“And scene!” Maya cheers before bowing.
“What did you eat?” I wipe my palm over my mouth, my face contorting as the aftertaste settles in. It’s no better than the first.
“A clove of garlic and some onion just for kicks. I had to choke it down, but it was worth it.” There’s so much mischief in her eyes it somehow warped its way back around to enchanting. I want to kiss that rueful grin right off her… except for the garlic.
“You’re terrible,” I say.
“Look in the mirror, darling.” She pats my cheek, leaving me standing there speechless.
I’ve been robbed.
So this is what it feels like.
Chapter 20
Maya
Itwasacoldheartedthing to do, and I loved every second of it.
I am not kissing that man until he explains. Everything. And then gives up his life of crime, obviously.
I lean against the opposite counter from Soren, still reveling in his discomfort as he downs a can of soda to dull the taste in his mouth.
He drops the aluminum can onto the counter with a clang. “I’m going to remember that little trick for the next time you try to kiss me.”
I cough. “The next timeItry to kissyou?”
His lips twist in a comical and not at all appealing way as he pushes off his counter and stalks toward me. He halts mere inches away, then leans forward.
I instinctively lean back.
He doesn’t stop until his hands are on the edge of the counter beside my hips. “Admit it—you didn’t fulfill all your dreams with that kiss, and you’ll want more. You’ll be drawn back to me.” He picks up a lock of hair, twisting it around his finger. “You won’t be able to resist.”
I try my best to remain levelheaded, but his daring proximity and the whole dominant man vibe is dead sexy. I clear my throat. “I think you’re the one struggling.”
It feels like we are on the same page, fighting the same battle. Both of us want it, but neither of us dare to admit it. We are fanning the flames between us, just waiting to see who gets burned first. And who puts out the fire.
After the way he left me, he will have to be the one to lay it on the line. I won’t put myself out there only to be devastated.
He drops my hair, brushing his fingers down my neck. I fight everything in me not to shudder the way I did when he kissed that same spot earlier.
“Tell me you’re unaffected.”
I match his boldness. “Tell me you aren’t.”
His eyes meet mine. “I can’t do that.”
The intensity in his gaze sears into me, clamping around my heart, but I won’t let it make me weak. I place both hands on his chest and give him a shove. “Too bad I’ll never believe you.”
I spin on my heel and walk out of the room. He lets me.
I don’t know why I expected anything different. He always lets me go.
I don’t have long to sulk in my pity party when I find Arabella hiding tears on the living room couch.
Tears.
Of the alligator variety. Though what tears have to do with alligators, I’ve never quite understood.
