“Seriously?” With some hesitation, I take the stupid shirt.

“Seriously. Go.” He takes me by the shoulders, spins me around and gives me a gentle shove toward my bedroom.

“Fine. No need to push,” I snap back at him as I reluctantly head to the bedroom.

“All I do with you is push!” he shouts as I close my bedroom door.

I hold Austin’s button-down in front of me and picture him in it, smart and sexy. It smells like him, a mix of his spicy sweet cologne and his salty skin. I bury my face in the shirt and breathe him in deeply.

Weirdo.

I pull off my T-shirt and toss it on the bed. Sliding into the oversized shirt, I make sure to do up each and every button for maximum coverage. I stare at myself in my bedroom mirror. I’m sexy. I look like a kid playing dress-up. With my arms at my sides, the sleeves come down well past my fingertips. The breast pocket is halfway to my belly button. I’m wearing a circus tent. I’m a clown. A joke. A mistake.

I throw my arms up in defeat, storming out to the living room to prove Austin wrong.

He takes one look at me and shakes his head.

“Why are you wearing pants?” he asks with a quick laugh.

“Why wouldn’t I be wearing pants?”

Apparently I’m hilarious, because he laughs harder.

“Because we’re going for sexy here.”

“I’m not taking my pants off.”

He crosses the room to me until his chest is inches from mine. My entire body tenses at his proximity, and I freeze in place. He tucks one finger into the waist of my pants and pulls my hips forward, colliding with his. Our bodies connecting and the fire in his eyes cause me to gasp. He leans down, and his lips brush against my ear.

“Either you take your pants off, or I will.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath to prevent the ensuing panic attack. I bring my hands up against his chest and try to push him away. He doesn’t budge, so I take a step back instead, completely overwhelmed.

“We need to slow down. I’m not ready for this.” I keep my eyes closed and continue to focus on my breathing. He covers my hands with his, pressing them lightly into his hard chest.

“Elizabeth, look at me.”

I don’t open my eyes. He lifts my chin with a finger.

“Elizabeth.” The pleading in his voice breaks my will and I peer into his deep blue eyes.

“I know you’re nervous, but this is about trying new things, right? That means you’re going to be uncomfortable. I’m going to push your boundaries.”

I nod, not saying anything.

“I need you to be brave. And I need you to trust me.”

I don’t answer. I stare up at him for a moment, taking in his words.

He’s right.

And I hate him for it.

“Fine.” I shove him, turn around and storm back to my room.