Page 53 of The Hardest Fall

In a rough voice, I said, “I’m an asshole. I deserved that.”

Her teeth scraped her bottom lip. Helpless to do anything, I just watched.

Averting her gaze, she took a step away from me. When she looked up, her eyes only made it to my lips. “Look, I’m cranky, a little tired, and maybe just a little hangry thrown in there, too. I’m just gonna go to bed. I have an early class tomorrow, anyway.”

“Don’t you want the pizza? If nothing else, we can fix the hangry part.” Just because that sick bastard had stood her up and hadn’t fed her didn’t mean I was gonna let her go to bed unhappy.

“The pizza?” She sighed and looked back at the almost empty box. “That doesn’t count as the pizza, Dylan. It’s just a slice of pizza. So, I rather not. It’ll only make me hungrier for more. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Another step away from me.

“I guess that means you’re not up to watching a movie with me either.”

She only managed half a smile when she looked my way. “Maybe another night. Good night.”

“You might wanna check the oven before you leave.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“It was supposed to be a thank you for helping me out with the groceries today, but I’m thinking I owe you an apology now.” Finally her eyes met mine, and I tilted my chin toward the kitchen. “Just see if you want it. If you don’t, you can get away from me.”

A small smile formed on her lips. “Is it pizza? Please say it’s pizza. I want it to be pizza so badly. Please say pizza.”

I laughed. “I don’t know, see for yourself.”

Moving toward the kitchen, she threw over her shoulder, “If it’s not pizza, I’m gonna be doubly pissed at you, just so you know.” She opened the oven and bent down to check inside.

There was a small gasp then she came up with the pizza box in her hand and the biggest smile plastered on her face. “Dylan, it’s a whole pizza…just for me?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, you don’t have to share.”

“It’s from that Neapolitan place, and it’s still warm, too.”

“I just got in about ten minutes before you. I wanted to wait, but I wasn’t sure what time you’d be back, and the smell got to me.” I tried not to think where she’d been or who she’d been waiting for.

Giving me another one of her sweet-as-fuck smiles, she set the box on the island and opened it. Holding back her wavy dark brown hair with both hands, she leaned down until her nose was almost touching the pizza and inhaled.

The loud groan she let out made my dick surge to life in my pants.

“God, the smell. This is not fair, you know,” she said quietly, her face still practically in the pizza. “I’m kind of angry at you, and you got me my absolute favorite thing.”

I wouldn’t tell her I’d spent the last bit of cash I had on me so I could get us this treat. Whatever was left on my debit card after the grocery shopping she’d done for me was all the money I had until I could pick up some shifts at the bar, which was probably thirty dollars or less. “I told you, I’m an asshole.”

“I didn’t think you were, actually, but yeah, apparently you are.” Closing the box, she picked it up and made her way back to me. “Still, thank you. I was trying to play it cool, but I was really pissed at you for eating an entire large all by yourself.”

I laughed. “I’m afraid you weren’t that good at playing it cool, Zoe.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled under her breath as she climbed on the couch. Sitting cross-legged, she carefully placed the box on her lap and opened it. Breathing in deeply, she let it all out, picked up a slice, and looked at me intently. “I’m not good at sharing.”

I never would’ve guessed. “It’s okay,” I said, chuckling. “I already ate more than I should.” I sat my ass back down, right across from her.

One hand curled around the box possessively, she took her first bite and released another groan, this one longer and somehow more erotic than the one before.

“So good. So so good,” she mumbled in between chewing.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Swallowing, she took another bite, closed her eyes, and chewed as slowly as possible, her lips curling up in the process. It felt wrong to watch her eat. If I’d known her entire face would light up just for pizza, I’d have somehow bought ten more. My eyes drifted down to her throat where I could see the exact moment she swallowed. Then my gaze dipped lower and I watched the swell of her breasts rising and falling with each breath. I was in so much trouble.