Both of them were breathing hard when he yanked himself away, only this time she was the one who didn't want to meet his eyes.
Because, for the first time in her life, she cared too much.
And she was the one who was going to end up destroyed.
Love sucked.
Especially when it only went one way.
Especially when a little voice in her head told her there wasn't a chance in hell that Luke was ever going to return her feelings. If she were anyone else, if she was blonde and tall and arctic like all of his girlfriends had been, then maybe she would have a chance with him. But Luke Carson falling in love with Janica Ellis?
Freaking preposterous.
His eyes were dark, hard, shut down as he stared down at her. “I'll let you stay on one condition.”
Suddenly, it was hard to breathe. She wanted to stay so much. Too much.
“Tell me.”
“I want you naked.”
Despite the ache of her heart, despite the fact that he hadn't said one nice, one kind, one gentle thing to her so far, despite the fact that he hadn't apologized for leaving her apartment the night before without a goodbye, her body instantly reacted to his command.
Wasn't this exactly what she wanted? To be naked and sweaty with him again? After all, hadn't she spent her whole life chasing pleasure?
But for some reason, she couldn't just start ripping off her clothes as if she didn't have a care in the world.
Because she did care.
And because a little part of her heart actually felt like it was breaking. This time, entirely for herself.
He leaped on her hesitation. “Take off your clothes before I do it for you.” He paused, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “Or get the hell out.”
Hardly able to believe her fingers were trembling—when was the last time she felt this nervous, this unsure?—she reached for the hem of her top and pulled it over her head. He didn't try to help, didn't rip it off of her like he had the night before. Instead, he just stood there like a he had turned to heartless stone and watched her as she unbuttoned the top of her jeans, pulled the zipper down, and slid them down her legs.
Left in only a bra and panties, strangely, she felt shy.
“Everything off, Janica.”
She swallowed, shook her head. It wasn't that he hadn't seen her naked before, because obviously he had. It was that she'd suddenly realized something truly shocking.
More hot sex with Luke wasn't going to be enough.
Not for her.
Even if he was acting like sex was the only thing he wanted from her.
She had to know that at least a small part of his heart was involved first. And if it turned out that it wasn't, well then she was going to have to do the hardest thing imaginable—she was going to have to walk away from Luke. And his incredible lovemaking.
And any chance at all of a future togeth-
Damn it. She needed to stop doing that. Needed to stop imagining that there was even the slightest chance that he could fall for her.
Still, even if he was never going to fall in love with her, she couldn't have sex with him again if there wasn't a chance at their being friends after everything was over.
After this craziness had finally come to its inevitable end.
Her heart felt like someone had been kicking it with steel-toed boots as she said, “You don't like me.”