Page 231 of Incompatible

It’s just me and him, the real we.

I tremble.

Waves of nerves, heat, cold… a shiver hits me so intensely I’ve never felt anything like it in my life. My hands are shaking, everything inside me is vibrating.

Bay…

My fucking fate, he’s so beautiful it almost kills me. The photos and videos just can’t fully capture this. His perfect face seen in person is even more flawless than when we parted, when he was eighteen.

More mature now, more masculine, sharper, but still without a single imperfect line, his beautiful mouth and his eyes framed by thick black eyeliner that makes him look even fiercer. His dark red hair falls in long, heavy strands halfway down his chest.

He looks like the sexiest man in the world, and I just fall apart because who am I, some creature from his past, a nobody.

But his eyes are still fixed on my face and it’s simply too much. Everything inside me cracks and crumbles like brittle clay.

Darkness drops and I pass out.

???

When I open my eyes I hear voices.

To my astonishment, I realize I’m in the provost’s office! What the hell?

Someone laid me on the small couch visitors often sit on when they come to meet him.

To my surprise I see that both Professor Alvarez and Malborn are talking to the dean, apparently neither of them has backed down.

My eyes move across the others in the room, and immediately I find those dark green eyes still fixed on me.

Bay stands about six feet away, facing me, watching me with the same intensity as before.

"Hello, Alex," he says in a voice so low and deep that another shiver runs through me. Holy shit, how is it possible his voice got even lower? It was already low when he was eighteen. And then twenty-two. High testosterone can do a lot.

"Hey…" I manage to utter, but it comes out painfully squeaky, like a little chick peeping, nothing like the sensual tone I was hoping for, and a sharp contrast to his sexy voice.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, probably low blood sugar, I didn’t eat much…"

"I’m going to grab something in town with the guys, maybe you’d like to join us…"

I stare at him. Impossible. Wow. Is he actually inviting me? Is this wise?

"We’re heading out in a moment."

What is he doing? Why is he offering this? We agreed long ago to stay far away from each other, so what is this?

My eyes meet his again as I try to read his energy. On the surface his face doesn’t show much, something like neutrality.

But there’s something in him. The only words I can find for it are: a gentle, warm energy that seems to spill from him toward me.

I love you.

I say it, but only in my head. I’ve lost my mind. I press my lips together. I’m probably imagining that energy.

Maybe he’s just being polite. Maybe he doesn’t want to walk out pretending we never meant anything to each other, maybe I should appreciate the gesture and his words.

"Thank you, maybe… I’ll join you in a moment," I force out in a strained voice.