Page 114 of To Have and to Stalk
“Shay?”
I blinked, turning to Calder, not realizing the car had stopped and he’d parked. His gaze dropped to my cheeks, and he clenched his jaw.
I wondered if the warmth in my body could be seen.
His grip on my thigh tightened ever so slightly, and I leaned in, wanting him.
In that reckless, irresponsible way I was growing to understand belonged only to him. When I stopped thinking about anything but him, and all I could think about was his hands on me.
Where Icravedmore.
The intensity in his gaze softened with a small, almost imperceptible quirk of his lips. He squeezed my thigh, this time more teasing than savage, then slid out of the car.
And all the anxiety he kept at bay like an ice wall with White Walkers came spiraling back.
He’s had his mouth on every part of my body.
He’s beeninsideme.
But…what if I can’t handle what comes next?
Calder opened the door, and I quickly swung my legs out, trying to banish those fears. He bent down before I could leave, eyes on mine.
“Hey.” He lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “The only expectation for you tonight is to put me into debt. A lot of it.”
I frowned, unsure what that meant, when my gaze drifted over his soft, wavy hair to the building behind him.
A bookstore.
chapter
thirty-eight
CALDER
On a post I was sure Shay had since forgotten she’d posted, she’d said how the hottest date would be a guy taking her to buy a bunch of books. No limit. It was a joke, in some bookish thread.
“What are we doing?” she asked as I held the door open for her to the store.
I arched a brow. “Buying you books.”
Her face lit up, but she washed it away instantly. Insanely, I missed it already.
“That’s… You don’t have to do that.”
She was nervous again. She’d been nervous in the car.
I wanted her comfortable. More than that, I wanted to prolong this. Even if we were breaking our one-night rule, this was still temporary. We still had an expiration date.
I feel safe with you.
Her earlier words came echoing back. She feltsafewith me? I didn’t deserve that, and still I was fucking addicted to it. I’d guard that safety with my life. I would never give her a reason to think otherwise.
“I’m not doing it because I have to,” I said. “I’m doing it because Iwantto.”
Her brow furrowed in an adorable, suspicious scrunch. “How many?”
I shrugged. “No limit.”
