Page 98 of You Were Never Not Mine

I appreciate him asking. “I did all right.”

“I’m sure you did great.” He glances around the room, his gaze immediately returning to mine. “Where’s your roommate?”

“She’s in class.” And she won’t be back for a while. Tonight is when she goes to hot yoga.

His gaze shifts to my narrow bed, lingering there. “Should we get naked and cuddle?”

“I doubt any cuddling will be involved.” I laugh, but I can see from his expression that he’s deeply serious. “We don’t need to get naked.”

“We don’t?” He appears shocked.

“Not yet.” My smile is small and I reach out, hooking my finger around the belt loop of his jeans, pulling him even closer. “Come on.”

I let him go and turn away from him, tossing back the comforter before I climb into my tiny bed. August toes off his shoes before he joins me, his hands landing on my waist, readjusting me so I’m lying sprawled across his big, hot body. His hands settle on my ass, tugging me even closer to him and I can tell he already has an erection.

“This bed is fucking ridiculous,” he declares as he tries to get more comfortable, jostling me as I lie on top of him.

“I can’t help it that you’re a giant.”

His brows lift and I swear he looks pleased at my description. “You think I’m a giant?”

I ignore his question. “How tall are you anyway?”

“Six-two. Not that tall.” He shrugs one broad shoulder.

“You’re tall.” I scoot up so I can press my face against his neck and I breathe deep, inhaling his spicy cologne. “And you smell good.”

“What does that have to do with me hating your bed?” He removes one of his hands from my butt, tangling his fingers in my hair. “You sure you don’t want to get naked?”

“Only when you answer a few questions.” I pull back from his neck, noting the deep frown on his face. His brows are drawn together and that scowl would intimidate just about anyone. Save for me. “What are you doing here?”

“I told you. I missed you.”

“You could’ve texted me first.”

“Maybe I wanted to surprise you.”

“You don’t seem like the impulsive type.” He’s methodical. He likes to plan things and make sure everything is executed properly. Just the way he wants it.

“When it comes to you, all normalcy leaves me. I’ve become a different person.” His expression tells me he finds that…confusing.

Poor August. His life goes a little sideways thanks to me and he doesn’t know what to do about it. And while I would never admit this out loud, there’s something buried inside me that finds this reaction from him…

Satisfying. He made my life hell for months. He became my biggest enemy and what’s so wild is, he had no clue. I wasn’t memorable enough. That’s how callous he was. A part of him is still that way. Callous and rude and demanding. A complete and utter snob.

But from the look currently on his face and the way his hands wander all over my body like he can’t get enough of me—the man is obsessed. Withme.

I’m giddy over it.

All of my earlier insecurities evaporate just like that. This man looks tortured over me and I love it. The feeling is mutual.I’ve been trying to focus on school because I needed to but he always infiltrated my thoughts, and I felt unsure. When would I see him again? Would he want to see me again?

Apparently, the answer is a resounding yes.

“You look baffled.” I pat his chest, my hand resting over his wildly beating heart and again—it’s downright thrilling that I’m the one who can make him feel that way. React so strongly. The poor, clueless man.

He catches my hand before I can remove it, pressing his palm over mine and keeping it pinned there. “You want honesty or do you want me to lie?”

“That’s a crazy question, August.” He knows I don’t like liars.

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