Page 131 of Face Off

“Come get it.”

The challenge left my mouth before judgment could intervene.

Ryan stared at the place where the folded paper disappeared beneath my waistband, his tongue moving slowly across his bottom lip.

“Chale, mami.”

“You wanted the map.”

“I’m trying to behave.”

“You’ve complained about forced politeness all morning.”

“I wasn’t discussing sexual assault against stationery.”

“You’re frightened.”

“I’m attempting to keep your shorts on until lunch.”

“That sounds like fear.”

He stepped closer. I backed away laughing, then turned and ran through the maze. Ryan caught me before the next corner, wrapping both arms around my waist and lifting me from the ground.

“Put me down.”

“Give me the map.”

“You’ll have to search me.”

“Keep talking.”

“You’ll do what?”

Ryan set me on my feet and turned me toward him. His fingers moved slowly toward my waistband while his eyes held mine.

My breath caught.

He stopped with his hand against my stomach. “That’s what I thought,” he murmured.

“You cheated.”

“I haven’t touched the map.”

“You weaponized my imagination.”

“You handed me the weapon.”

I pulled the map free and slapped it against his chest. Ryan caught it, smiling with enough victory to make me consider climbing him again.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

The words landed without warning.

His smile disappeared. Mine followed. We stood inside the maze with the map trapped between our hands and fifteen months of evidence proving how dangerous that truth remained.

“No,” I said quietly. “I don’t.”