Page 83 of When Hearts Awaken

I exhale.Completely reasonable explanation, Taylor. Not everyone is bad. Don’t overreact.

“So tell me, what do you do?” He leans in, clearly interested.

We make some small talk, and slowly I relax again. He hasn’t made advances toward me, but only talks about how he wants to visit New York City and try the pizza there. We have a few rounds of drinks—my nonalcoholic cocktails I got for myself.

I find myself laughing more than I usually do with strangers as excitement simmers inside me. Not because I’m attracted to him, but because I feel fine. This is what a twenty-something-year-old girl should be doing—going out, meeting new people, having fun.

Not being afraid of life.

Jan downs a shot and cracks another joke. They’re getting more horrible by the minute.

“Okay, get this. I have a friend in the city who’s good at chess. Do you know what I call him?”

My lips twitch as I shake my head. This is so ridiculous.

“He’s my Czech mate.” Jan busts out laughing and pounds the bar top and I snicker, because his smile is infectious. His phone rings and he holds up a finger. “Excuse me, I have to get this. Save me the seat, okay?”

I nod, and he heads toward the entrance. Bopping my head to the music, I let out a satisfied sigh, thankful I’m relaxed and relieved at how my panic hasn’t appeared tonight.

Suddenly, I feel someone’s gaze drilling into my back and my pulse speeds up.

I know it’s him before he whispers seconds later, “Him, really? Why?”

My heart lodges in my throat as I drag my gaze to Charles, who looks like he hurried here from wherever he came from, his golden hair slightly unkempt, tie loosened around his neck. My core clenches—he looks so good—a virile fallen angel.

His jaw tics as he stares at me with his stormy eyes.

The peace and calm I felt in Jan’s presence are completely obliterated by the turbulent heat emanating from the alpha male towering over me. Every atom in my body thrums and vibrates as I fight an impulse to touch him—the enticing scruff on his jaw, the vein protruding on his forehead. Then I want him to hold me in his arms as I listen to his thudding heartbeat.

This is why I can’t do this with him. My emotions are too involved.

“You disgust me. I-I just can’t be with you. I can’t forget. I just can’t,”Camden’s voice whispers in my mind and I inwardly flinch.

He loved me too. And I liked him a lot. Look how that turned out.

“Why him, Taylor? Why do you trust him more than me?” Charles’s raspy voice draws me back to him. His breath hitches, his voice pained. My heart throbs in my chest, desperate to throw myself against him.

I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.

If Camden could hurt me so much, imagine what Charles could do.

I swallow a few sips of my drink. “We were just chatting, Charles.”

“He’s into you. Even the blind could see that. He was all over you and you were—” He stops himself, his voice hitching.

“What are you talking about?” I shrug nonchalantly.

A chill befalls his features and a muscle tics in his jaw.

“I see.” His voice is quiet—too quiet. “I told myself to be patient. I knew you were scared because of what happened to you in the past. I was ready to wait for you because I knew you felt the connection between us, but I guess,” he scoffs, “I’m just stupid for thinking a self-professed badass would come to her senses.”

Fuck, the man always knows exactly what to say to rile me up. Ignoring the twinge of guilt inside me, I narrow my eyes. “Or maybe you aren’t as memorable as you think you are. Don’t think so highly of yourself.”

Charles’s eyes flash, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Oh yeah? Well, I bet he can’t make you feel this way.” He leans in, his breath ghosting over my neck, and I bite my lip to keep from moaning and leaning into him.

He rasps, “Your breathing is fast. I see the goosebumps on your neck. Your eyes are dilated. And I bet if I were to slip my fingers between your legs, you’d be soaking wet.”

My pussy pulses at his erotic words. His sexy cologne wafts to my nose, and all my senses heighten in awareness.

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