Page 7 of Provoke You

“You’re looking at me like you’ve never kissed a girl.”

“You still think this is a funny game. It isn’t a game, Ela.”

“Not everything in this life is do or die, Marine. Lighten up. And stop saying my name like you know me.” Her tone changed to a demanding one, sure and determined.

When her free hand came up to touch my face, I gripped it with my own. If she touched me, I didn’t know what I would do.

“You think you want me because I’m denying you. Just go home, and you’ll forget all about me by the time happy hour comes around.”

She frowned and glanced down. Why did it bother me that she didn’t remember our kiss? In a handful of minutes, she’d flipped my world upside down, unhinged something inside me, and today she had no recollection of any of it? I wanted her to remember. I wanted to show her how fucking good it’d been.

My breath came out in puffs and brushed a strand of hair against her cheek. The steam from her hot shower clung to my T-shirt, making my body temperature rise. Or maybe it was the heat radiating from her.

She snatched her hand away and shrugged as if she could take it or leave it. The look in her eyes told me my rejection hurt her. I couldn’t imagine someone who looked like her had ever heard the word no. I hated to be the one to make her feel this way, but it was for the best, for both of us.

“The buttons?” she asked again.

“I did it,” I confessed.

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