“You would.”
“I’d rather call a raccoon.”
He stepped close, that frustrating smirk tugging at his mouth again. “You’re angry because I fixed your tire?”
“No, I’m angry because you’re confusing.”
He leaned in just a bit, voice low. “You thinkI’mconfusing?”
And suddenly, I was back in Tunisia.
FLASHBACK— Tunisia, ten months ago.
The heat was suffocating. The kind that clung to your skin and made every movement feel like a dance through molasses. But the rooftop bar was breezy, and the drinks were cold.
He’d asked my name.
I gave him a fake one.
He didn’t flinch.
He bought me a drink. I bought him a challenge.
The banter turned into touches. The touches turned into his hands in my hair, my back pressed against the hotel door, and my breath caught somewhere between a laugh and a moan.
We didn’t even make it to the bed the first time. He had me naked in the blink of an eye. I was undressing him as fast as he undressed me. He picked me up and lowered me onto his stiff erection as it entered me, I may have screamed out my orgasms, I had so many I lost my mind. That was just the first night.
First we did it against the wall. Then on the floor. A mess of limbs and heat and whispered curses in the dark.
He kissed like he meant it.
Held me like I wasn’t temporary.
And during the night and the next morning… we started all over again. It continued until he received a call while he was talking.
I left.
Because Iwastemporary, and I always left first. But I didn’t want to go.
Now he was staringat me in the dark, five feet away, holding a damn tire gauge like it was a wedding ring.
And I was shaking.
Because I had no idea what to do with a man who fixed tires, ate lasagna with my sister, and looked at me like I was the one who disappeared—not the other way around. Okay, I am the one who left. Because I knew he was going to.
I crossed my arms. “Next time you want to fix something of mine… ask.”
“Next time you want to run, don’t.”
Then he turned and walked away.
And I stood there.
In his shirt. Damn I forgot I had his shirt on.
Wondering if I was already halfway to staying.
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