“Well, I’m not getting on that death trap,” I mutter.
His touch is barely discernible, but there is no denying the steady presence skimming against my spine, the warmth of his skin seeping through the fabric separating us.
What the hell did I get myself into?
“Not today.”
I tilt my head back and shoot him a glare. “Not ever.”
Matthew just hums, clearly amused. “We’ll see about that. But this is a date, and while it might not seem like it most of the time, I know how to mind my manners.”
Matthew opens the back door for me, and I slip into Nico’s truck and slide to the other side so Mae can sit next to me. Only, when I turn around, it’s not Mae who’s sitting in the open seat.
“What are you doing?” I hiss softly so only he can hear me.
I don’t know what, if anything, Nico knows about our little… situation.
“Putting on a seat belt.” He clicks his in place and then leans against me so he can do the same for me. “It’s required by law. Can’t be getting into trouble.”
“I know that! I meant, what are you doinghere?” I point at the seat he’s occupying, although, really, his presence takes over the whole back seat. He’s just too big. Too hard. Too much.
He leans back, his legs spread wide, his knee bumping against mine. And sitting in such close confines, I can smell the familiar spicy scent of his cologne filling the space. Overtaking it. Enveloping me.
“That’s what people on a date do, Trouble. Did you date such losers that you’re unfamiliar with the concept?”
I grind my teeth, holding back the answer that’s on the tip of my tongue.
I tilt my head toward the front of the truck where Nico and Mae have climbed inside, completely stuck in their own world, their fight still going strong. “Do you seriously think that’s a good idea?”
“They’re stuck together for the rest of the night; might as well get it all out before we go out in public.” He eyes them for a moment before leaning toward me and whispering, “Although, I’m not sure if they’ll kill each other or rip their clothes off and fuck each other’s brains out. What do you think?”
My lips part, heat rising into my cheeks at the crude words. Matthew slowly turns, those brown eyes fixing on me. The corners of his eyes crinkle as a self-satisfied gleam shines from their depths.
He’s enjoying this.
He loves to rattle me.
A memory sparks from the back of my mind, where I had kept it firmly locked away. It seems that more of them are slipping past my defenses now that he’s back.
Matthew sitting next to me in the quiet library, his brown eyes boring into mine. His softly whispered words. The smiles he gave so rarely, except when he would say something that would make me blush.
Soft fingers skim over my cheek as Matthew extends his hand and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Fixing your hair,” he whispers, his voice low.
I swallow hard. “We said no touching.”
“No,yousaid no kissing.” The corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk. “Already backing down on that one? You know what you have to do.”
“Not happening.”
There is no way I’m playing his game. No way, no how.
He quirks his brow, an unmistakable challenge shining in his eyes. “Famous last words, Trouble. Famous last words.”
My stomach quivers as he lets his hand fall, landing on my knee. His long fingers skim over the inside of my thigh. A short tease, that’s all it is, but I know I’m screwed.
