Page 80 of Red Zone
“You say that like it’s not my full personality.”
“I say that because itisyour full personality.”
I lean back on one elbow, facing her more than the screen now. “You’re one to talk, Red. You’ve got enough attitude to start your own rebellion.”
She smirks, unbothered. “And yet, you keep spending time with me. Wonder why that is?”
I glance down at where her thigh is pressed lightly against mine. “Maybe I like living dangerously.”
Her eyes flick toward mine, and the air changes. We both feel the shift but neither of us wants to name it yet.
She leans over to grab her drink, and her hoodie slides off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin and a thin strap of whatever tank she’s wearing underneath.
I look.
She notices but doesn’t fix it.
Instead, she reaches down, taking it off completely. My jaw might be on the floor.
She’s in a cropped black tank, showing off a bit of skin between where it ends above her belly button and the shorts she’s wearing.
“You’re staring,” she says, amused.
“You wore that and didn’t expect me to stare?”
She shrugs, sipping her soda. “Maybe I was just hot.”
“Oh, you are,” I say without missing a beat. “That wasn’t in question.”
She laughs, but this time it’s quieter. More breath than sound. She shifts a little closer. Doesn’t move away when my thigh lines up with hers again.
My hand’s still resting between us, fingers curled loosely on the comforter.
She glances at it, then back at me.
“You’re thinking something,” she says.
“Dangerous assumption.”
“You’ve got the face.”
“Well, I’ve only got one.”
“The one where you’re either about to make a joke or do something stupid.”
I grin. “Why not both?”
She raises an eyebrow. “What are you gonna do, Hayes?”
I drag my thumb slowly across the edge of the blanket between us. “I haven’t decided yet.”
But I know what I want to do.
Want to lean in. Want to kiss that smirk right off her face. Want to see if that sharp tongue of hers goes quiet when I put my mouth on hers.
Her gaze flicks to my mouth—and that’s all it takes for me to toss every single reason for being a gentleman out the window.
Fuck it.
