“You're imagining things.”
He turns, eyes tracing my face like I'm worth studying. “Not even a little.”
His gaze drops to my lips, then back to my eyes. “You know, Greer, for someone who claims to hate me, you sure do say my name a lot when you're coming.”
“Oh my god.” I groan, burying my face in the pillow.
Did I say his name? Shit. I can’t even remember I was so lost in the moment.
“What?” he says, all faux innocence, though the devilish glint in his eyes says otherwise. “It's a compliment. I like how it sounds, raspy.”
I lift my head just enough to glare at him. “You're trying to embarrass me.”
“No,” he says, his voice dropping. “I'm trying to tell you I like that it was my name. That it was me.”
Something shifts in the air between us. A tension that has nothing to do with the afterglow of sex andeverythingto do with whatever this is between us.
I deflect, because that's what I do best. “Well, don't get too cocky about it. Your name might’ve slipped out but you’re still an arrogant asshole.”
He grins, playing along. “Says the woman who just came on my tongue.”
“That's—that has nothing to do with—" I sputter.
“I think it has everything to do with it,” he says, pulling me closer. “I think I've found theonesurefire way to win an argument with Delilah Greer.”
I roll my eyes, but my body betrays me, arching into his touch as his fingers trace patterns on my bare hip. “You think you're so clever.”
“I think you're into me and my sexy smile,” he says, his breath warm against my ear. “AndI think it terrifies you.”
I swallow hard. “I think you're full of yourself.”
“Maybe,” he admits. His hand slides up to cup my cheek, turning my face toward his. His expression shifts to something vulnerable. “But I'm also full of fuckingfeelingslately. For you. Have been for a while I think. And I don't know what the hell to do about it.”
My heart stutters in my chest. This was supposed to be simple.Physical. A way to get him out of my system. Not... whatever this is becoming.
“Troy—” I start, but he cuts me off with a kiss that's gentler than anything we've shared so far.
“Just think about it,” he says when he pulls back. “You don't have to answer now. But I'm not playing games here, Greer. Not with you.”
The sincerity in his eyes makes my chest twist painfully. I don't trust easily. But right now, with his body warm againstmine and his eyes holding mine like I'm the only thing that matters, I'm dangerously close.
“I need a minute,” I whisper, pressing my forehead against his chest to hide my face.
His arms tighten around me. “Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere.”
And he’s right. I am terrified because I kinda believe him.
21
TROY
Iwake up warm and for once, not because I forgot to turn the heating in my room off.
There’s a second, a beautiful, perfect, blurry second, where everything in my body remembers last night before my brain does. The way her fingers dug into my shoulders. The way she cried my name. And for one blissful breath, I reach across the bed?—
And I find nothing.
Cold sheets. The dip in the mattress is still there, just barely. But she’s gone.
