Page 61 of Revere

He huffs out a breath. “Far from it.”

His tone has me believing him, which means I should probably take him up on his offer to run. But for whatever reason, I want to trust him.

“I don’t want you to take me to my apartment.” I wet my lips, being completely honest and vulnerable. “I’d rather sleep in your bed.”

The growl that rumbles in his chest is animalistic. It sets my body on fire. And when the elevator comes to a stop and he backs up a step, my body is a magnet that moves with him down the hall.

Jacob takes my hand, and I don’t stop watching him until he finally pauses at a door that is too familiar.

“You live in the apartment across the hall from me?”

Jacob shrugs, turning the key to unlock his door. “Do I?”

His question sounds more teasing than anything, like he already knew that. And it makes me wonder what else he knows about me.

How well do I really know Jacob Gray?

21

NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW

PATIENCE

Jacob’s apartmentis three times the size of the one I share with Kole and Violet. Sleek gray furniture is paired with green accents, and everything is in its place. If it’s possible for a room to feel like a person, Jacob’s entire apartment embodies him.

It’s sophisticated.

Orderly.

Comfortable.

And the view of LA from his side of the building is stunning.

“It’s a whole other world up here.” I stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“On this side of the building?”

“On this part of the West Coast. I’ve spent so many years in Bristal, I forgot how much exists outside of it.”

Jacob stops at my side with his hands in his pockets, but he’s watching me instead of the view. My skin tingles with anticipation, and even if he’s touched me before, this is new territory. This is just us.

No threat of anyone walking in.

No avoiding the fact that I put myself here by choice.

I look up into the eyes of the man I wish wasn’t my professor, because it would make this a heck of a lot less complicated, and try to focus on the man I met on the plane instead.

The day we met, he caught me in more ways than he realizes. I’ve been falling for years, not trusting the hands that reached out.

Until now.

I turn and walk toward the kitchen. “Do you have any water?”

“Of course.” Jacob follows, pulling a glass out of the cabinet and filling it from the pitcher in the fridge.

“I guess you weren’t lying about one thing. This is definitely a bachelor pad. Not a hint of a woman anywhere.”

“Did you think I’d lie to you about that?”