lurches, and my throat closes when I feel his lips near my ear. With his front pressed to my back, his heat, his smell, I have to hold my breath and trap my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to hold in the moan that’s dying to escape.
“Okay, this is our last chance to end them. You ready?”
My stomach dips. My eyes flutter closed, and I don’t realize I’m doing it until I hear his sharp inhale. I realize I’m fully leaned against him, making him take the brunt of all my weight.
Slowly, I shift in his arms, craning my neck to look back at him. My eyes zero in on his lips, and I lick my own, dying to know what it would be like now. Would it be as good as it was years ago?
Would I still feel all the same things I felt then?
My heart knows that answer better than anyone.
That string between us tugs us closer. He’s staring at me with eyes that possess a shade of green that I’ve never seen on him. They’re filled with heat and desire. Slowly, we both inch forward, and he searches my gaze. I can feel his unspoken questions.
“Are you sure?”
“Should I stop?”
I don’t say yes.
But I also don’t say no.
Because even though I know this a disaster in the making, I want him. I want him like I want the stars and the moon. I’ve wanted him for thirteen years. That’s not going to change just because I spent years away from him. If anything, I feel more drawn to him now than I ever have before.
“Are you two going to take your turn or what?”
I jolt away from End, my gaze swinging toward Julia. She has her brows raised, clearly impatient with how long we’re taking. She may not realize it, but she just saved me from making a huge mistake. She unknowingly just cut through what would’ve surely been another fall down the rabbit hole for me.
What is it about this man that makes me act so irrationally?
I adjust my stick with jerky movements and hurry up and hit the ball. Without even trying, I sink the eight ball, and everyone eyes me.
Figures, doesn’t it?
“It’s getting late,” I announce to the table, hoping Julia will get the hint that I need her to give me a ride. If I stay here with Endymion any longer, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep myself in check. I cannot let this happen.
“I can give you a ride back if you want,” End offers.
Julia hoots, tossing her arms in the air. She’s obviously too buzzed to drive me anyway. “Look at that! Perfect. You can catch a ride with End, and I’ll catch one with Griffin, if you know what I mean,” she says in a loud whisper that everyone hears. She does this twitchy thing with her eye. I think she’s trying to wink at me, but honestly, I can’t be too sure. She could just have an eyelash stuck in her eye. Because that’s exactly what it looks like.
My lids slam shut.
You can do this.
Just a few more minutes.
You can hold it together that long.
Inhaling a breath for strength, I turn and face End, giving him a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. It’s filled with nerves.
“Thank you.”
The walk out to his truck is quiet and filled with tension. Like the gentleman he is, he helps me into the passenger seat. He places one of his hands along my waist, giving me a boost of sorts. I feel the heat of his hand burn through my clothes, branding my skin with his touch. It has my body breaking out in gooseflesh, just from one touch alone.
My eyes flutter closed, and I drop my head back onto the leather headrest, trying to pull myself together. But in doing so, my senses home in on End. The truck smells like him: a minty, clean scent with a hint of sage and something woodsy. It wafts in the confined space, infiltrating my senses.
My eyes fling open when he hops in. I try to keep my gaze trained on the dashboard. Anything to avoid looking at him. He starts the truck and pulls out of the parking lot, letting me get lost in my own thoughts.
The ride is quick, but I’m still antsy. I keep shifting on the leather, crossing and uncrossing my legs. It doesn’t help that my feet are throbbing. It’s been far too long since