"Bowl games, practices, my softball season kept getting in the way. I know you thought it was a line, but it really became clear when I saw him at that party—how long we'd been pretending at a relationship." I looked up at the grey, hazy sky. "This rain…" I shivered again. Or maybe I hadn't stopped.
"We should go."
I may have nodded, or my whole body vibrated. "Yeah, it's cold."
"You going to the dinner?"
I shook my head. "I really don't?—"
The sky opened up. The perma-mist turned to an icy slush and pelted the ground—and us.
I glanced at the parking lot, then over at the locker room at the near end of the field. My brain clicked, and my legs moved. “Come on.” I ran toward the building. Rain coated my skin, my hair. Mud splashed and sloshed with every step.
I made it to the door, stabbed the key in the lock and turned it. I moved to shut us inside. The biting wind took a last bite at my skin; Maddox ducked in behind me.
He flicked on the light. Both of us drenched and muddy, he didn't say a word. Just punched at the thermostat until a whir started overhead. I shivered and quaked as he disappeared, returning with one of the rolling infrared heaters. Within seconds, beautiful warmth touched my skin. I wiped water from my face, kicked off muddy shoes and moved closer.
He touched my shoulder, but before I could say a word, I was wrapped up in his arms. I stared at his neck, breathed the must of earth and rain. Shaking, I clutched the back of his shirt, turned my head and hugged him back.
I closed my eyes, just feeling…the warmth of him, the gentle pounding of his heart. The rush of his breath. It reminded me of that night, when his kiss changed from soft and sweet—to hungry. Feral.
His mouth came down hard over mine. His hands gripping my waist as he hauled me up onto the worktable. I clung to him, my skin on fire everywhere he touched. I bit into his lower lip as a different kind of heat took root, changed shape…and finally ignited.
I clutched and pawed, desperate to be closer. His mouth left mineto brand kisses into my neck. He pressed me backwards, and I pulled him with me, arching against the hard planes of his chest.
The bulge in his jeans settled between my hips…
"We should get out of our wet clothes."
"I'm warm just like this," I whispered to his collar bone. And I was, for the first time in so many months. Safe and warm and slightly spinny.
"You're still shivering." A shudder coursed through him. He released me, the grim look on his face anchored me back to reality.
"There's showers and?—"
"If that was why…why you left?"
His eyes met mine, and I lost my ability to breathe.You threw yourself at him before.I lowered my gaze to the floor.
Then Kanami's voice from earlier echoed in my brain:"But what have we ever gained by holding back?"
I pulled in a halting breath as I caught the edge of his sleeve with my fingers. "I've had time." I lifted my eyes and caught his stare. "And you're still the one I want, Maddox." Pain seared my chest with each and every heartbeat.
He held my gaze as he removed his shirt. Turned his left shoulder toward me. "You sure about that?"
Pinkish-tan scars formed a lumpy star pattern near the top of his arm; he turned all the way around. More peppered one side of his back.
"Saw combat. Got my scars…"
"What happened?" I breathed as I ran my fingers over the healed gashes.
"Caught shrapnel from an IED."
"Does it still hurt?"
"Just to look at. I was lucky," his voice rasped.
The way he said it…my heart and lungs, weighted and heavy, lost their rhythm.Someone he knew didn't make it.I swallowed as hot tears blurred the world around me. I pressed my lips to the center of the large, spindly scar at the top of his shoulder. Ran my fingertips over the marred skin.
