He presses his forehead to mine. “I want you to come apart for me.” So I do. He slides his deft hand between us, circling the most sensitive part of me in exactly the way I need. Pleasure explodes across my body, shooting out to the tips of my fingers and down through the ends of my toes.

“Austin,” I cry out.

He steals my breath with a kiss as I ride a wave of ecstasy, cradled in his arms. He clutches me tighter, pulling me into him, as if worried I might slip away, then comes apart right after me. We cling to each other, hearts racing and out of breath.

“So, that was…” his sultry voice rumbles.

My heart catches in my throat. Was it as amazing for him? He has to feel the connection. It’s palpable.

“Exquisitely weird,” he finishes with a smirk.

The spell is broken. My heart plummets, shattering into a million pieces.

Weird.

Of course, how else could he describe being with me?

“You asshole,” I screech in his face as I shove him as hard as I can, desperate to get away before the tears start flowing. He doesn’t budge. Instead, he nimbly rolls us over, keeping our bodies intertwined, and pins me to the mattress.

“Come on, Goose. It was just a joke.”

“Get. Off. Me.” I glare up at him in furious contempt. I snake my arms between us and try to push him off. It’s no use, he’s solid as stone.

“Not a chance. Not until you calm down.” He tries to lean down and kiss me, but I don’t let him. I jerk my head to the side hard enough to give myself whiplash. I fight desperately to keep the tears out of my eyes.

“Hey, I didn’t mean it that way.” His voice is thoughtful. He’s earnest and remorseful, but I don’t care. It doesn’t stop the black hole churning in the pit of my stomach, sucking away every ounce of my self-confidence.

“Goose,” he prods. I don’t react. I can’t look at him. I want him to leave and never come back. “Elizabeth,” he says my name sweetly, reverently. It’s too late. He can’t take it back. “I was teasing. I’m sorry.” He sighs and drops his head to my shoulder.

His lips tease the sweet spot on my neck. I can’t see his face, nuzzled against me. His body covers mine completely. What minutes ago felt safe suddenly seems dangerous. We lie here for a time, our wills warring in the silence.