The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

“You don’t know me anymore, and I don’t belong to you,” I whispered heatedly as he pulled his hands from his pockets and stroked both my cheeks with his thumbs slowly, his eyes my undoing.

His breath hit my skin with his words, his hot gaze matching his threat. “Then you better leave and fast, because I want you so much right now, Dally. I want to push so far into you that you remember exactly who you are, and who you belong to.” I gasped at his declaration, my underwear now useless as I clenched my thighs together tighter. If I stayed in the room one more minute, I would lose all control. I had done nothing but dream of this man for years, and done everything imaginable to push him out of my subconscious. All of that effort was now wasted with the kiss he had just recaptured me with.

“You have to stop, Dean,” I begged as my limbs became useless.

“I’ve missed you, Dallas,” he whispered before he placed one last soft kiss on my lips and stepped back, still pinning me with his gaze.

Anger from years ago surfaced, and suddenly I couldn’t help the emotion building in my chest. Fear crept through me again as memories of what was left me in the wake of loving him wormed into my thoughts.

“You missed me? That’s laughable. I seem to recall you walking away without looking back,” I said, turning toward the door. “Leave me alone. I don’t want to revisit the past.”

“Dallas, I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“Leave me the hell alone,” I pushed out, turning the knob and walking out but not before hearing his last words.

“I can’t.”

Dean

Then

Days after the party, I was talking to Rob in front of the dining hall when I saw her. I stopped mid-sentence as she approached. I could tell by the way she regarded me she was going to pretend like nothing had happened between us. But I was done pretending the minute I had touched her.

“Dean, Rob,” she greeted. She noticed my glare and stopped with a laugh. “Why, Dean, is that the look of love you are giving me?”

She was dressed in a tight t-shirt and a catholic schoolgirl skirt. I inwardly groaned as I looked her over. Still, I was too furious with her to speak. I walked away with Rob, who was still talking.

Dallas followed as I left the quad, but I ignored her. “Stop right now,” she demanded as I continued to walk. “Stop, Dean,” she pleaded as she followed. I kept walking and heard her cry out in surprise. I turned in time to watch her fall to the ground her book bag flying behind her. She looked down at her knee to examine it as I joined her. Standing in front of her, I watched as she blew on her flawless skin, a slow smile forming on her lips.

She’d faked her fall.

“Nice try, Dallas,” I snapped.

“It worked,” she mused up at me, brushing herself off as she stood. “What’s your problem?”

“You know exactly what my problem is, Dallas Whitaker.”

“Oh, the first and last name…We are friends. What happened shouldn’t change a thing.”

I shook my head and walked away. I couldn’t get my thoughts together, the hurt from her brush off building in me and fueling my anger. She followed me to the frat house and ignored the door I closed on her, opening it up with a laugh and walking upstairs just a step behind me. At my bedroom door, I reeled on her.

“Stop following me!”

She laughed out despite me.

Spitfire.

“What’s the problem? Do the girls you casually screw hold it against you?”

“I didn’t casually screw you. I made love to you for hours and you want to treat it like nothing happened between us. You clearly weren’t ready,” I said, convinced.

She avoided my sincerity again with another dismissive statement. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you hated it so much. It didn’t seem like it to me.”

“I didn’t hate it and you know it,” I said quickly.

She walked over and brushed my lips with hers. “Prove it.” She gripped me, finding me already hard then let go.

I scanned her from head to toe and back up again. My mind whirled with endless scenarios and an ache I now had solely for her.