And Ireallydon’t like that.
She awaits my answer, studying my face carefully. The urge to touch her is so strong I can’t resist. I’ve never been this compelled to offer comfort to someone. I’m not a touchy-feely kind of man.
But Ineedthis.
If not to comfort her, then to reassure myself that she’s safe. Even if I can’t trust her. Even if she betrayed me when I needed a friend the most.
I still care about her.
Slowly, I reach up to cup her cheek. Lowering my voice to a whisper, I ask, “Lila, did he hurt you?”
Her features sag, and she leans into my touch with the barest hint of pressure. “Yes. But not the way you’re thinking.”
I drag my thumb over her silky cheek, deepening the caress. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”
She blinks and looks away, abruptly ending the moment. After backing out of my grasp, she says, “So you’ll follow me, right?”
“Yeah. My car is parked toward the back of the complex. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t trust you to drive off without me while I get it.”
“Not sure what the right way to take that would be.” Her returning grin makes my chest tight. “Hop in, and I’ll drive you to your car.”
Feeling like we’ve reached a tentative truce, I get in the car with her and direct her to the back of the apartment complex where I stashed my vehicle. We don’t speak for the brief drive.
I point at my car. “That one’s mine.”
She shifts into park and gasps suddenly. “Oh no. You didn’t leave your keys in my apartment, did you? I saw a set of keys on the coffee table.”
“I don’t think those were mine.” I pat my chest, easily locating the familiar lump in the inner pocket of my blazer. “Yeah, I got them here.”
“Okay. Good.”
We lock eyes over the console, neither of us able to look away. Tension crackles the same way it always does when we’re close. It’s tendrils of electricity running through us, charging rapidly until the canister is about to explode.
She licks her lips, subtly tilting her chin. Our breath mingles as we inch closer.
Neither one of us is strong enough to resist the insistent pull.
Fuck. I want to kiss her.
Just once. After that, we can go back to hating each other. Ineedat least one.
Even if she’s mercurial as fuck. And even if we’re toxic together.
What could it hurt to have one kiss?
Would she taste the same as I remember? Would she give me one of those breathy moans that haunted my dreams for years? Grip my shoulders so tightly it leaves a mark?
“Thanks for coming with me,” she simpers, then dabs the tip of her tongue across her lip again, leaving it shimmering in the streetlamp’s reflection.
“Sure,” I rasp.
The corner of her mouth quirks. “Do it, Reed. I dare you.”
“Do what?”
“What you want to do.” She’s so close that her lips graze mine with each word she utters. “Do it. Before I change my mind.”
Instead of claiming her lips, I hover there for the count of three. I want her to beg, and that needy look in her eyes tells me she will.
