He skimmed lower, gliding down past my ribcage. My breath snagged as he toyed with the elastic waistband of my pajamas, but he didn’t move any farther. He pulled back suddenly, removing his hands, and my eyes flew open.

“But I’m confused. Because here’s what I think,” Chase said, voice low. “You do want to be with me.”

He was right. Not just wanted—in the moment, I needed him like air. But falling so hard, so fast for someone was terrifying. Scariest thing I had ever done. Hands down.

I wanted to believe it was a calculated risk, but in truth, I never had a choice.

“So tell me.” He bracketed the wall above my head with his hands, towering over me. “What the hell is going on?”

My brain slowly kicked back into gear now that he wasn’t touching me. “You realize Amelia and Jillian can hear all of this.” I nodded to the door. “The walls in this place are paper thin.”

“Don’t care. I’m afraid I used up all my fucks worrying about you.”

He nudged my legs apart with his knee, and I complied, pliant against his touch. Grabbing the backs of my thighs, he hiked me up and pinned the upper half of my body against the door. I drew in a ragged breath as the length of him pressed against the perfect spot between my legs, rock hard and ready.

I held on to his shoulders and pulled myself close, trying to kiss him.

“Explain first.” He pulled away, expression stern. “You were in my bed a few mornings ago, kissed me goodbye like everything was fine when I dropped you off for class, and you’ve been dodging me ever since. Why?”

His tone was razor sharp, but there was hurt in his eyes. He tilted his hips, pressing against me again and creating a jolt of pleasure that radiated up through my core. Heat flooded my body, desire unraveling. I was about two seconds or one more thrust away from trying to take off his clothes. But the tiny part of my brain that was still functional knew he was right—we had to talk first.

“Was some girl sitting on your lap at O’Connor’s recently?” I finally forced out. “Because that’s what I heard.”

Chase furrowed his dark brow. “What?”

Slowly, he lowered me until I was standing upright. I let my hands linger on his shoulders, soaking up the heat beneath his soft black T-shirt.

“I answered your question. Now answer mine, please.”

“That’s what this is about?” he asked, tilting his head incredulously. “That’s why you’ve been avoiding me?”

“I need a yes or no, Carter.” Now that he was here in front of me, I knew the answer, but I still wanted to hear it from him.