Page 25 of Royal

I hadn’t heard Grayson approach, but I felt him. Felt his presence even without seeing him.

He touched a shaking hand to my shoulder.

“Royal, I—”

“I think you need to leave, Gray.”

“Will you look at me?” he asked. He was so close that I felt his breath on my neck. His hand slid from my upper arm to my waist. “Please.”

If I turned around and looked at him, I wouldn’t be able to send him away. I’d see those brown eyes, long dark lashes, and soft lips, and I’d be done for.

“No.” I blinked back more tears.

What he wanted, I didn’t know. And I didn’t ask. So many questions were left unanswered, but they’d have to wait for another day.

I was like a tower made of playing cards, growing higher and higher as each card was carefully placed. The tower was already shaking, at its limit. One false move and everything would come falling down.

“At least let me—”

“Thanks for the update on the case, Detective Riley. Next time just call, though.”

“Detective Riley? That’s what I am to you now?” His hand fell away from my waist. A rush of cold air filled the space between our bodies as he stepped back, taking the sun with him.

I fought the urge to turn around.

As much as he’d hurt me, a part of me still loved him. Probably always would. I hadn’t been able to love any other man I’d dated because I was hung-up on my ex.

When he started walking away, I acted without thinking.

“Wait!” I flipped around and snagged hold of his wrist.

Grayson frowned as he stared at my hand.

Before he could say a word, before I could change my mind, I grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him against me. Chest to chest. My body relaxed against him, as if all the tension from the past week was released into the air. He smelled different than I remembered, at first. But then, as I pressed my face into his shirt, I was hit with memories of us rolling around in bed together, me kissing his bare chest as his natural scent came off his skin.

His arms slowly came around me, as if unsure.

Hell, I was unsure, too.

My heart pounded almost painfully against my ribcage, and my breaths came quicker.

What am I doing?

No one had ever made me feel the way Grayson had. Loving him had been all-consuming, taking over my every thought. Addicting. However, that type of power was dangerous. He’d given me the world one day and set it on fire the next.

I pulled back, ignoring the way my body protested at being away from him, and I dropped my gaze to the floor.

“You should leave,” I whispered.

Seconds passed, and he didn’t budge. The clock’s ticking filled the silence again.

“Take care of yourself, Royal,” Grayson said. He was back to the hard-ass detective.

I didn’t look at him as he walked away. I listened to his retreating footsteps, heard the turning of the door handle and the click as it closed.

And then silence.

After locking the front door, I slumped against it. He got into his car, and I heard the engine roar to life. Headlights shone through the living room windows, reflecting on the walls on the other side. Then the panic set in.