Page 80 of Guarded Love

"Am I?"

"You are." I let my fingers trace the edge of his shirt collar. "You couldn't stand watching him touch me."

His grip on my waist tightens. "Willow."

"What? It's true, isn't it?" I tilt my head back to look at him fully. "You could've said something when he asked."

"I didn't think it was appropriate," he says.

I tilt my head. "But isn't the saying see something, say something? If you had, then I wouldn’t have danced with him. And that would’ve made you a good boy.”

I have no idea why those words came out of my mouth, but I don’t regret them for a second. Because it’s as if a light switch went off between us. Instead of answering, he spins me around so my back is pressed against his chest. His arms cage me in, hands splayed across my stomach as we move together to the rhythm. I can feel every line of his body against mine and there’s no place I would rather be.

"I tried to be good, but you just had to tempt me. Now I want to show him exactly who you belong to," he murmurs against my ear.

I know for a fact that these words are making me dizzy. "I don't belong to anyone."

"Don't you?" His lips brush against my neck, just below my ear. "Then why are you letting me hold you like this? Why aren't you pulling away?"

Because I can't. Because every rational thought has fled my brain, replaced by wanting to be held by him. My brother be damned. Because the careful walls I've built around my feelings for him are crumbling with every touch.

"This is dangerous," I whisper.

"I know." His arms tighten around me. "I don't care anymore."

25

BLAISE

Itake Willow’s hand and lead her off the dance floor without another word.

She follows, and to be honest, I’m surprised she does. However, tonight it different. It’s because neither of us want to pretend that this isn’t a thing anymore.

We push through the crowd and I don't bother checking to see if David's watching or if Madison's noticed we've left. Text messages can confirm who we’re with and we’re we’ve gone. My focus is only on getting Willow alone.

The moment we're outside the bar, I turn us down a narrow alley between two buildings. It's slightly quieter here and is dimly lit by a single streetlamp, making it less likely we’ll be spotted. Part of me is moving this fast because I don’t want to give her time to realize she’s supposed to be pissed at me for rejecting her years ago. Or to recall that we’re not supposed to be doing this.

With every step I take, the more my control slips. Damn the consequences at least for tonight. I need this. I need her. I need us alone. I’ve been pushed to the edge and this is what itfeels like to go over. I’m feeling slightly lightheaded already, and we’ve barely even started.

"Blaise—" she starts, but I cut her off.

"Do you have any idea what you've been doing to me? All day. Since we stepped foot in Puerto Rico?"

"What exactly have I been doing?" she asks, her voice breathless but defiant. She takes a step closer instead of backing away. "Tell me."

"You know damn well what. The way you looked at me in the rainforest. How you didn’t bother trying to cover up once you saw me staring at your tits through your shirt. Dancing with that asshole just to make me lose my mind."

"Maybe I want you to lose your mind. Maybe I'm tired of you pretending you don't want this."

"Pretending?" The word comes out as a growl. "You think any of this has been easy for me? Watching you, wanting you, knowing I can't have you?"

"Says who? Knox? Some rule you made up in your head?"

"Knox would kill me."

She looks around as if she’s trying to find something. "Knox isn't here." Her hand comes up to rest against my chest, right over my racing heart. "It's just us, Blaise."

The way she says my name is all it takes for the last thread of my restraint to snap in half. I move before I can think, before I can stop myself, before I can remember all the reasons this is a terrible idea. My hands frame her face, and I crash my mouth against hers like I’ll die if I don’t.