Page 27 of Destined To Fall

“And me?”

My gaze drifts lazily down to sweep across his broad shoulders and down his firm chest. I still remember how it felt pressed up against mine. It was hard, unyielding, and rippled in all the right places. I’ve caught myself more than once since meeting him,wondering what he’s hiding underneath his well-fitted clothing.

Jeremy steps forward, the movement breaking my train of thought and forcing my gaze to his. A hint of a smirk plays at one corner of his enticing mouth.

“Are you done objectifying my body, or do you need another minute?”

“As much as I can with your clothes on,” I mumble, more to myself than to him.“And as if you weren’t molesting mine with your eyes at the charity thing last Thursday.”

He chuckles softly.“You noticed that, huh?”

“It was hard to miss.” It was all I could notice.“And as for you? You don’t look breakable.” Physically, at least.“But that’s yet to be determined.”

“Is that so? Well, I guess there’s only one thing to do about that.”

“Get you naked and take you for a test drive?” I ask in all seriousness.

“There’s that…” he says lazily, his tone one of calm indifference as he steps closer still. I, on the other hand, am anything but. I can feel my pulse everywhere.”But I have the distinct impression you’re the look-with-your-hands type.”

Hands…tongue…“I like to be thorough.”

“No inch left un-perused?”

I swallow. Hard. And nod.

He closes the little distance between us, and my heart stutters. His cheek a hairsbreadth from mine, he whispers in my ear,“No dice.”

Mouth. Agape.

God, the ass. I fling my legs over the side of my bed and stand with a thud. His laughter still rings in my head as I slam the alarm off and storm into my closet.

“It’s like waving chocolate cake in front of a diabetic,” he teases.

I push feebly at his chest.“Keys, jackass.”

Still chuckling, he says,“Go out with me.”

“No.”

“I’m not giving your keys back until you say yes.”

“Yes,” I say flatly, thrusting my hand out, palm up.

His eyes widen, and his smirk turnsintoa blinding grin as he lifts the keys to my hand.“Really? That was easier than I thought.”

I laugh out loud to myself as I throw on a sports bra, tank, and bike shorts. I guess he was just as gullible as I was.

“No, not really.” His face falls for a fraction of a second before he frowns, his fingers curling around the keys before I can take them.“Damn it, Jeremy, give me the keys.”

“That was mean.”

I shrug, fighting a sardonic grin.“Tit for tat, baby.” My gaze drops to his covered chest again.“Hmm, do you have any tattoos? I wouldn’t be opposed to trading skin for skin.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I roll my eyes again, hopping from foot to foot as I stumble with the uncoordinated grace of a gorilla, putting on my socks and running shoes before pulling a thin hoodie from a drawer. I grab my cell, armband, and headphones on the way out, slamming the front door locked behind me.

“I’d much rather find out for myself, but we’ve already established that’s off the table.”

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