Page 47 of Challenge Me

When he laced his fingers on top of his knees, I stared at them while he spoke. “We all have experiences that shaped us. Some good, some bad. I want to know so that I can understand who you are, not because the details are important on their own. They belong to you, even if you share them with someone else.”

“This is the kind of shit that makes everyone uncomfortable.”

“You don’t seem the type to care whether people are uncomfortable.”

“You’ve made so many assumptions about me since we met. Is it my turn to make generalizations?”

“Go ahead.” When I waved my hand dismissively, he continued. “So you’ve had a shitty life. It’s not an excuse to push people away. Not a good one anyway.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “You don’t know anything about me past what Renshu told you to ask.”

“Let’s start with you telling me something real. Nothing from a notecard and nothing I need to repeat in a godawful interview. Less ambiguous than poetry would be ideal.”

I blinked slowly, still looking at his hands. My thoughts went to Cole, to his endless assurances that things were going to be different. They were always going to be different. When I touched my lip with my thumb, I could almost taste blood.

“Okay,” I decided after a minute. “You pick.”

“Really?”

I shrugged. “Why not? I have nothing to hide.”

“What happened to your parents?”

Breathing a laugh, I finally looked at him. “Had that one in the chamber, did you?”

He was incredibly composed, a prince on his throne with the sun turning his eyes to mahogany. The corner of his mouth lifted, but he didn’t say anything.

“They died,” I told him.

“I see.”

He didn’t look surprised, nor did he put on a show of being overly empathetic. It made me respect him more, and I found myself leaning closer.

Deciding to let some of my poor decision-making skills through, I stood and took a step forward so I was right between his legs. I bent at the waist until I was at his level.

“Let’s just see what happens,” I said. “Between us, I mean.”

“Isn’t that the same as doing nothing?”

“No. It means we’ll see what happens and we’ll pay attention along the way.”

“Sounds the same to me.”

“Alright, meathead. Leave the thinking to me.”

“Did you just call me dumb?”

“Only if the shoe fits.”

“Well, it doesn’t, but I think arguing with you will only make you double down.”

My lips curved into a smile. When I gripped the back of his neck, he did the same, meeting me head-on. His fingers shifted into my hair, then he tipped my head back and arched upward to press his lips against the column of my throat.

“We’ll see what happens, then,” he murmured.

After taking a second to check in with myself, I bunched the front of his t-shirt in my fist and pushed him backward. He twisted and brought his legs onto the lounger. Without breaking stride, I straddled him and used my grip to keep him from lying all the way back. His fingers dug into my thighs, and his mouth remained agape while he stared up at me.

“Don’t get comfortable,” I warned.