Page 17 of Chalk Outline

“What’s wrong?” He uses his soothing voice that eases my stiff body in seconds. “Talk to me. This is how you feel?” He thrusts his chin outward, drawing my attention to my drawing.

“This is how you feel,” I respond, locking our gaze again.

He swallows thickly, flicking his eyes between me and the drawing uncomfortably, as though I had exposed his secret.

“You’re trying so hard to push me away, but then you pull me back in when I’m drifting.”

He blinks.

Eyebrows twitch and pull together.

His jaw tightens.

“I can’t…” he stops, contemplating his next words and assessing my curious eyes. “I can’t do this.”

“Why not?”

His Adam’s apple bobs with a thick swallow. “Because I’m not here to entertain you, I’m here to watch over you.”

“You already do both,” I say, feeling him press against me slowly. “You’re the good guy and the bad guy in my story who denies me orgasms, so if you’re just here to watch over me, maybe you should stop getting closer. And maybe stop paying people to spill booze on random guys who hit on me.” My voice is low, smoky, and charged with desire.

I watch with amusement as his beautiful, taut features soften when he recalls what I’m talking about. Then, the tips of his mouth curl up into a mischievous grin.

“I know I’m your favorite villain. You can’t keep your eyes off me, can you? So easy to forget, but you’re already caught up in my web.”

“You’re not easy to forget. My eyes are blessed every time you walk by.” I stop my stupid mouth from rambling and nibble on my bottom lip.

I feel intoxicated by something I can’t quite describe when he’s this close. Through hooded eyes, I still capture a flame dancing in his blue pools.

“Oh yeah, that’s what I am to you?” He lifts my chin with his thumb while the rest brushes my throat. He probably feels my rapid pulse, knowing everything I say is a lie. Arching his brows, his eyes cut straight through me. “Am I turning you on, is that it?”

“It was just a slip, so don’t get too excited.” I gulp. “I’m horny if that wasn’t obvious, and you’re the only one my age that I’m allowed to be around.”

“So, do you fuck me in your dreams because you think I can make you feel good, or just when you masturbate?” His teeth bite the edge of his lip seductively. A burning sensation ignites my core, jolting through me quickly when he almost brushes our lips together. But he is just toying with me, never crossing the lines and always keeping me on the cliff’s edge. He moves to blow warm air on my cheek. Voice hot against my skin, “I will worship your body the way no other man ever would. After all, you’re mine.”

My body is buzzing, the temperature keeps climbing, and I’ve never been more flustered with him. But I wouldn’t let him have that sweet victory over me.

“Why are you blushing?”

“I’m not,” my voice is stoic.

“Liar. I bet your sweet ass blushes too.”

“Keep dreaming.”

“We’ll see who shifts in her sleep because she twists the sheets tightly when she dreams of me.”

Fuck it. He’s good.

“So confident. Is that your way of flirting?” I taunt.

A small curve forms at the corner of his lips. “No.”

“Keep denying it, but you tried to kiss me.”

His eyes darken. Voice drops. “Trust me, when I kiss you, you’ll feel it.”

Instinctively, my back arches. “Fishing for compliments, are we?”