Page 90 of Reverse

“Easton,” I admonish with a sigh.

“Beauty,” he fires back, unphased, continually running his fingers down my cheek. “I’m not letting this go,yet, so if you’re going to let me down, you’ll have to do it gently over the weekend.” His eyes trail his fingers as he caresses me, “Because we really don’t have time to argue.”

“I’m supposed to be having dinner with my parents later.”

“Well, you’ll be dining on peanut butter and jelly in a van that smells like blue cheese instead.”

I can’t help smiling. “You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet.”

He leans in. “I’m planning on doing my fucking best.”

“Easton,” I smack his chest playfully. “You’re putting me in the worst imaginable position.”

“Seriously, you’re killing me with the easy puns. Clock’s ticking,” he taunts, running his fingertips up and down the bare skin of my arms. “It’s hot as fuck here,” he glances around curiously as if just now seeing my corner of the world.

“This is so unfair. This is entrapment.”

“Come on,” he urges gently, “just this weekend. I’ll have you tucked in by Sunday at midnight.”

“If I go, there will be no tucking in.”

“Uh huh.”

“And this is a really, really bad idea.”

“Senseless and reckless,” he murmurs heatedly, bringing it all back so effortlessly, “socome.”

“If I do come, Iwillbe turning you down gently.”

He replies on exhale. “I have a feeling you’ll try.”

“I’llsucceed, but I’m dying to see you play.”

Victory flits through his eyes. “I’ll give you the best seat in the house, baby.”

“Uh huh, after I travel for hours in a van full of sweaty men.”

“Five hours, six tops, depending on traffic, and I’m so fucking pissed at you right now,” he repeats, his eyes flaring, “so expect a fight.”

Before I can speak up, a horn blares obnoxiously a street over, and Easton chuckles, glancing in that direction before turning back to me. He looks so beautiful. His hair is longer, his skin darker, seeming drenched from the summer sun, which beams down on him as it lowers in the skyline.

“Natalie,” he murmurs, pulling my chin by his fingers back toward him. “I really just want to talk to you, so please don’t force me to play dirty because I have time to kill between gigs, and if you don’t get,” he bites his lip, “your perfect ass in my van, I’m going to bend you over Monday morning and bite it right in front of your daddy.Bet.”

I gape at him. “You did not just threaten me.”

“Yeah, I did, and don’t look at me like that. It’s par for the course, but don’t mistake me. I’m just A-sided enough to make good on mine.”

“This is serious,” I snap.

“You’ve made me painfully aware, Beauty,” he runs his hands down my back and presses his forehead to mine.

“Jesus,” I sigh, sinking into his hold.

“Easton,” he corrects, pointing to himself.

My grin wins again. “Stop being so . . .”

“Irresistible?”

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