Page 137 of Tag

His eyes gleamed, voice dropping just enough to stir heat beneath my skin. “You could leash me if you wanted.”

“You’re so kinky sometimes,” I shook my head at him with a smile.

His grin widened, mischief lighting up his eyes. “You bring it out of me, Sass. I told you before, I’d let you do anything to me. Anything.”

Heat exploded under my skin so fast it made me dizzy. I could’ve climbed him like a tree right then and there, but knowing me, I’d probably slip and take us both down in the least sexy way possible. Thankfully, I still had a shred of restraint left.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “How did you know I was up here? Did Cloe tell you?”

“Haven’t you figured it out by now?”

“Figured what out?” I turned back toward the row I needed and walked toward it.

“That I can always find you. It’s like some internal homing system, knowing where the other part of me is at all hours of the day.”

Ugh. That was cute. Unfairly so. I wasn’t about to tell him that, though. “Better question, why did you find me?”

His lips quirked, a dangerous curve threatening to become a smile. “To make you stop being mad at me.”

“I’m not mad?” My confusion made the truth sound more like a question.

He tilted his head. “If you weren’t, do you think I’d be following you through the library like a fucking stalker?”

“If I were mad, cornering me between Social Cognition and Experimental Psych might not be your best strategy.”

“Cornering you?” He made a show of looking both ways. “You could get away at any time.”

“Maybe you’re holding me hostage with willpower alone.”

He came up behind me. “If I were holding you hostage, Sassy, you wouldn’t be talking, and your hands wouldn’t be free.”

My breath caught. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling and failed.

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as he pressed against me close enough for heat to crawl down my spine. “I never thought I’d see you blushing over such innocent words,” he teased.

I tried to glare at him over my shoulder, but I knew my face was betraying me. “Shut up.”

I rose on tiptoes to grab my book, spotting the embossed title on a spine. His hand beat me to it, easily pulling it from the shelf. When I turned, I had to tilt my head all the way back to meet his eyes. I almost thanked him, but when I reached for it, he didn’t let go.

“Back to my original reason for coming all this way. If you weren’t mad. Why didn’t you text me back? You wouldn’t even look at me this morning.” His voice dipped lower. “Is this about last night? Are you doing that thing where you pretend none of it happened?”

“It isn’t about last night,” I murmured.

He let me take the book but wouldn’t let me move away from him. His fingers found my jaw, gently redirecting my focus back to his face. “Tell me you trust me again.”

I looked up into those maddening eyes and didn’t hesitate.

“Always.”

His hand slid to the nape of my neck. “That’s all I need from you right now. Remember that no matter what, okay?”

I nodded, barely.

His nose brushed mine, lips skimming mine so lightly it might’ve been breath. I wanted this—wanted him—so badly it hurt. I held myself in check by thinking of my resolve to try and do things right, at least in this regard.

“I trust you with my life, Rye, but this has to stop.” I placed a hand on his chest.

“What has to stop?”

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