He likes me, but it also seems he resents me for it. Like I’m a weight around his shoulders. In the beginning, it didn’t bother me. It was a game and I love a challenge. Before there wasn’t any risk. Now it seems like everything is on the line. It was a lot more fun trying to steal his heart before he stole mine. He can hurt me now. It’d be easy. All he’d have to do is walk away.

He’s been quiet since we left my parents’ house. No shocker there—he’s always quiet, but I don’t have it in me to fill the silence with my usual nonsense. The classic rock station playing on the radio is the only sound in the car as we drive to my sorority house.

Devin parks and follows me up the steps to my door. I pull out my keys and fiddle with them.

“Looks like you survived my brothers unscathed.”

“No hives,” he deadpans. He’s always gruff, but there’s a stronger bite to his remark than usual. I’m used to the annoyed lilt to his voice, but now there’s an indifference to his words that’s never been there before.

I bite my lip, nervous yet desperate to ask him inside. He stands stoic on my porch, waiting for me to do something. Say something. All my usual sassiness has deserted me. I don’t want to put on a show. I want him to see me.

I step into him, placing my hand over his heart as I look up into those dark eyes. “Thanks for today.” My voice is soft. Small. It doesn’t sound like me.

Devin’s grunt is his only response. He doesn’t wrap his arms around me. He doesn’t pull me into him. He doesn’t kiss me. He’s slipping away. I glance between the front door and his chest.

I steel myself. “Want to come in?”

A beat of silence is broken by his possessive growl. He leans down and claims my mouth. I snake my arms around his neck and he moans against my lips. There’s a fervor there, a need brewing between us stronger than any I’ve ever felt. With our lips still locked together, I reach behind me and open the door, pulling him in with me before closing and locking it.

I pull back and he glares down at me. We don’t say a word, but there’s a silent acknowledgment. I slide my hand to his before spinning and leading him to my bedroom.

I cross to my nightstand, flicking on the dim light. At the soft click of Devin locking my bedroom door, I pull my shirt off and glance over my shoulder at him. In a breath, he’s across the room, wrapping me in those strong arms, his lips devouring the soft skin on my neck.