I swear the earth shifted. But all she said was, “I’m stealing the blanket.” And just like that, she rolled away, tugging half the throw with her.
“Oh,absolutely not.”
She shrieked when I lunged after her. Not a real scream — that soft, delighted sound people make when they’re not scared at all. She kicked weakly, already giggling as I caught the edge of the throw and yanked it back.
“Give it,” I growled, low in my throat, eyes narrowing as I sat up slowly, trying to look scarier than I felt.
She curled tighter, clinging to it. “No.” Her grin was wide.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“You’re gonna regret that.”
“No, I won’t —hey!”
I had her pinned in two seconds flat — one hand on the blanket, the other braced beside her head. I wasn’treallyholding her down, but she wasn’t trying that hard to escape, either.
Her breath caught.
So did mine.
The laugh died on her lips as I leaned in. Not all the way — just close enough for her eyes to drop to my mouth again. Close enough to feel theheatcrackling between us.
“You wanna try that again?” I breathed. “Don’t think you stand a chance, sweetheart.”
“I stand by it,” she whispered. Her voice was barely a sound. I could haveswornher back arched… just a little bit.
God.
She was beautiful like this. Flushed. Breathless. Just a little cocky and a little scared.Thiswas a moment I should have photographed and saved.
Forever.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, kid,” I murmured, my lips just barely a breath away from hers.
“And what happens if I win?” An eyebrow quirked, her grin grew sly. Her hand slid up my chest, my breath caught again. “Ansel?” She practically purred. That sound should not have been legal.
I was going to hell. I was already halfway there.
My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared down at her — eyes bright, lips parted, pupils blown wide. The heat between us wasalive.I could feel it coiling low in my stomach, buzzing beneath my skin.
She wasso close.
And if I kissed her — if Ijust leaned in—
But I didn’t. Icouldn’t.
Not yet. Not like this.
God, did I want to. Across her jaw, over that tantalizing pulse point where I justknewher heartbeat was fluttering in her chest. Nipping her skin, nuzzling into the curve of her throat.
“Careful,” I managed, my voice wrecked as I pulled mythoughts to cleaner pastures. “Keep talking like that, and you’ll find out.”
She shivered. Ifeltit — the way her fingers curled tighter against my skin. The way her hips shiftedjust barelyunder mine. Just enough to kill me.
“I might want to,” she said. Too soft. Too bold. Too honest.
