Page 43 of Under the Radar

I chuckled. “It, ah, wasn’t a hardship, Hannah. I kissed you back.”

“Why?”

I decided to be honest. Here in her room, surrounded by the quiet of the morning, I knew I had to be.

“Because I’ve wanted to kiss you for a while.”

“Oh.”

“And I hated seeing him touch you.”

She blinked. “You’re touching me right now.”

“Do you want me to go?”

“No.” She paused, nibbling at her bottom lip. She only did that when she was really nervous. “You came in here to comfort me. I had a nightmare.”

“Yes.”

“Was it the first time?”

Again, I was honest. “No. You’ve had several.”

“And you come to me every time?”

“Yes. You calm down when I talk to you.” I swallowed. “When I stroke your head. I stay until you’re asleep again.”

“I thought I dreamed that part as well.”

“You mentioned that last night. But it was real. I’m sorry I invaded your privacy—”

She stopped me with a frown. “I’m sorry I disturbed your sleep. You should have told me and bought some earplugs.”

“I would rather lose sleep every night and comfort you than put in earplugs and not hear you. And I could never ignore your pain, Cinnamon. It would bother me too much.”

“Chase,” she whispered.

“Hannah.”

“I like you.”

“Yeah?”

“More than I should.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because I don’t think you like me the same way.”

“I don’t.”

Her face fell, and I cupped her cheek, leaning close. “I like you more.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

I flexed my hips, letting her feel me. “I like you so fucking much.”

“Oh,” she breathed out.