Page 109 of Close

“Not a chance, princess. It’s not every day a girl socks me in the jaw and steals my heart.”

“Steals your heart?” Her fingers splay across my chest, directly over the organ in question.

Fuck it. There’s no taking it back now. And I don’t want to. “Yeah, you did.” I cover her hand with mine. “I mean it, Lil. This. Us. It’s not just physical for me. It never was.”

“Same.” She smiles up at me, and it’s the most beautiful thing.

I capture her mouth in a kiss, pouring every ounce of emotion into it. She responds with equal need, her body molding to mine.

“Now I really have to go,” she murmurs after a while but makes no move to leave.

“Fine, I’ll see you soon.” Reluctantly, I release her, and she rises from the bed. “Lil?”

“Yeah?”

“Nice ass.”

She laughs, putting that damn bunny costume back on. Fuck, the way it hugs her curves, teasing me with glimpses of her creamy skin. I’m half tempted to rip it right off her again.

But I stay put, lounging on the bed as she approaches. There’s a shyness to her movements that wasn’t there last night. A pretty deeper shade of pink colors her cheeks, and her gaze rakes over me. Progress.

She leans down and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Run before I drag you back into bed.”

She giggles and heads out the door, leaving me alone in the tangle of sheets that still carry her scent.

The room is cold and empty without her.

I flop back on the bed with a groan.

Fuck. What am I doing? This girl isn’t some conquest. She’s… everything. And I’m lying to her with every breath.

I drag a hand down my face. I need to come clean, but the thought of losing her… I can’t. Not yet.

By the time I make my way downstairs, I find Gemma and Lil in the kitchen, chatting over mugs of coffee and toast.

At the sight of me, Lil averts her gaze.

“Morning.” I take a seat across from them.

“Morning,” both of them say.

“Did you sleep well?” My sister’s eyes hold a knowing glint, but I elect to ignore it.

I pour myself some coffee. “Very well.”

“Morning, everyone!” My mother walks in, greeting us brightly. “Everyone slept well?”

“Yes,” Gemma says.

Lil nods.

“Wonderful!” My mother fills a bottle with water. “Well, I’m off to tennis. Don’t wait up for me, and I wish you a safe trip back to college.” She turns to me. “Oh, your father wants to speak with you before you leave.”

I sigh, resigned. “Yeah, I’ll go see what he wants.”

“Good. Have a safe trip home!” She kisses each of us on the cheek before leaving.

---