I stared back at him, unable to formulate a response. I wasn’t sure what that meant, and part of me was afraid to ask. Something was up tonight. There was something different between us. I couldn’t read him, couldn’t guess what he wanted. It felt like we were always a beat out of sync.
We walked the rest of the way to the bowling alley in silence.
“Hey, Maggie.” I turned at the sound of Mya’s voice. “We’re forming teams. Why don’t you and Max team up?” She shot me a knowing look that wasn’t even kind of subtle.
Samir stiffened beside me.
“Sure.”
I smiled at Max. He was cute, with dark brown hair and green eyes. He had that all-American look I’d become familiar with back home. He did look built, although sadly I couldn’t make out the outline of the famous abs. I’d have to take Fleur’s word for it.
I could see why Mya thought we would be a good fit. We had the American thing in common, and he seemed nice enough. But I wasn’t that girl. Stupidly, maybe, all of my attention was focused on the brooding and off-limits boy beside me.
We all got our shoes and headed toward the lanes. The bowling alley was upscale, with almost a nightclub feel to it—so different from the rundown place I bowled at back in South Carolina. Fleur looked predictably put out by the whole thing, but surprisingly, she seemed to be trying. Samir hadn’t even bothered renting shoes. He’d decided he would just watch. Which I soon discovered meant he would watch me.
The first few games went by fairly quickly. Max was easily the best in the group, so it wasn’t a surprise when we quickly took the lead. Fleur was hopeless. But even she settled into the spirit of it all and was soon laughing with the rest of us.
And all the while I could feel Samir’s eyes on me as he sat at the table, slowly nursing his whiskey and Coke.
Samir
IT MADE HER happy—bowling.
Her smile lit up the room and her laughter filled it and I wanted her so badly it hurt.
I’d never met anyone like her. She didn’t seem to care that we were in a bowling alley. She was just as happy here as she was sitting in the VIP section at a club. She treated life like everything was an adventure, and found pleasure in the littlest of things. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt like that. Couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so taken by something or surprised by anything. Couldn’t remember feeling that kind of happiness—
Except with her.
I took another sip from my drink, the whiskey burning a hole down my throat. Maggie grabbed her ball and walked up to bowl. I couldn’t stop staring at her legs, at her ass. She looked ridiculously hot in her orange shoes.
That guy who was friends with George—Matt or something—walked up next to her. Right behind her. My eyes narrowed as she turned back and said something to him. He laughed.
I didn’t like him. He was American and tall and built and looked like he should be working on a farm or something.
He followed Maggie up to the bowling lane, positioning his body behind hers, showing her how to roll the ball. His hands gripped her hips, his arm moving with hers, mimicking the release. She wriggled her hips for a moment and I swear my heart stopped beating. He grinned at her, still not moving his motherfucking hands from her body, and I saw red.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Maggie
“YES!”
A perfect strike. I pumped my fist in the air, dancing in the lane. I grinned at Max, giving him a high five.
“Thanks for the advice, partner.”
“Happy to help.”
I turned and my gaze traveled over the group before finally connecting with Samir. His gaze was fixed on me, his stare unblinking. There was something there—a heat that had the smile slowly slipping from my face.
There were times when words seemed to fail us, when we communicated best without them. This was one of those times. I knew that look. It was the same look he’d given me that night. The same look I’d seen when he was inside of me. Whatever friend truce we’d agreed to disappeared with that look. I couldn’t pretend I hadn’t seen it, just like he couldn’t pretend that whatever was inside of him wasn’t pushing to get out.
I needed air.
I mumbled some excuse to Max and headed for the door, avoiding Samir’s gaze. I was afraid if I looked at him now, everything would change. I couldn’t keep pretending, but I wasn’t ready to share us with everyone. When it was secret—forbidden—it was safe. If it was a secret, I could tell myself it wasn’t real. That I wasn’t falling for him. That my heart wasn’t completely at risk. That maybe I hadn’t already lost it months ago.
The second I pushed open the door and the cold air hit me, I sagged against the building, letting out a harsh breath. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t lose control like this. Not now. Not in front of everyone.
We were just friends. I’d said so myself. He had a girlfriend. He’d already nearly broken my heart once. I couldn’t put myself through that again. He was a bad idea. A really, really bad idea.
I heard the sound of footsteps, and suddenly the energy around me changed. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to open them. Because suddenly I knew that when I did, he’d be right in front of me.
I didn’t think we could be just friends anymore.
Samir
SOMEHOW I MANAGED to wait a full minute before going after her. Maybe two. But then I couldn’t wait anymore. She pulled me toward her, and I was done resisting.
Seeing Max with her—
I wasn’t jealous. I knew her. Knew what she wanted, knew the way she looked at me was different from the way she looked at everyone else. I was just angry with myself. Angry I’d put us in this situation, that things between us had gotten so bad. I didn’t want him touching her, didn’t want anyone touching her but me. I hated that she was just within my reach, but always unattainable, hated that she wasn’t mine.
I stopped in front of her, taking a moment to look at her, really look at her, without feeling the pressure to pretend I didn’t feel what I felt. Her brown hair fell past her shoulders. Her skin was pale, a hint of color on her cheeks. Her lips were red. I ached to kiss them.
I reached out, placing my palm against the brick wall behind her. She sighed. I leaned forward, our bodies close but not touching, her scent surrounding me.
“Maggie.” I said her voice like a prayer. For what, I wasn’t sure. I wanted to beg her to release me from this hold she had over me, plead with her to let me kiss her.
Her eyes flickered open. The desire I saw there made my mouth instantly go dry.
I leaned forward slightly, my body just barely brushing hers. Her eyes widened. I rested my forehead against hers, our lips inches apart.
And suddenly I had the courage to give voice to the thoughts that had been taunting me for months.
“I still want you. I never stopped wanting you. I’m afraid I never will.” The last part escaped in a strangled whisper. I was done playing around, done denying myself the one thing I so desperately wanted. I was weak and I needed her. Nothing else mattered.
I rocked forward, my body pushing hers against the wall. It felt good to be this close to her, to feel her body beneath mine. But I wanted more, always more with her. Nothing ever seemed to be enough.
Maggie
I WAS DROWNING in his voice and his words. With each word, my composure slipped some more. I wanted him. I’d never stopped wanting him. I’d wanted him for so long that I honestly didn’t remember what it was like