Page 25 of Hear Me Roar

“Yourfault.”

“Who cares? I love it,” I murmured, en route to herlips.

“And I love you,” she purred, cinching her arms around myneck.

I hummed as our lips fused like two magnets, inhibiting me from expressing how much I fucking loved her too. But I didn’t have to. It was all in our kiss. Soft, leisurely, intimate. We were so in tune, words weren't necessary. Gentle fingers tunneled through my hair, pulling me closer, almost as if she couldn’t get close enough, and at this point, I didn’t think we ever could. There was always that urgency formore.

More.All the damntime.

Likenow.

With a swift tap to her hip, she obliged to my silent demand, rolling over onto her knees. Hugging my pillow beneath her, she arched herself on display. And what a delicious display it was. Brown eyes danced playfully beneath wayward curls that fell in her face, luring me toward her with renewed purpose. Blanketing her with my body once more, I sunk my teeth into her shoulder and ran a hand down her smooth stomach, in search of herclit.

But then the moment wasruined.

Unexpected and incessant, Hazel’s phone began rattling on the nightstand. We both moaned in annoyance, the high that consumed us briskly falling away with each vibrational pattern. Begrudgingly – and with an audible huff – my girl reached an arm out and retrieved the offending source, glancing at thescreen.

“Who the fuck is calling from New York at thishour?”

“I don’t know, answer it,” I suggested, falling back onto myknees.

Accepting the call, she lifted it to her ear. “Hello… Speaking. Who'sthis?”

Her eyes widened and my heart stopped alittle.

“What? Who is it,” I mouthedsilently.

“Maya,” she mouthedback.

Holy.Shit.

Holy shit, indeed. Shit was, in fact, about to get very,veryreal.

Nothing but silencefollowed her name. I didn’t know what to say. Even Knox was speechless, his blue eyes wide as he processed what I'd just shared with him. When I told Karley that Maya could call if the situation were dire, I didn’t think she’d ever call, especially after me denying initialcontact.

“Hello, Hazel? Are youthere?”

“What, yes, yes. I’m sorry, I’mjust…”

“Surprised?” Her voice was soft. “I know. I am too, but here we are. Rather than sit here and make this more awkward than it already is, I’m just going to come out with it. If you’ll hear me out, thatis.”

“Goon…”

I need your help,” she’s blurtedout.

“My help? With what?” I asked, thoroughly confused, setting the phone onspeaker.

“Saving my life,” shedeadpanned.

What. The.Fuck.

Knox and I shared a horrifiedlook.

“What do you mean, saving yourlife?”

“It’s my husband, Hazel. He’s exactly the man my dad warned me about. I should’ve listened and gotten myself out of this mess way sooner, but now it’s too late and I'mstuck.”

“Does he hurt you?” My question came out much softer thananticipated.

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