He cocks his head to the side, as if he’s heard what’s going on in my head. Chills run down my spine, along with a buzz of adrenaline. It’s the same feeling I get when I watch a scary movie, even if it is from behind a pillow.
My feet are glued to the floor as he comes to stand toe-to-toe with me. My neck cranes up to look at his eyes. A weightsettles deep in my stomach, slowly sinking to my core, and a shiver travels through my body.
The intensity of his eyes burns right through my clothes, singeing my skin as his gaze travels up my body. My heart kicks against my chest, and I realise that the heat brewing deep in my belly is arousal.
He leans even further into me. Still facing him, I step back but my foot catches on some canvases piled on the floor. I stumble backward, but his arms envelop me, circling my waist in time. The heat from his chest seeps through his hoodie into my own as he holds me. I’m a dead weight in his arms. It feels like we’re in our own little bubble.
I look back, glimpsing the metal twinkle of the lino-cutting tools that would have pierced my skin had I landed.
Turning back to him, I stare into his blue eyes. He holds me for a moment longer before standing me upright. Tentatively, I peel the mask off his face to reveal him smiling at me.
‘Guess you chose your mask. Why were you scaring me?’ I ask, my voice still trembling on the last word.
His eyes shimmer as if he’s found an answer to a question that’s been bugging him. He leans in and I feel his breath hot on my skin. Mint mixes with his scent of bergamot, leather and wood.
‘Because you like it,’ he breathes.
I stare at him, not knowing what to say. I can’t deny it.
My fingers fall to his chest. ‘Your heart is pounding,’ I whisper.
‘Because I like it too.’
We stay this way for what seems like both the longest and shortest minute of my life. As if we’re silentlyasking and answering questions. Even though we’re in the dim storeroom, I feel completely exposed.
Another set of footsteps in the main room prickles my ears. Ryker brings me completely upright and a breath whooshes from my lungs as he holds me against his body.
‘Gia!’ a voice calls, making me jerk.
I drop the mask as Ryker places a hand on top of my mouth, suffocating my breaths.
‘Gia, where you at?’ Jace shouts again.
Our bubble is burst. Jace’s footfalls get heavier before he stops right at the storeroom entrance.
Jace’s eyes widen as they bounce from me to Ryker, then they narrow. ‘What the fuck are you guys doing in here?’ Jace arches a brow, holding my backpack in his hand.
I shuffle out of Ryker’s grasp, immediately miss his warmth, as a rock drops in my stomach at how this must look. Jace’s best friend and his little sister, holding each other in a dark storeroom.
My heart stutters and I don’t know what else to do other than burst out into an animated laugh and swat Ryker’s arm, as he bends to pick up the dropped mask. Next thing, I’m leading us out of the storeroom and into the open.
‘This guy thought it would be funny to scare me. You know, like in those oldScreammovies when someone is in the dark and then the main character goes to investigate?’Shit, I’m blabbering.‘And you sit there screaming at the TV wondering why they’re so silly and then …’Dear god, make me stop.‘And then … well, I guess I was the fool. You scared me.’ I let my laughter fade out.
Jace definitely doesn’t believe a single word coming from my mouth and Ryker’s trying his hardest not to laugh.
Awkward.
I step forward and grab my backpack from Jace. The silence is deafening.
I was wrong.Thisis now the longest minute of my life.
‘C’mon, Gia.’ He runs a hand down his face and points outside. ‘Renny said the Camino is ready at the garage. So, we’ll get it now before round two of tryouts starts.’
I nod. Even though I can’t drive, the Camino is mine and I’ve always gone with Jace to drop off and pick up the truck for its annual registration check.
‘I’ll take her,’ Ryker says.
‘Like fuck you will.’
