Page 215 of Red Zone
But then he leans just a little closer, his lips grazing my temple as he whispers?—
“As of yesterday, I’m not an athlete at PCU anymore.”
I freeze, my breath catching.
He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, his smirk faint but full of meaning.
“So, unless you’ve got another excuse, Princess, you’re out of reasons why I can’t kiss the shit out of you right now.”
The last of my walls crumble.
I blink up at him, his words still echoing in my head, my heart hammering so loud I swear he can hear it.
He’s right.
And the little smirk tugging at his lips—cocky and hopeful all at once—tells me he knows it too.
I tilt my head, narrowing my eyes at him just slightly, even though my chest feels like it’s about to burst.
“Well then,” I murmur, my voice low and teasing despite the way my pulse is screaming. “You wanna kiss me, Hayes?”
His smirk deepens instantly, his grip on my hips tightening just slightly.
“You know I do,” he says, his voice rough around the edges.
My lips twitch into the faintest grin, my heart finally giving in to what it’s wanted all along.
“Prove it,” I whisper.
Before the words are even fully out of my mouth?—
He does.
The second the words leave my lips, his hands slide up my back, one cupping the back of my neck as he closes the last inch between us.
His mouth captures mine, warm and insistent, and the world just disappears.
It’s not just a kiss.
It’s every unspoken word, every sleepless night, every second we’ve spent pretending we could stay away from each other.
His fingers tangle in my hair as he deepens it, and I can’t help the soft sound that escapes me.
He pulls me closer like he can’t get enough, like he’s been starving for this, for me.
And I kiss him back just as desperately, threading my fingers into his collar, clinging to him as if letting go isn’t even an option.
When he finally pulls back, just barely, his forehead rests against mine.
His lips are curved into the faintest smile, his voice low and wrecked when he whispers?—
“Been waiting a long time for that, Princess.”
I open my mouth to answer, but before I can, a voice from the patio door cuts through the haze.
“Well, it’s about damn time!”
We both freeze, whipping our heads toward the house to see Jaxon standing there with his arms crossed, grinning like an idiot. Madison’s peeking around him, her hands on her hips, her smile every bit as smug.
