Page 83 of Never You

“Okay.” Her voice cracks, stinging my heart.

Maybe I’m wrong for keeping her hopes up, dangling false promises in front of her face when I have no clue if I can keep them. But that's all I got right now.

So, I just kiss her. Desperate, scorching, and filled with urgency and unspoken wishes. Hoping she can feel what I’m feeling, praying it will spark her confidence in whatever this might be. The kiss consumes me, taking my breath away, and I cup the front of her neck, breathing into her mouth.

“You drive me crazy, Rae.”

“You got a tattoo of a red boot today. You’re already crazy.” She smiles, bringing us back to the light mood we were in before dinner. I feel the corner of my mouth rise as I breathe out a small laugh.

“Maybe.”

Her hands roam over my back, and I close my eyes, enjoying her touch, completely transfixed by every stroke. When my eyes lower, I reach up, rolling the gemstone of her necklace through my fingers.

“Who gave you this?” I realize how jealous I sound when I hear my own words, too late to change my tone of voice. A ghost of a smile meets her beautiful features.

“Jealous?”

“Maybe.”

“My mother.” My brows raise, and I scold myself inside for my possessiveness, ignoring the vibration in my pocket.

“Is it a gemstone?”

She nods. “My family owns a jewelry business. They work with gemstones.”

I cock my head, my eyes roaming the freckles on her nose. I didn’t expect that answer, and I’m a bit embarrassed for assuming it was from Sean. Like she was still hung up on the guy, even though she told me she isn’t.

Fuck, I really am jealous.

“Your phone is buzzing, Jensen,” she muses, looking at me with hooded eyes.

I clear my throat, blinking. “Right.”

Reluctantly, I pull it out of the back of my pocket, taking a step back but keeping my hand on her waist.

Bodi.

“Hey, mate,” I say, keeping my eyes focused on Rae.

She’s biting her lip, her back still pressed against the wall. Her blonde hair is now messy, the direct result of my fingers running through it in a demanding way.

“Where are you two at? I’m at the hotel. Let’s have a few drinks before we call it a night,” Bodi tells me.

“We’re downtown. We’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.”

“Alright, see you then.” I hang up the phone, then tug her against my chest again.

“That was Bodi. He’s at the hotel. He wants us to have drinks.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

I look at her, searching for any leftover distress showing on her face.

“Are we good?” I ask, not completely satisfied.

Just like us players, this girl can put on a serious game face, and I don’t want her to feel like shit with a fake smile. I want her to be real with me, and tell me what she needs.

“We’re good, babe.”

---