Page 74 of Love or Leave

He ran a hand through his hair, opened his mouth, closed it, and looked around.

She just stood there, waiting.

Eventually, he found words.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he said.

Her whole body tightened. Why was he doing this? And why hadn't he done it sooner?

"Why?"

She didn't know why she asked the question. Or even what it meant. She just threw the question out into the ether.

Why, universe? Why?

"Because I like you," he said. "I want to talk about us."

Her forehead creased, and he stepped in close and opened his arms.

She shamelessly sunk against his chest, and his arms wrapped around her back. Her lungs loosened and her breath started to flow with more ease.

"What is this?" she asked.

A moment passed, with each of them clinging to the other, before he spoke.

"I think you already know the answer to that," he said, his voice soft and deep. "How was your date?"

She pulled back from him, not enough to stop the hug, just so that she could see his eyes. "My date?"

He kept a firm hold on her eyes, searching, as if bracing himself for what he was going to say.

"If you're with Jalen, or if you don't want me here, just say so," he said. "Tell me to go, and I'll leave you alone."

She tried to focus on unpacking everything he'd just said. She honestly hadn't expected him to tell her he liked her—or to imply that he knew she liked him, too. Maybe he had been feeling the way she felt since that night in the hotel. It seemed like it. He'd showed up at her house on a night she was going out with someone else and hadn't let her out of his arms since they said hello.

It honestly seemed a little stalker-y, but she was thrilled—in a good way, not in an “I'm afraid for my life” kinda way.

She wasn't really sure what to think about him showing up. But there was one question that bubbled up and burned a hole in her brain.

"What about Fran?" she asked.

Antonio gave his head a slight shake. "I don't care what Fran does. She's with Blake," he said, reaching one hand up to her face and tucking her hair behind her ear.

Her eyelids closed at his touch, and a hum escaped her lips. Those words were music to her ears.

"I don't want this to stop," Antonio said.

His words were slightly vague and confusing, but she couldn't stop herself from falling ever so slightly more under his spell. What part ofthisdidn't he want to stop? Sleeping together? Sneaking around?

She didn't fully understand what he meant, but she whole-heartedly agreed. She didn't want Antonio to stop. In fact, she desperately wanted him to start.

He slid his fingers through her hair, down the back of her neck, and she melted into his touch. "I want you, Cara. I want to be with you."

The admission sent waves of need through her. She blinked down at his lips, remembering the feel of him on her—in her.

A heavy sigh escaped from her chest.

Antonio reached for her chin, tipped it up and kissed her. Everything in her screamedyes!

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