“You okay?” I ask.
“No,” she whispers, leaning in, lips inches from mine. “I’ve been losing my mind around you for years.”
Years?
Her honesty and bluntness catch me off guard.
“Years?” I ask.
She nods, a soft, almost an embarrassed smile tugging at her lips, as if she can’t believe she’s finally saying it out loud.
“Yeah,” she says quietly. “Years.”
My chest tightens.
I remember that night.
Catalina burst through the door like she owned the place already. Carter was behind her, glaring, pretending tohate her, but I knew he didn’t. I saw the way his face brightened every time she glanced his way.
Amelia was quiet, defensive, glaring at Maverick.
And then there was Layla, half a step behind them, her smile so wide it brought light into my bar like sunshine incarnate.
One look at her, and I was done for.
My sunshine, my weakness, my reason to stay.
“You were behind the bar,” she says, her voice softer now. “Quiet. Focused. Not trying to impress anyone. You looked at me like you already knew me, and it threw me completely.”
My throat goes dry.
I remember introducing myself to her and thinking I needed to be careful. Whatever that pull was, it wasn’t something I could afford to misread.
“I told myself it was nothing,” she admits. “Just a stupid crush. One I’d get over.”
She doesn’t look away when she says the next part.
“But every day, I thought about you. Even though it’s wrong, I don’t care. I’ve wanted you, Reed; it’s always been you.”
My restraint dies a quick death.
I kill the machine and grab her waist, lifting her off the bull. As soon as her feet touch the floor, her hands go into my shirt, pulling me close.
Her lips meet mine in a frantic motion as her fingers weave through my hair.
It’s messy at first as our tongues swirl together, teasing and tasting, like she’s been starving and has finally found her favorite meal.
I groan into her mouth as my hand slides up her thigh, gripping tight.
“Layla,” I warn, breathing hard, “I’m not going to stop this time, your fianc-”
She fists my shirt, pulling me closer, as her lips brush mine, cutting me off. Before she pulls away, her breath ragged as she finally speaks.
“Fuck him.”
That’s it, fuck him, she’s mine to have, mine to take care of, mine to cherish.
I gently push her back against the mechanical bull, kissing her more passionately, swallowing every moan she gives me. Her legs curl around my hips, dragging me impossibly closer.
