“I want—” I made myself hold his gaze. “I want tonight to be just you and me. No transactions, no magic?—”
“No turtles?” he asked, that grin coming back.
“Pendejo, I’m trying to be real with you.” I scowled.
He laughed and brought my knuckles to his mouth for a gentle kiss.
“Okay,” he breathed.
Not a singlejoke in it.
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
And because he couldn’t help himself, the corner of his mouth curled up.
“I’ll know all your secrets by the end of this.”
“You’ll know three of them. Maybe.”
“I’ll get the rest.” Then, softer, just for me, none of the performance left in it: “I’ve got time.”
He took my hand and let me lead him out of the lights into the dark, starry night.
I fumbledwith my keys at the door, missing the lock an embarrassing number of times.
Chase wrapped his arms around me from behind, his nose nuzzling into my hair.
“Nervous, Torres?”
I finally got the stupid key into the stupid lock.
“No. It’s not like we haven’t done this before.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
His teeth skimmed beneath my ear.
“I’m not.”
I was. Fuck, last time he had been half shark, and I’d been less nervous than I was now. Because that had been about him, and this was about me. About me claiming what I wanted, which meant admitting not only that I wanted him but also that I wanted him to stay.
“Chase…” What the hell was I supposed to say?I like you? Please choose me over your amazing life?
No, because there was a far more terrifying option.Take me with you.
“You wore that dress tonight so I could stare at this, huh?” He ranthe callus on his thumb over the faint bruise on my neck. He was doing it again; he was giving me an out.
“Maybe.”
“I liked it.” He kissed along the tender skin. “Part of me wishes it hadn’t healed so fast. I like the idea of leaving my mark on you.”
“So that when your circus leaves town I’ll remember you?” It was easier, this way. Just get it out now, so there were no hurt feelings, even though my heart knew it was far too late for that.
He spun me around so my back hit the metal screen door. “I’m getting really tired of you trying to run away from me, Selena.” He was so close, and his eyes were black all the way to the edge.
“I thought it was all about the chase, Chase.” My heart was pounding, but I wasn’t afraid of him. I was afraid of how badly this was going to hurt.
