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My mind unconsciously drifts to yesterday and what it felt like when he laid his hands on me. It was nothing like when my ex touched me.
There’s something about Austin…
Maybe I didn’t want him to arouse my body, but that’s exactly what happened.
Not wanting to dwell on those disturbing thoughts, I shove them from my head and turn onto the main road of his sub. As I drive further into the high-priced community, each house grows in size until I reach the Hawthorne mansion. A burst of nerves explodes in the pit of my belly as I stare at the palatial residence through the window.
Just like yesterday, there aren’t any cars parked in the drive.
A tremor slides through me. I was really hoping his mother would be at home so we wouldn’t be alone.
I give myself a silent pep talk before exiting the vehicle and dragging my feet to the portico and then up the wide stone stairs to the front door. My hand trembles as I reach for the bell. The sound echoes throughout the cavernous space. Minutes tick by, and it only feeds my restlessness. Just as I’m about to press the bell for a second time, the door swings open and much like yesterday, Austin stands before me in low-slung athletic shorts and nothing else.
My mouth dries as my gaze dips. There’s a smattering of dark hair across his chest before it arrows to the center of his ribcage, past his bellybutton before finally disappearing beneath the thick waistband.
He leans casually against the doorframe. “Just give the word and I’d be more than happy to lose the shorts.”
My gaze slices to his smirking expression and the knowing look that glints in his green eyes. That’s all it takes for heat to flood my cheeks.
Oh my god…
I can’t believe I did that.
What’s wrong with me?
Why does the sight of his nearly naked body make me go a little bit stupid?
After the way he forced himself on me yesterday, nothing about the guy should turn me on.
And yet…
I swallow down the painful realization.
That’s not the case.
“No thanks, I’m good.”
He arches a brow. “You sure about that?”
When his hand drops to the waistband of the shorts, my gaze tracks the movement. Air gets clogged in my lungs as he shoves the thick strip down enough for me to see the dark curls at his groin.
I throw out a desperate hand. “Please stop.”
“There’s that word again. Although, I think we both know that stopping is the last thing you want me to do.”
Self-loathing fills me as I silently acknowledge that he’s right.
It takes effort to swallow past the lump of wet sawdust that has settled in the middle of my throat. “Can we just get to work?” My tongue darts out to moisten my parched lips.“Please.”
With a snap, he releases the band. “You want to work? Then that’s what we’ll do.”
The pent-up breath held hostage in my lungs leaks from me as my knees weaken.
When he swings toward the staircase, I blurt, “Can’t we study on the first floor?” Lord knows it’s big enough with plenty of space.
He stops on the second tread before throwing a glance over his shoulder. The intensity of his gaze pins mine in place. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid to be alone with me?”
Deathly.
