I’d take having him over that thing a thousand times over.
“I’m sure you measure up just fine.”
I don’t know what makes me say it, and I immediately regret it. Slowly, End turns to look down at me, something dark and hot passing over his eyes. He stares down at me, heat filling his gaze. It has my core clenching and throbbing, and a thrill coursing down my spine.
I open my mouth to correct myself. “I just mean, I’m sure you’re fine. I’m sure women enjoy you just fine. I mean, not that I would know. Because I don’t. And I don’t want to. I just mean not everyone wants that instead of the real thing.”
If it’s possible, his eyes grow a few shades darker, and his lips twist ruefully as he tries to hide his grin.
“No, wait. That came out wrong again. I’m not saying I want the real thing. From you. Or anyone, for that matter. But I’m not saying I don’t not want it either.”
When End raises his brows, and his smile breaks free, I slam my eyes shut and toss myself back on the grass again. “That’s not right either, is it? God. This is the most embarrassing day of my life.”
My heart lurches, and my stomach clenches with desire when I feel him shift. I don’t even need to open my eyes to know he’s leaning over me. I can feel his body heat and smell his scent. Something clean and minty mixed with something that is inherently End—all testosterone. My heart is pounding in my chest when I hear his question. He’s so close.
“And why is that?”
I peel my eyes open, not surprised to find him leaned toward me. He isn’t completely hovering over me, but he’s close enough that all it would take is for me to reach around his neck and pull his mouth down to mine. And I find that I want to do that more and more with each passing second I stare up at him. His eyes are a dark forest green right now as they take me in, moving from my eyes to my lips.
I find myself leaning up toward him slowly, hoping he’ll close the distance and kiss me. Like we’re drawn together, like two strings being tugged slowly, we grow closer until I feel his breath ghosting across my face.
“I think you know why,” I whisper. We’re so close, mere inches apart, all it would take is one small movement, and we’d be kissing. I feel the barest hint of his lips against mine, and I almost moan and fall into him. That is, until we hear the sound of loud voices. We jolt apart, just as some random teens come strolling over the hill. They pause when they see us. No doubt these assholes are the ones constantly making a mess out here.
“Aw, fuck. Let’s go, man,” they say to each other, going back the way they came. Endymion and I share a look. There’s a moment when we stare at each other doused in silence.
“I should probably go. It’s late,” I mutter, pushing up from the ground. If I’m not mistaken, he looks disappointed, but he still helps me stand, nonetheless.
“Want a ride?”
“I shouldn’t. We shouldn’t.”
He frowns. “You shouldn’t be walking alone out so late at night, either.”
I can tell he isn’t going to give in on this, so I acquiesce. “Okay, fine. Just a ride.” I start walking toward his truck when I hear him from behind me.
“Can’t forget this one.”
When I turn, my lips are thinned into a grim line. I roll my eyes, stomping toward him, and snatch the bag from him. “I’m going to kill Julia,” I mumble on the way to his truck.
The ride is mostly silent, a thick tension swirling in the confined space between us.
When he pulls to a stop at the curb, we both just sit there, not saying anything. That was too close tonight. I almost risked everything for one kiss. What the hell was I thinking? I have to be stronger. I can’t keep doing this.
“Thank you. For the ride. And the flowers. And just…thank you, Endymion.”
He smiles. It causes the corners of his beautiful, vibrant eyes to crinkle softly. “You don’t need to thank me. I’ll see you tomorrow, Selene.”
I pause with my hand gripped around the door handle. Unable to help it, I smile. “Right. Good night.”
“Good night, beautiful.”
Those words drip down from my pounding heart and settle somewhere low in my belly,