Page 38 of The Games We Play

I cross my arms over my chest. “The Seamus I knew was an open book, we talked about everything.” I pause, staring at him, waiting for him to say something more. “Work with me here.”

I study the features of his strong jawline and high cheekbones. The same lines I studied under the stars next to the lake as we discovered everything about each other. Our likes and dislikes, quirks and cues. I feel the depth behind his midnight eyes and wonder about the story behind his barely-there scar that runs over his eyebrow.

I revel in the fact that I never thought I’d get to see him again, yet here he is in front of me, wearing the last ten years of experience like an impenetrable mask. I can still see my Seamus behind the façade, and I want more. I want what we had back.

“You’ve gotta give me something,” I practically beg.

He can’t come flying back into my life, drop a bomb, tell me hewasn’t done loving me yet, then remain a mute during conversation.

His jaw clenches as his head tilts up, looking at the ceiling. His Adam's apple bobs and I see the strong lines of his throat flex. How is it possible that even his neck muscles have muscles?

He returns his gaze, heated this time, desperate in a way I’ve never seen. And I can feel it to my bones.

The moment passes at a glacial pace. Time stills and it’s just him and I and all the unknown thoughts between us.

Still, he remains quiet, and all I can hear is the whooshing of my own heartbeat in my ears.

Come on, say something.

I huff out a small breath.

I give up.

I shake my head and take a step forward to walk around him.

His arm shoots out, palming the wall behind me, preventing me from moving that way. I step in the other direction and his other arm does the same, trapping me in between his colossal frame and the glass window.

My gaze travels down his body and back up to the arms that are caging me in. His forearms are threaded with muscles, twitching as he presses harder into the glass behind me.

“Well, now that you’ve got me here, what are you going to do with me?” I say playfully, reminding him of how he’s held me like this before.

“Don’t tempt me, Mimi.” His face leans in closer to mine. The scent of his aftershave wafts around me like a comfort blanket. It’s rugged, and manly, and smells exactly like I imagined grown up Seamus would smell.

“Why not?” I’m feeling frisky.

“Because we have an audience.” His lips graze my jawline as I look over his shoulder behind him. The distinct outline of three heads peer out from behind the corner. Cruz’s glasses catch the light as he moves before he dips back behind the wall.

“So, you don’t want them to see you come in your pants, either?” My smile is a mile wide at the playful jab.

He lifts his head back to look at me, pauses as he inspects me, then gives me a slow, sexy, incredibly dangerous smile.

Shit.

“Oh, you’re gonna get it, sunshine.”

He leans down, dipping his shoulder into the crease of my hips as he wraps his arm around the back of my leg. In a swift move, he lifts me up over his shoulder and half my body is hanging behind him.

“Seamus!” I scream. “I’m going to fall.”

“No, you’re not,” he replies without a hitch in his breath, even though he’s carrying an entire human.

“I’m too heavy.”

“No. Nice try.”

He walks past Ember, Hudson, and Cruz standing in the corner, and they are all beyond shocked with the view as we pass by. Me upside down, squealing as Seamus walks by like nothing is weird at all.

Cruz moves out of the corner, wide-eyed with his jaw to the floor. Even with his upside down form, I can still read his expression like the cover of a non-discreet romance novel.

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