Chapter 19: Chapter 19

With a tilt of his head, he takes a tentative step in my direction.

It’s tempting to take one in retreat.

The last thing I want is for him to get too close. I’m terrified of what will happen if he lays his hands on me. I’ve been thinking nonstop about the night we spent together and how good he made me feel.

If only it were possible to evict Maverick McKinnon from my brain.

Every nerve ending goes on high alert as he bridges the space between us. “I assume you’re talking about your necklace.”

Relief rushes through me. “Yes.”

“If you want it, you’ll have to come back to my place and get it.”

My mouth turns parched as I gulp at the idea of being alone with him. It takes effort to push the words out. “I can’t do that.”

He jerks his shoulders, as if my decision doesn’t affect him one way or the other. I’d almost think it was true except for the intensity that blazes from his eyes and the cautious way he continues to inch closer.

Almost as if he’s trying to approach a skittish animal.

“Then it’s not that important or you don’t want it badly enough.”

My gaze stays fastened to his as I draw my lower lip between my teeth and chew the plump flesh, indecision warring inside my head.

“You’re wrong about that. It means everything to me and I need it back.”

“If that’s the case, then the choice is a simple one.” There’s a beat of silence. “Don’t you think?”

Even though I don’t want to take my eyes off him for a second, it’s impossible to think straight when I’m staring at him. It’s like gazing directly at the sun.

It’s hazardous to your health.

He’s just…

Too much.

Too everything.

His masculine presence is overpowering in every sense of the word.

I’ve never met anyone like Maverick.

I force my gaze to his. Even though it feels like a mistake, the question is out of my mouth before I can think better of it. “Do you promise to give it back if I come with you?”

I don’t realize how rigid his muscles had become until they loosen and his lips lift into some semblance of a smile. The feral look glowing in his eyes is enough to send a fresh burst of nerves scampering across my skin.

“You have my word.”

Don’t do it.

Don’t spend any more time alone with him.

I shut down the little voice in my head. If this is the only way to get my necklace back, what choice is there?

The silver chain and pendant are too important to let go of.

“Fine.”

Instead of closing the distance between us, he shoves open the heavy glass door. “After you.”

Heat emanates from him in heavy, suffocating waves as I slip past, trying not to touch him. The woodsy scent of his cologne wraps sly fingers around me, cocooning me in memories of the night we spent together and how easy it was for him to make my body sing.

When I stumble, his arm snakes around my waist and he tugs me close to his muscular body.

His warm breath ghosts against my ear. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

I chance a peek at Maverick, only to find him watching me.

Why does this man affect me like no other?

I rack my brain but can’t come up with an answer that makes sense.

I just know that he does.

It’s an undeniable truth.

“Is your car on campus?” he asks, knocking me from my thoughts.

“Um, yeah.”

“Where are you parked?”

I point to the lot closest to the library. It’s centrally located and always easy to get to.

“What a coincidence. So am I.” He continues to steer me along the path. “It’s the Bronco, right?”

“Yeah.” I’m surprised he remembered.

As we arrive at the small SUV, I click the key fob as he reaches around my body to open the door.

Before I can slide inside the safety of the vehicle, he holds out his palm. “Give me your phone.”

I frown. “Excuse me?”

“I’m going to input the address.”

My brows pinch. “That’s not necessary. I’ll just follow you.”

With a smirk, he shakes his head before crowding my personal space until it becomes necessary to crane my neck in order to hold his mahogany-colored eyes.

“Do you really think I’m going to take the chance and let you get away now that I’ve finally found you again?”

My belly somersaults.

When he continues to stare, waiting patiently, I slip my hand into my jacket pocket and pull out my cell before opening the home screen. It’s only when he swipes it from my palm that I realize I’m trembling.

And it’s not just my hands.

My entire body is shaking.

He sets my nerves on edge, all the while ripping away the hazy film that has blanketed my life since I was sixteen.

When there’s a distant chime, I realize that he texted himself my number.

His focus stays riveted to my phone as he taps away. When he’s satisfied, the cell is passed back with the Maps app open on the screen.

“All set.” He nods toward a truck parked a few rows over before his gaze refastens on mine. “I’ll be right behind you.”

My pulse thrums an erratic beat as I slip inside the Bronco. He closes the door before jogging to his truck and starting it up. I do the same and pull out of the parking lot with Maverick tailing me. It doesn’t take more than five minutes to reach his house. I probably should have told him that I didn’t need directions.

The second I turn off the ignition, the driver’s side door is popped open and he’s assisting me to the sidewalk. With his muscular arm wrapped around me, there’s no escaping him.

Part of me wonders if I even want to.

I’ve never felt more conflicted.

In silence, he steers me toward the front porch and up the rickety stairs before shoving open the front door. Barely do I catch a glimpse of the people sitting around the living room, playing video games. A few call out greetings, but he ignores them, hustling me up the staircase to his room.

Once I’m over the threshold, he closes the door and leans against it. He doesn’t say a word as his gaze stays pinned to mine. Only now do I realize that he’s been keeping himself firmly under control this entire time.

That’s no longer the case. The thin veneer has been torn away.

A potent concoction of nerves and excitement bursts at the bottom of my belly as I rip my attention away from him, needing to get all the emotions careening out of control back under submission.

All it takes is one fleeting glance at the queen-sized bed for memories to press in at the edges, threatening to suffocate the life out of me.

Am I the last girl who’s been there?

Or have others already taken my place?

The thought sickens me. It’s enough to have bile rising in my throat.

And it shouldn’t.

Our worlds were never supposed to collide again. It doesn’t matter if I haven’t been able to banish him from my thoughts.

“I’m curious… Does River know I fucked you?” The question comes out sounding as if his voice has been scraped from the bottom of the ocean.

Air leaks from my lungs as my wide gaze slices to his and fear scampers down my spine.

When I remain silent, he growls, “Does he?”

The thought of my brother finding out about what happened between us makes me sick to my stomach.

He would be furious.

I have to moisten my lips before forcing out the response. “Of course not.”

His eyes narrow. “Do you plan on telling him?”

Is he really asking this?

“Well, sunshine? I need to know.”

I clear my throat and force out the words that have become lodged there. “Why would I do that? We slept together one time. It’s over, and we’ve both moved on with our lives.”

A muscle in his jaw tics as one sculpted brow rises. “Is that all it was to you? A fuck in the sheets?”

No.

But to admit that to him would be dangerous.

It would only send us tripping down a path neither of us wants.

My attention slices to the door he’s leaning against. It’s so tempting to race past and escape his suffocating presence.

“You’re not really thinking of running away from me, are you?”

I straighten my shoulders and focus on the reason I’ve returned to the scene of the crime. “I’d like my necklace.”

His inscrutable expression never falters. “Yeah, sure. It’s the only reason you came here, right?”

He shoves away from the door before his fingers grip the hem of his sweatshirt. I blink when he draws the thick cotton up his torso and over his head, leaving him in a navy Wildcats T-shirt.

My mouth dries. “What are you doing?”

“Getting your necklace.”

Before I can ask anything else, he strips off the snug material that fits him like a glove, leaving him bare chested.

My gaze licks over sculpted abdominals and chiseled pecs that stand out in stark relief. And his biceps…

Holy hell.

Even his muscles have muscles.

Hands down, he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Not that it’s saying much, but still…

I have no idea how much time ticks by as I drink in his male beauty. He’s like a work of art that needs to be silently appreciated. My panties dampen just looking at him.

It takes a herculean effort to mentally shake myself from the stupor that’s fallen over me and refocus my attention. “My, um…necklace… Where is it?”

His hand rises to his throat to touch the pendant that hangs from the silver chain resting against his sun-kissed collarbone.

My eyes widen. Barely am I able to push out the question, “You’ve been wearing it this entire time?”

His shoulders lift in a nonchalant gesture that belies the tension straining his muscles, looking for an escape. “I wanted to keep it safe.”

When I remain silent, processing the response, the corners of his lips quirk. “Well, what are you waiting for, sunshine? If you want it so badly, all you need to do is come and get it.”

I suck in a sharp breath.

He doesn’t make any effort to unclasp it or hand it over.

He simply stands there, as if daring me to make the first move.

When he raises a brow in silent challenge, I force my feet into motion. Every step has my heartbeat ratcheting up, galloping beneath my breast until it reverberates throughout my body and in my ears.

This is a bad idea.

Then again, Maverick McKinnon has bad idea stamped all over him.

And yet, that knowledge isn’t enough to stop me.

To stop whatever’s about to happen from unfolding.

I’m not sure if there’s anything capable of dousing the spark that’s flared to life.

Satisfaction leaps in his eyes as I tentatively close the distance that separates us. Red lights blare in my head, making me question my decisions, and I grind to a quick halt.

What am I doing?

I’m tap dancing on a dangerous line.

When I remain still—at a crossroads—he whispers, “Come on, sunshine. Just a few more steps.”

My gaze drops from his to the necklace draped around his neck.

I’m so close.

And then I can walk away.

Unscathed.

I can leave Maverick McKinnon where he belongs.

Safely tucked away in my memories.

I force myself to eat up the remaining distance. Air gets clogged in my lungs as my shaking palms settle on the broad expanse of his chest. His muscles bunch and tighten, straining beneath the flesh. All the warring thoughts within my brain go silent as my senses are bombarded by him.

The heat of his skin.

The woodsy scent of his cologne that cocoons me in familiarity.

The steady tempo of his heart beating beneath my fingertips.

The harsh breath that belies the calm expression on his face.

I want to soak in this moment so I don’t forget a single second of it.

When my palms slide toward the necklace, his larger hands settle over them, drawing them upward until they’re tangled around his neck and my body is flush against his.

Our gazes stay fastened.

I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.

“We shouldn’t do this,” I whisper, trying one last time to stop this from happening.

Even to my own ears, the protest is weak.

“Do you love him?”

“Of course.” The truthful response is out of my mouth before I can think better of it.

Fury flashes in his eyes as his voice dips, sounding as if it’s been roughed up by sandpaper.

“I’ve never been one to fuck other dudes’ girlfriends.” Just as relief rushes from my lungs, he tacks on, “But I’m going to make an exception in this case.”

I don’t realize that he’s walked us toward the bed until the backs of my thighs hit the edge of the mattress and I tumble onto it. My brain spins out of control as he follows me down, his larger body caging me in.

“Tell me you don’t want this to happen.”

My tongue darts out to moisten my lips.

One word has the power to stop this in its tracks.

Except, when I open my mouth, not a single sound escapes.

I’m slammed with the realization that I can’t give him a response.

Because when it comes down to it, I want this.

I want Maverick to run his hands and lips over me like he did the night we spent together. More than anything, I want him to make my body come alive so I can forget the reason this can never be more than a few stolen hours.

When I remain silent, satisfaction dances in his eyes right before his lips crash onto mine.