Page 61

He doesn’t like her coming home late, especially when her ‘I’m at the library’ statements don’t hold water. She’s not truthful about where she spends her time; with him, or with me, for that matter.
The library closes at midnight.
Where is she during those extra hours? And what is she doing? She better not be with Professor Douchebag Scott.
I can only hope she and Zeb find their way to each other.
As for me?
My stomach twists when Zeb greets the visitor with the familiarity of longtime friends.
I hastily pull on my clothes while trying to quell the palpitations of my heart. I peek out into the hall, my thoughts spinning into a frenzy.
Could it be?
Did Alec come back to me?
Alec’s deep voice vibrates the air. My heart stops when I make out his formidable frame standing in the doorway.
He looks different somehow—more confident, more sure of himself—but his eyes are still the same piercing blue that captivated me from the beginning. My lungs constrict, and I can’t seem to find my voice.
Then I pause, reminding myself I pulled away from Alec. For various reasons, none of which I can remember right now, I ended things.
The ugly truth is, I miss Alec.
I miss him more than I can say.
I try to calm my racing thoughts, reminding myself, I’m a strong, independent woman, who doesn’t need a man.
Except, this is Alec.
I need him like I need air to breathe, and I don’t understand it. I don’t like it.
As I rush into the hall, his penetrating gaze pins me in place. A mixture of excitement and apprehension surges through me when his jaw clenches in anger.
“Zeb…” Alec doesn’t break eye contact as he speaks to his friend. “Give us the room.”
He doesn’t ask. Just issues a command. Zeb takes the hint and excuses himself, heading back down the hall to Kaye’s and my bedroom.
Alec doesn’t utter a sound. Instead, he bares down on me. I suck in a breath, and then yelp, when he takes my wrist in a firm grip and yanks me off my feet.
“What the hell…”
“Not here.” With practiced familiarity, Alec leads me downstairs.
My heart constricts as memories flood back—every sweet moment we shared together, every kiss and embrace, every whispered promise of forever—it all rushes over me in a wave of bittersweet longing.
“Alec, wait…” I pull back from him when we enter the makeshift gym the girls and I created out of the previous owner’s garage.
“Not a fucking word.” His grip on my wrist tightens as he pulls me through the gym and toward the meditation room beyond.
A room I soundproofed against the intrusive sounds of the city outside and the occupants inside.
He’s taking me to a place where no one can hear whatever it is he wants to say.
Alec pushes on the door to my sanctuary, the place where the outside world ceases to exist, and drags me inside. The moment I’m there, he spins me around and pushes me against the wall, face first.
The sudden impact of his body against mine makes me gasp in surprise. He leans in hard, molding his frame to the contours of my own as he bends over and nuzzles the line that runs from my ear to the nape of my neck. A tingle shoots through me as his hot breath caresses my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.