“Okay.”
And then our mouths touched.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Lex
The contact was brief, almost like a whisper as my lips brushed hers, and then I retreated. I wasn’t going to make out with her just after she got attacked. Vulnerability didn’t look good on her. I hated it. She was strong. And when that armor cracked, it wounded me probably just as much as it hurt her.
“Have you eaten?” I blurted the first thing that came to my mind because if I didn’t say something, I’d kiss her again and wouldn’t stop there. I knew I had no self-control where she was concerned.
Because in that moment . . .
When she was getting attacked . . .
All I could think was . . . I’ve been waiting for this girl for four years, I sure as hell am not going to let anyone else touch what’s mine.
Four years.
I was done waiting.
Gabi’s big green eyes blinked back at me. Damn it, she was so beautiful it hurt to stare at her. “Actually, no.”
“Great.” I gently placed her back in the passenger seat. “Buckle up, Sunshine, I’m about to rock your world.”
“Hmm . . . I wonder how many girls you’ve said that to?”
“That line? Too cheesy. I saved it for you.”
“Touched.” She smirked, then reached for my hand. “And Lex?”
“Yeah?” I was shaking, but I squeezed her hand back.
“Tonight.” She licked her pink lips. “You were my hero.”
I had never realized how badly I wanted her to see me in that light—until that moment.
“I should probably get a cape now.” I nodded seriously. “You know, just in case.”
“Red.”
She didn’t release my hand, so I put the car into drive with my left and took off. “You don’t think black?”
“Black is too badass.”
“Are you saying I’m not badass enough?”
“Eh.” She made a dismissive motion with her free hand. “It’s your major.”
“Why is everyone hating on my major tonight?” I wondered aloud. “Did I or did I not just kick some dude’s ass?”
“He probably had a weak heart and a fake hip,” Gabs said seriously.
I nearly swerved off the road. “The hell he did! He was maybe fifty!”
She raised her hands in the air. “Whatever you say, Rocky.”
“Did you know the Rocky script was written in three days?” I turned toward my house, completely passing Gabs’s.
“Um?” She pointed.
“And”—I turned down my road—“also, the infamous running scene? Over eight hundred school kids used as extras.” I stopped in front of my house and turned off the car.
“Fascinating,” Gabs said in a dry tone. “Also, we’re at your house?”
“Yup.” I unbuckled my seat belt and then hers, and when she opened her mouth again, I silenced her with my lips.
“O-o-okay,” she stuttered out when I released her.
“Okay,” I whispered back, letting out a heavy sigh as she slowly opened her car door.
I followed her closely, my hands brushing her hips every few seconds, unable to keep myself away. Damn it, I was supposed to be staying away, not pulling her close.
Gabs suddenly stopped and I collided with her ass, nearly sending her sailing into the sidewalk.
“You need a warning button or something,” I grumbled, placing my hands on her shoulders. “Suddenly scared of doorsteps, or what?”
“Yes.” Her body tensed. “More like I’m scared of what it means.”
“Nothing. It doesn’t have to mean anything.” I stepped around her and grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the door. “Or it could mean everything.” Scary, how much I ached for it to mean everything.
Gabi’s lips were swollen from my kisses even though I thought I’d been gentle; maybe it was a combination of her crying against me and my mouth pressed against hers. Regardless, she was gorgeous standing there blanketed in moonlight.
“Come on.” I held out my hand. “It’s just food.”
“At your house.” Gabs arched an eyebrow while the corner of her mouth twitched. “Don’t you guys have a ‘no girls allowed’ rule at night?”
“Why yes, yes we do.” I smiled wide. “But last I checked, you were a dude, so . . .”
“Ass.” Gabs smacked me in the shoulder, shoved me to the side, and walked in, giving me a sideways glance before tossing her shoes off and dumping them near the neat little basket we kept by the door. I was surprised and a little stunned at my own raw reaction to seeing her feet, like she’d just flashed me boob instead of toe.
“See? Easy,” I said behind her.
“Trickery,” she grumbled, then made her way into the kitchen and sat at the barstool. “Okay, feed me.”
I held up