Page 38 of Payback
“Why are you so…you?” she volleys back, and I can’t help but smirk at her adorable feistiness.
I casually slide my hands into my trouser pockets. “What was that all about last night?”
“What was what about?” she asks, hanging a right and making her way toward the studio entrance.
I lower my voice. “Your kiss and run show.” I’m only slightly embarrassed by how much I wish she would have come home with me. We wouldn’t have even had to have sex. I would have been happy to watch a movie with her. Fucking hell, I kind of started to miss her last night.
She stops midstride and turns to pin me with a warning look, her blue eyes fierce on mine. “Last night was a mistake. I let things go too far, and I’m sorry for”—she gestures down toward my cock—“leading you on.”
She makes a move to leave, but I press my hand against the wall to block her path. My shoulders tense as I lean in and hit her with a sincere look in my eyes. “You didn’t lead me on, Lis. I’m not mad that things stopped. Jesus Christ, what kind of man do you take me for?”
Her hard expression softens. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Good,” I state and my shoulders relax. “I would hate for you to think sex is the only reason I’m chasing you down a hallway right now.”
She licks her lips, her eyes dancing from my eyes to my mouth. “Whyareyou chasing me down a hallway?”
The corner of my mouth tips up in a smirk. “Because you have this uncanny ability to always leave me wanting more.”
My response obviously flusters her since she brings her hand up and rubs her forehead. “You have to stop saying stuff like that because I don’t think we’re a good idea. My cousins would flip out if they knew I was dating their teammate. And you and Tanner are finally playing well together. Us dating could totally mess that up.”
“I’m not worried about the Harrises. A couple of years ago, yes. But they love me now. I’m practically one of the family.” I lower my hand from the wall to touch her cheek. Her skin is like silk as I slide my thumb along her cheekbone. “I’m not afraid of them, Lis.”
“I am!” she exclaims, her eyes wide as she bites her lip and tilts her face into my palm. “They’re the only decent family I have left. If being with you hurts them, then I don’t think we should go any further.”
Her words and everything she is saying is a dagger to my heart, but what’s even worse is that her body language is saying something completely different. She leans into my touch, and I can feel her drawing closer to me as she stares at my lips with a thirst in her eyes that I desperately want to quench.
“Are you sure about that, mooi?” I ask, sliding my fingers through her hair and knowing deep down that whatever comes out of her mouth is going to be a lie.
She clears her throat and nods, pulling away from my embrace. “I, um, need to go into the studio. I think you should go back to hair and makeup so they can finish prepping you.”
Defeated, I take a step back and lift my palms to her. “You’re the boss.”
She scans my entire body one more time, regret painting her stunning features before she turns and walks away just like she does every damn time.
When I return to the changing room, I’m practically vibrating with frustration. I drop down in my chair and spin around so I’m facing Mac.
“What’s eating you?” Mac asks as Freya pulls on the fabric of his shirt and pins it in the back.
I throw up my hands. “I can’t figure Allie out.”
Mac frowns thoughtfully. “What do you mean?”
I run my palms down my trousers and reply, “She’s hot and cold. Her body and eyes say one thing, but her mouth says another. It’s really confusing. I just wish I knew why she’s fighting so hard to keep me at arm’s-length. Hell, maybe she’s not over her ex.”
“How long has it been since she broke up with the lad?” Mac asks, his brows furrowed tightly, like he’s solving a math problem.
I scoff. “Two years, I think.”
“That can’t be it then,” Mac states.
“I know,” I reply with a groan. “It doesn’t make any sense. I feel like she’s holding back from me, but I don’t know why.”
Freya makes an odd noise that turns both mine and Mac’s eyes to her.
Mac watches her as she tugs on the front tails of his shirt and his eyes suddenly light up. “Hey! You’re a lass!”
“Oh, thanks so much for clearing that up!” Freya barks defensively around a pin in her mouth. “I wasn’t aware it was up for questioning.”
