Page 17 of Dare You to Love Me

He strains closer before dropping his voice. His gaze never falters from my own. If anything, it only intensifies. It feels as if I’ve been caught within the crosshairs of it.

“Last night was the single hottest night of my life, and the fact that it was with you makes it even better. I love you, Stella. I’ve always loved you.”

“As a friend,” I murmur. “You love me as a friend.”

It’s slowly that he shakes his head. “I love you as more than that. I have for a while.” He jerks his shoulders before admitting, “I just wasn’t sure if you could ever feel the same about me.”

He’s felt this way for a while?

How didn’t I realize it?

“But our friendship…I don’t want to lose it.”

He swallows up the small bit of space between us until I’m able to see all the chocolaty-colored flecks that make up his irises as his warm breath drifts across my lips.

“I promise that will never happen. No matter what, we’ll always be friends. But I want more, Stella. I want to be the man in your life. I want to hold you in my arms at night.” His voice turns rough, sounding as if it’s been scraped raw. “More than that, I want to be your everything, just like you’re mine.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I reveal what’s in my heart. “You already are my everything.”

His gaze searches mine, sifting through all my private thoughts. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then let’s give this a shot. A real shot. I promise, baby, you won’t regret it. I’d move both heaven and hell to make you happy.”

My teeth scrape across my lip as I watch the emotion swirl through his eyes. It feels a little bit like I’m leaping off a cliff into the abyss. It’s terrifying. I have no idea if I’ll land safely or not. But I trust Riggs.

I force out a slow, shaky breath. “Okay.”

He tugs me onto his lap before nipping my bottom lip with sharp teeth. And just like yesterday, arousal shoots through me, lighting me up from the inside out.

That’s all it takes for his eyes to darken with pent-up desire. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about last night.”

Heat pools in my core as I admit, “Me neither.”

Barely does my response escape before his lips descend, settling over mine. His tongue sweeps over the seam and without further prodding, I open so they can tangle. Shivers dance down my spine as electricity hums in the charged air.

A whimper of need breaks free from me.

“Hey, get a room,” someone yells.

Riggs pulls away just enough to growl as he stares into my eyes, “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

His hands wrap around my waist, lifting me to my feet as he pops to his. Then he shoves my books into my bag and throws the strap over his shoulder.

“You ready to get out of here?”

A smile lifts the corners of my lips as I nod. “Yeah, I am.”

With that, he tugs my fingers, towing me from the coffee shop and into the chilled morning air.

RIGGS

Unable to hold off for another moment, my lips crash onto hers as we make our way up the concrete walkway that cuts through a swath of snow-covered lawn to the house I share with my teammates.

Now that I’ve finally gotten a taste of Stella, I have no idea how I went so long without it. She’s like the very air needed for survival.

And so damn sweet.

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