Page 130 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

“Miss Blakely’s still got it,” Blake says as she catches her breath. “Everyone take a victory lap so I can have a little chat with my friend.”

Friend.

I’ll take it.

The kids take off at a sprint while the volunteers give us a wide berth, leaving us alone, and I savor the moment, hoping it won’t be our last.

With her hands cupped behind her head, Blake stays quiet and catches her breath.

In. Hold. Out. Hold.

I can’t help but picture her naked as she pants, her skin still glistening with sweat. I’ve experienced it firsthand. The way her tits fit perfectly in my palm. The way her strong legs feel around my waist. The way she felt breathing against my neck as she came around me. Sometimes I feel like it was a lifetime ago. And then there are moments like this, when I swear I can still feel her.

“You cheated,” she pants, snapping me back to reality.

I laugh and push myself to a seated position, propping myself up with my hands behind me and my legs stretched in front of us. “No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did!” she argues, taking another deep breath. “You’ve been practicing.”

“Practicing isn’t cheating.”

“It’s withholding information. Same thing.” She glares at me, but there’s amusement too. Pride. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

I shrug off the thought and argue, “I don’t know why you’re complaining. You still won.”

“Yeah, but you made me work for it. Not cool.” Her lips purse, barely hiding the smile I know is simmering right beneath the surface.

I take in the slight crinkles at the corners of her green eyes showcasing her sense of humor and the way her mouth is tilted up into a smile. She looks so carefree. So perfect.

“I always said you needed someone who could push you,” I remind her.

She gives me the side-eye and mutters, “Didn’t think you’d take the responsibility on yourself.”

“I’ve always taken that responsibility on.” I reach for her hand and rub my thumb against the back of it. When she doesn’t pull away, I inch closer. “Let me pick you up at eight o’clock tonight, Blake.”

“You lost, remember?” She tilts her face up toward the cloudless sky, and her amusement slips into something more somber. More guarded. She isn’t staring up at the sky because she finds it mesmerizing or beautiful. It’s because she’s avoiding me. I can feel it. And I hate it. The space I put between us.

“Throw me a bone,” I beg. “Let me make it up to you for being an ass. Please?”

She turns and faces me again, a cloud of vulnerability and indecision tainting her emerald gaze. It reminds me of the night we slept together. The night I crossed a line and ruined our brittle friendship, even though she begged me to. The trust she wants to give that she’s holding back out of fear.

I put the fear there. I hurt her.

Fuck, I hurt her, and I’d do anything to take it back.

“Baby, I’m sorry,” I rasp, scooting closer and tilting her head until I have her full attention. Until she can’t turn away from me. Not anymore.

Peeking up at me, the pain clear in her eyes, she whispers, “I can’t be hurt by you again.”

“I won’t hurt you, Blake.”

“Promise?”

My chest aches, and I brush away the strands of hair sticking to the side of her cheek. “Yeah. I promise.”

“Okay.” Her gaze drops to my lips before she sits up, tangles her fingers in the hair at the nape of my neck, and tugs me closer to her as she falls back onto the grass. “You should kiss me now.”

I chuckle but follow her lead, balancing on my elbows to keep from crushing her as we lay on the grass. “I thought you’d never ask.”

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