and I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to chase away the cold. “That wasn't my first kiss, Maddox. And I despise you because you did it without my permission. That... was unacceptable.”
He rubbed his cheek with his thumb and shook his head, still grinning. “Goddamn it. You've got a lot of rules.”
My lips curled. “And I guess, you’re one who hates rules?”
Maddox flashed me a wicked smile. “I break 'em, Lila. I love to break rules.”
“It makes you feel extra manly?” I taunted.
“No. It makes me feel alive.” His confession made me still, and I stared up at him, watching his expression for any lies, but all I saw was sincerity.
For a moment, Maddox’s pained face flashed through my brain: outside in the cold, sitting on that bench, looking so lost. I didn’t want to admit it before, but there was something about Maddox that really intrigued me.
I couldn’t forget that look on his face, it was tattooed in my memories. Maddox Coulter was more than Berkshire’s star quarterback. He was a complicated puzzle, and I wanted to tear him apart, layer by layer, so I could study him, delve into his soul and learn all his secrets.
A gust of wind breezed past us, and I quickly patted my hair down. This time, I couldn’t hold back the involuntarily shudder that racked through me. Maddox took notice, and he frowned, his eyebrows pinching together. “Why don't you have a proper jacket on?”
I hugged myself, rubbing my hands up and down my arms. “I didn't think it was going to be this cold. I thought the sweater would be enough.”
Before I could finish my sentence, and before I knew what was happening, he shrugged off his jacket and pushed it toward me.
I eyed the jacket, suspiciously. “What are you doing?”
Maddox circled my wrist with his finger and dragged me closer. He placed the jacket over my shoulders and gave me a pointed look, his face hard, until I succumbed and placed my arms through the sleeves. “Keeping you warm. I'm a man, Lila. I know you don't like me and think I'm an absolute asshole.”
His lips twitched when I scoffed. “Fine, I'm an asshole sometimes."
I gave him the look. Are you serious?
"Okay, all the time. But I still know how to treat a lady right.”
Treat a lady right? What a joke.
But still… my heart warmed. His scent was still heavy on the jacket, and I chewed on my lip when I noticed how good the smell of him was.
Maddox buttoned up the jacket for me and tugged the collar higher and closer, so my neck was covered. “There. Cozy enough?”
My lips parted, but I didn’t know how to answer, so I only gave him a tiny nod.
He pulled back and looked me up and down, a frown appearing on his face. “Jesus Christ. You’re so tiny.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
I expected another joke coming from his lips. Instead, he looked tense and his brows were curled with a frown. “Are you sure it's safe for you to be out here like this, so late?”
Huffing in response, I rolled my eyes again. As if he cared. “I don't need a knight in shining armor. I can take care of myself.”
His blue eyes were so bright and vivid under the moonlight. It was tempting to get lost in them. But when he opened his mouth, he squashed down all the effects he had on me. “I'm not going to be your Knight because I know you aren't a damsel in distress. You’re more like the dragon in the fairy tale.”
My lips curled and against my better judgement, I found myself smirking. “If I could fry you right now, I would.”
It was easy to get lost in the easygoing expression on his face What were we arguing about before? Shit, I got sidetracked.
His devious grin was back, but there was something… pleasing about it. He was mocking me like before, being a bully, but this was a war with no venom. “I bet I'd taste good as an omelet.”
“Do you always have a reply to everything?” I asked, not expecting a particular reply since I already knew the answer.
Now, he was smirking like the devil. As if he had won this round. “Were you born this sassy or do I bring the sass outta you?”
I blinked, my brain stuttering at his question.
I was petty, yes. I never backed down without a fight, yes. But this newfound sass…