Page 34 of Pawn

He catches it, tossing it on the bed before picking up both glasses and walking over. “So booking you and your BFF a train to Montreal to get her girlfriend back is being an ass?”

“Know what? Nevermind.” He hands me a drink. I don’t know why I take it but it’s filled to the brim, the rocking train making some of it spill onto my joggers. “I didn’t say I wanted it.”

“You do.” He smirks, clinking my glass with his before he sits next to me.

“Wasn’t Lea your girlfriend?”

“No.” He doesn’t hesitate to respond, leaning back. “But you sound really jealous of Allie’s girlfriend right now.”

“I’m not jealous.” I take another long gulp. If I’m going to have this conversation, he’s right. I do need a drink.

“I told you we weren’t dating,” he says before taking a sip. My eyes land on his scar, the one matching mine but I try to push our similarities out of my mind.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t believe you.”

“You never believe me.”

“Because you’re trouble.”

“So are you.” He smiles. “Sweet, delicious trouble. Yet somehow, I can’t get enough of it.” The feeling is mutual, his honesty bringing heat to my cheeks but it’s likely with frustration. “Stop fighting it, Jo. You’ve always fought this but you know it’s nothing but explosive madness when we’re together and we both fucking love it.” He bites his lip, staring into me like his favourite dessert and that doesn’t help that tingle between my legs.

“We kill—”

“That doesn’t matter,” he cuts me off. “Nothing fucking matters except you. Why do you think I’m here? Why do you think I did what I did at the Huang event?”

“For your own reasons,” I mutter.

He ignores it, moving towards me. I scoot over on the sofa as he comes closer but he doesn’t get the hint. He sits right beside me, sandwiching me between the edge and him. And that’s exactly how I feel. On edge.

That familiar scent is back. The one that makes me act like a basic bitch and when he moves closer, that knot in my stomach folds and folds.

“The look in your eye when you came on my roof to save me from Marion says you feel the same.” His voice is low and sultry. Smooth and growling. Lowering his eyes, they wander around my face. “That’s what you did. Right, Medusa? You came to save me from dying? You don’t do that if you don’t feel something for someone.”

“I was there for Willow,” I remind him. “And who the fuck would let someone they know die? I’m not a psychopath.” Though I’m starting to think I am.

That makes his jaw twitch, the grip on his glass tightening. “Bullshit, Rowland. The look in your eye when you saw me on that ledge says otherwise. You wouldn’t have attacked Marion like that if you didn’t want me. If you didn’t need me.” His nose touches mine and it makes me jump at the same time goosebumps rise on my skin.

Swallowing hard on a gulp of hard air I finally ask, “Did you mean what you said? When you called?”

“Did I mean what?” He wants me to say it and no matter how hard I try, the words just won’t come.

Tipping the rest of the contents down my throat, I slam my book closed and get up from my seat. “I need the bathroom.”

“You running away again, Medusa?” he taunts. “Stop being a fucking coward.”

“Something I learned from you!”

SLAM!

Nine

Damien

Shit.

I pushed too hard.

I always do.

---