Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies 2)

“Wow, great thing to fucking say to me right now,” I snap as I pull my hands from his.

What the hell?

“Now, wait a damn minute,” he demands before he takes my wrist again, pulling me to him before wrapping my arms behind my back. “You’re supercute when you’re vulnerable, you know that?”

“You better get to talking before I start nut-chopping you,” I warn, and he grins.

“Baylor, I’ll never lie to you or sugarcoat anything, you know that.”

“So?” I snap, and he scoffs.

“So I said that because I’m not gonna bullshit you. Skylar is a really good friend of mine and a very talented dancer.”

“That you fucked,” I add, and he shrugs.

“Yeah, but that’s it. It was only sex. She’s a friend, that’s all,” he states before letting my hands go to cup my face. Running his thumb down my jaw, he smiles the smile I love before he says, “I don’t look at her and see what I see when I look at you. She isn’t you. You’re my kind of special.”

Of course, I try to ignore all the mushy stuff because it makes me feel weird things, but his words do leave me breathless. My main concern is the first thing he said, so I ask, “What do you see?”

“All of that, and you’re hung up on that?”

“Yes! What do you see?”

He shakes his head before looking away, a grin on his face. “Don’t ask things you aren’t ready for, Baylor,” he says, and before I can demand he tell me, he goes on. “Just know that you’re it. You’re the only girl I see, ever. It’s been like that since the beach. I promise you.”

Looking deep into his eyes, I can see that he isn’t going to tell me. Not until I’m ready, which who knows when the hell that will be. Watching him, I ask, “And I’ll be ready when?”

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

I smile. “Yeah, but from what you’re telling me, I’m your ridiculous.”

He nods before pressing his nose to mine. “True, but to answer your question, you’ll be ready when I know you won’t run from what I’m feeling.”

“Which is?”

“A fucking lot,” he answers, his eyes boring into mine. Each syllable of those words slams into my chest and scares me to the core. He holds my gaze, and I can’t breathe because I’m pretty sure “a fucking lot” is way more than I could ever fathom. And also something I have no control over. “I don’t want anyone but you. I mean, come on, Baylor, I’ve been begging you to admit you like me for months. I’ve been challenging you just to get you to keep talking to me. I think it’s safe to say, you’re the only one I’m looking at.”

Closing my eyes, I nuzzle my nose against his and whisper, “I don’t like this feeling.”

“Jealousy? Something you can’t control, eh?”

Grinning, I nod. He gets me on so many levels. “Truly.”

“But it’s a feeling that I really like because it means you actually feel for me.”

“Well, duh,” I say, opening my eyes to meet his. “If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t be with you.”

Brushing his lips against mine, he nods. “Yeah, but you could be in it for the sex. I am the only one who can make you come.”

“True,” I say lightly as he grins against my lips. Closing my eyes again, because it’s easier when I don’t look at him to admit things, I say, “But this is more than sex. I know it’s only been a few days, but you know that, right?”

His nose moves against mine as he nods. “Yeah, Bay, I know.”

“That’s why I got so mad.”

“I know.”

Holding his gaze, I say something I hardly ever say to anyone and truly mean. “I’m sorry.”