Page 16 of Ignition

I smothered another huff, before my hand slid into my pocket and extracted her phone.

I waved it in her face, ignoring the buzz of caution in my ears, and she rewarded me with a glower that screamed she was actually plotting my murder.

She might be smart enough to get away with it, too.

I half-expected flames to come out of her nostrils, the way they flared at me, the way her breathing grew tighter, heavier. I let a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth—knowing it would only piss her off further—and stared her down.

The moment stretched taut, full of possibilities.

Then, whatever composure she’d been clinging to—unsuccessfully, might I add—snapped like frayed rope.

She lunged for it.

I snatched it back, just in time for her fingers to merely brush it. A sliver of a fresh, crisp scent lodged in my nose, kicked up by more frantic, failed attempts at retrieval.

My grin grew darker, a flash of teeth and delight as I held it up, out of her reach.

The way she looked at me—furious, flushed, breathing fast—hit somewhere lower than it should’ve. Christ. I should’ve been worried she’d actually snap, not wonder what her bite felt like.

Her breathing stuttered.

She blinked up at me, eyes wide, like she’d felt it, too.

My knuckles whitened on her phone, and I wasn’t sure I was holding onto it so she wouldn’t grab it—or because I needed to grip something.

A slow breath punched out of me as the air grew thin between us.

Just as fast as it had cracked, her composure snapped back into place. She retreated a step, crossed her arms, and glowered.

“I’m not messing around, Josh. Give. It. Back!”

My name on her lips was doused in venom, but hearing her say it—

I shook my head in a desperate attempt to clear my stupid, traitorous thoughts.

Maybe on another day, I would’ve pushed more, but I was strangely off-kilter for some reason. The photo, maybe?

My face smoothed into an expression of reluctant magnanimity, like I was doing her a favour. My hands raised in mock surrender, then her phone landed in her demanding, outstretched palm. A falsely apologetic grin tugged at my lips, just the right amount to land.

Her brows furrowed, and her head tilted as she stared down into her hand.

I almost laughed. I couldn’t believe it either, but she didn’t need to know that.

When her gaze locked with mine again, scepticism clung heavy to the furrow in her brow. Small, white teeth caught her fuller bottom lip, like she was trying to figure out what the trap was.

I arched an eyebrow in silent taunt and made a move to snatch it back.

She grumbled a “hmmph” that managed to sound scolding and strangely attractive all at once.

Or maybe I’d hit my head somewhere.

She stormed off without another word.

Feet rooted to the spot, my eyes trailed the swish of her floppy, wavy brown hair, the curve of her spine, inching lower—

For fuck’s sake.

I gritted my teeth and yanked my gaze away before it could betray me completely.