“Then she’ll tell you the truth,” he counters. “Georgia, you know of me ever eye-fucking anyone before? That you’ve seen?” She shakes her head no.
“He doesn’t, Maddie. That’s why everyone is always staring at the two of you. They are all shocked. There were stupid rumors I think Lana was behind. She’s had a thing for him for years. I mean, you heard her in action tonight. She was trying to get under your skin.”
Luke closes the space between us. I don’t move. His hand comes up and cups my jaw. “I’m fucking crazy for you, and if you don’t see that, I can step it up a few notches.” His thumb traces my cheekbone.
“Yeah, let’s not do that because you’re already too intense,” Georgia says. I keep my lips pressed together because maybe I do enjoy how intense he is.
“I’m obsessed with you. I’m crazy about you.” He leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “You want to be mad at me? Fine. But you’re still my girl.”
I push against his chest, but he doesn’t move. I have to fight a smile. “Luke?—”
“You made me a shirt.” His other hand finds my waist and pulls me closer. “You yelled at a ref for me. You think I’m going to let you pull back now because you got scared?”
“I’m not scared.”
“You’re terrified.” His mouth is almost on mine. “Same as me. Every fucking day.”
I should push him away. But I don’t.
I grab his jacket and pull him down, kissing him hard and desperately. He makes a sound in his throat, hands tightening on me, lifting me slightly so I’m pressed against the wall.
This is what we do. Fight and burn and crash into each other.
“I’m, ah, still here, guys.” Georgia’s voice cuts through the lust filling me.
Luke pulls back just enough to breathe. “My room.” I nod in agreement. He puts me back on my feet, grabbing my hand.
“You kids have fun!” Georgia calls after us. I let him lead me back to his room because I’m just as obsessed as he is.
Chapter Thirty
LUKE
Idon’t let go of her hand the entire walk to my room. I won’t chance it. If I have my hand on her, I know she’s here and there is no escape. I need to see about getting a better tracker. That shit only let me know she was in the building. I had to hunt for her little ass.
As pissed off as I am about her running from me, at least now she understands that I will track her down. I’m not going anywhere, and maybe this will make that even clearer. If she wants me to prove that I’m in this with her, I’m more than happy to oblige until she gets it through that beautiful head of hers.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I liked that she got jealous over me. She’s never really shown that side of herself to me before. While I may have enjoyed her reaction, I didn’t enjoy the rest of it. The silent treatment, the not knowing where she was, the anxiety I felt when I couldn’t find her.
I still can’t fathom that she, for a second, thought I was checking out the ice girls. My attention isn’t easily swayed. In fact, not much of anything catches it, honestly. My life has been dull, moving through the motions. Only trying to push through school so I was done with all this shit.
My heart is still pounding from the fight as I lead her into my room. It looks like every other hotel room—beige walls, bland art, and two queen beds I won’t use. I close the door and lock it, the sound loud in the quiet room.
Madeline stands in the center of the room, arms crossed again but differently now. Less angry. More uncertain.
“You stole a key card,” she says. It’s not a question.
“Borrowed,” I say, dropping my jacket on the chair by the window. “I did what I had to. Besides, what if there is an emergency? A fire. If I didn’t have a key, I’d die pounding on your door, trying to make sure you’re not inside.” I’m being ridiculous. I’m sure she thinks I’m teasing. Wrong.
“Well, there isn’t any kind of emergency, so—” She shrugs one shoulder.
“This is an emergency.” I cross to her, close enough to smell her shampoo. “It felt like one.”
She looks up at me, and I see it—the doubt still there, lurking under the surface. She thinks I wanted those other girls. She thinks I’m capable of looking at anyone else.
I take her face in my hands, gently this time. “Madeline. Look at me.”
She does, reluctantly. I want to make things real fucking clear to her. No more cat and mouse bullshit.
