? Report him for breaking in.”
“No. And technically he didn’t.” Grimacing, I motion towards the door. “I keep a spare key in the flower pot that hangs from our message board.”
“Maya.” He blows out a breath, sinking his fingers into his hair. “Then you should tell them you lost your keys so they’ll change your locks. Keep the spare key with you.”
“I’ll do it in the morning,” I promise. “But I don’t think he’ll come back.”
Easton scrubs his jaw, pacing the short length of the island. “There’s no way to know that. Only psychos think it’s funny to scare people with shit like this.”
He’s not wrong. Johnny was good at making me think I wanted what he did. I refuse to let him get to me now because he’s already done enough damage. I hate giving him any power over me. There’s no way I’ll let his bullshit scare me.
I text Johnny, fingers stabbing the screen in irritation. It doesn’t take him long to respond, as if he’s been waiting for me to put the pieces together.
Maya:You’re not funny. I know it was you. If you ever do that again, I’m reporting you to the cops.
Johnny:You should chill. I was just having a little fun since you blocked me. It was a joke, babe.
Maya:I’m not laughing.
Johnny:Relax. I was just checking in on my teammate's little sister. My orthopedic specialist is nearby and I wanted to see you again since you ran off from the bar with another man. Remember when I used to surprise you like this and be waiting in your bedroom? You loved it.
A sickening lurch unsettles my gut at the memories he’s talking about. My skin crawls at the way he still talks to me like he believes I’ll always belong to him.
Easton is at my back, reading over my shoulder. My cheeks prickle with uncomfortable heat. My phone rings and I feel the rough sound of anger in his chest when he sees the name on the screen. He takes the phone and answers it for me.
“You’re lucky you got away. If you come back here, you’re a dead man.”
I shiver. His arm wraps around my shoulders and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. I turn in his embrace, watching his fierce expression.
“Who is this?” Johnny asks sharply. “Where’s Maya?”
Easton stares at me. “She’s busy. Lose this fucking number.”
He hangs up. My phone clatters on the counter behind me when he sets it down. He swoops down to kiss me, palm splaying at the small of my back. He chases away every bad memory of Johnny, erasing every ounce of fear and frustration that coursed through me tonight. All that remains is him, and I can’t get enough.
“What do you need?” His breath is hot ghosting across my lips.
“Just this.” I suppress a shudder. “Just you.”
With a ragged noise, he captures my lips again. I open for him, allowing his kiss to consume me. His hand drags down my side and I gasp when he grabs my thighs to lift me on the counter. I spread my legs and he moves between them.
