Page 103 of Prickly Romance

Lightning flares between us, lured closer by the hopeful look in Dejonae’s enchanting brown eyes.

In that moment, I realize how trapped I am in her.

It feels as though someone put me under a spell. The deepest hypnosis.

And I have no wish to wake up.

The sound of footsteps causes Dejonae to stiffen. Shooting a terrified look over my shoulder, she grabs my hand and drags me around the side of the building. Plastering her body against mine, she flattens us both into the wall.

“Why are we hiding?”

“Sh.” She places a finger to her lips and buries her head in my chest. A protective surge, that had only been activated for my mother and my daughter, awakens in my chest.

This odd sensation is beyond me. Terrifying, really. I am always steady, always certain of my next move. Yet here I am, feeling like I have lost my mind, as a woman who can’t even reach my chest has me backed up against the wall. I have never felt so out of control in my life.

“Is she gone?” Dejonae whispers.

She is so small. So soft. So fragile.

A fresh-faced beauty with the power to bring any man to his knees.

Her fingers go slack on my shoulder when she sees me staring at her. Her mouth falls open slightly.

I bite back a groan.

That mouth.

Capable of trading insults and whispering my name.

Brown lips so ripe for the taking.

What would she taste like? Brown sugar? Gold rum? Something more addictive?

Her eyelashes flutter up and down, filling all my senses with desire. I settle my hand around her waist to press her closer.

Can she feel the way my heart is beating against my chest?

Does she feel this connection too?

I brush my nose in her hair, inhaling the scent of coconut oil and some other, fruity product.

“Uh, I think she’s gone.” Dejonae steps back.

“Who was that?” I ask darkly.

“Taylor.” Her voice holds a hint of disgust. “If she saw us together, it would be game over.”

“Game over?”

“She thinks I’m your drug dealer.” Dejonae rolls her eyes in a way that Niko will probably learn to do when she is older. “Or that I have something over you. Whatever. She’s annoying and I’d rather not deal with her right now.”

“Mm.” I spot a bench nestled in the shadows of the building. Given how secluded it is, I can see it being used by campus couples, sneaking away for a moment together.

This will do.

“Sit.” I jut my chin at the bench.

Dejonae narrows her eyes at me. “Why?”

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