Page 44 of Running Winter

"How do I know you aren't into women?" I shot back as she snorted.

"Because you’ve been telling me to be careful around Rafe,” Rayna reminded me with a smirk.

"So prove it."

Touché.

I waited for the penny to drop as she frowned around the room.

"So you want me to go and kiss some guy? To prove I'm not gay?" She repeated, shaking her head. "Maybe we should forget it. I'm not gay, but I'm not kissing any of these leeches."

Something made me tug her towards me then, and she frowned with confusion.

"So, I'm not gay," I whispered in her ear, moving her hair away from her neck. "I think you know that, but you want to know why I didn't fuck who you deem the hottest girl here."

Rayna’s grey eyes danced with amusement as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Pretty much."

"Well," I swallowed, my finger lifting her chin slightly, my eyes burning into hers. "That's because she isn't the hottest girl here."

"Yeah, that's because I am," Rayna joked, winking at me. The moment between us was almost jovial again, and I felt the opportunity almost slip through my fingers.

"You fucking are."

"Oh, the Fallon charm is out in force!" Rayna cackled with glee, and I realized she would never take me seriously.

All the times we’d had sexual banter prevented me from saying anything remotely serious.

"Is it working?" I whispered in her ear playfully, my lips grazing her lobe softly.

Rayna's laugh died, and her eyes searched mine.

"Don’t,” Rayna whispered, her hand on my face suddenly. She stroked my stubble, and I closed my eyes, moving my lips to her hand. "Chase," she said again, her voice now unsteady. "I said don't."

"Why not?" I asked, irritated and confused.

Rayna didn’t reply at first but then she leaned forward, her face dangerously close to mine.

"Just don't. Please."

"That's not a good enough reason," I argued, our eyes finally meeting.

"Shall we get another drink?" Rayna suggested, moving away from me.

She refused to look at me before forcing a smile that was almost unnatural to her.

"I'm just going to the ladies. I'll be right back."

DEACON STYLE

R A F E

“Oh, you again,” Heather huffed, watching Chase walk away behind me.

I gazed at her with amusement, wondering why the fuck she was insisting on pretending like she didn’t find me attractive.

Of course, I wasn’t arrogant—I knew I was attractive, and I knew by the way she glared at me that she knew it too.

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