off to?” Caspian said around a mouthful of cinnamon-maple scone. He and Maxim had practically teleported to my apartment after I’d let Caz know I’d made a batch of his favorite treat.
Maxim was polishing off his third scone when I walked past the kitchen to grab my purse. He stood up from where he’d been leaning against the kitchen counter, the brutes eating the scones straight off the hot cookie sheet. He cocked a brow at me, and my cheeks heated from the way he surveyed my outfit.
“Out,” I said, giving both of them a shrug.
Maxim narrowed his gaze, the usual firm line of his lips pursing just slightly. “Have a hot date?” he asked, and his normal teasing tone bordered on…what? Worry? Had Caz totally ensnared him in the whole protect London at all costs moto? With the jersey and the way he was looking at me now…
Nope. Not going there. There was no way in hell Maxim freaking Zolotov was interested in me in that way. I was letting Langley and Persephone’s comments slip into my mind too much. And I hated the idea that if they were right…if he was taking an interest, then our friendship would be ruined. Because I adored him as a friend, but I had no interest in more.
“None of your business,” I said a little playfully as I thought about how Jansen and I had gone through the same discussion weeks prior.
My heart did a little hiccup at the knowledge that I’d be seeing him in less than an hour. It wasn’t a date, I knew that, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t put a bit more effort into my appearance tonight. With his kiss still searing my thoughts every second of the day, and even worse at night, I figured it couldn’t hurt to play up my features. Sleek black pencil pants that hugged my curves and a breezy white silk blouse that may have shown off more cleavage than I had in…forever. Savannah’s suggestion, and for once, I was taking it. Usually, I stuck to more casual clothing, not even a thought in my mind on gaining a man’s attention.
But Jansen?
That kiss, his smirk, the way he could get under my skin and make me laugh within the same breath? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want him to see me.
“You have a date?” Caz met me halfway to the door, cinnamon scone crumbs trailing behind him. I sighed but ignored the mess.
“Yes,” I said, my tone pure snark.
“With who?”
“Oh, a few guys,” I said. “You wouldn’t know them. They’re all football players.”
Maxim suppressed a grunt, and I think that may have been the first time I’d ever seen him come close to laughing.
Caz, on the other hand, was not amused. “London—”
“Save it, big brother,” I cut him off, patting his chest. “You know I’m joking.” I reached for the door, rolling my eyes at the way his shoulders loosened. “They’re actually hockey players,” I called as I hurried out the door.
Caspian’s grunt of disapproval sounded through the closed door, and I couldn’t help but laugh at how easy he was to rile up. Served him right for always threatening to slaughter any guy I ever dated who didn’t live up to his expectations of who was worthy of me—which landed somewhere between being a Greek God or a sparkly vampire. An impossible hero who could protect and shelter his weak and helpless baby sister.
Quite frankly, I’d prefer a fallen angel who’d shred me apart in the most delicious way, but then again, maybe I’d been reading too much paranormal romance.
With fantasies on the brain, I headed to where Sterling had suggested we meet, my heart racing from just the knowledge that I’d see him soon. I couldn’t deny the excitement or the tiny hint of fear at whatever he had planned.
Not fear of him, of course. But fear itself. Panic. The ice-cold things that took hold of my lungs and my mind whenever I was put in a confined situation.
And right beneath all that, it was…something that quite possibly could be stronger than my fear.
Desire.
Something I never thought I’d have a remote problem with after my horribly awkward and sole sexual encounter. A cold shiver wracked my body just thinking about that ten minutes.
I shook my head, forcing the memory away, and went ahead and let that desire unfurl in the pit of my stomach. I mean, no one could really blame me, right? Jansen Sterling was