Page 59 of Never the Same

“That you should eat first, burn off some steam later?” I was stubborn, too. Did she think she was the only one?

I waited for her to agree with me, but then she went and wrecked me again by reaching out, dragging her finger along my rib cage. She’d spotted my tattoo. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d asked about it, and hell would have to freeze over before I’d talk about it now.

“Any other tattoos aside from this one?”

I caught her wrist and guided her hand away, my pulse thrumming fast at the side of my neck with her so damn close. “This is the only one.”

“Why?”

I let go of her before I changed my mind and decided to hold her somewhere north of forever. “Why just one?”

“No. Why that one?”

Here we go. Some things never change. “I’d rather talk about literally anything else.” The truth bled through, right from a place of shame.

She made a little noise of dissatisfaction, but she didn’t push. Thank the Lord.

“I’ll eat first, you win. After I work out, I’d like to use the sauna.”

“After you eat and digest your food first.”

“You really think you can tell me what to—”

“I do.” I smirked. “My house, my rules.”

She rolled her eyes. Typical. I had to admit, it was nice seeing her flair for dramatics return. Part of me always liked that she was still capable of humor and being a little bratty despite also having to be Wonder Woman. It made her human. Mortal. The other part of me hated it because, of course . . . it turned me on.

Hollis turned to face my equipment, and now I was forced to see her ass in those high-waisted short shorts that outlined her glutes.

I looked up at the ceiling, trying to pull myself together. I was currently on the verge of taking a one-way train to that place that just might freeze over if I wasn’t more careful around her.

“Come on, I’ll make you a sandwich,” I grumbled, needing to get out of here before I did something stupid. Like let her trace my tattoo with her finger. Let her touch me wherever else she might want to explore. “Let me clean up first. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in five. Just promise you’ll behave while you’re out of my sight?” I should have said “in my sight,” too.

She tipped her head, her tongue caressing the line of her lips as she eyed my bare chest.

If she showed her tongue one more damn time, so help me . . .

“I’m not trying to be difficult. I don’t even know how to be. Just doing whatever comes naturally.”

Which is being difficult. I thanked myself for keeping that retort in my head.

“I read online on the flight here yesterday that movement is good for your brain.”

“It is.” I knew that from my own research when looking into my dad’s condition. “But food first.”

Her attention snagged once again on my tattoo, and that was my cue to take off. I needed a mind-numbing cold shower before I burned alive from lust.

The second I was alone in my bathroom, though, she was all around me wherever I looked. Her perfume on the counter. Her hairbrush. Floss. Toothbrush.

I had to remind myself her being here was temporary.

All of it.

Her in my sphere.

Me in hers.

I’d never fit into her universe of wealth and power—all I’d ever be was some small-town high school dropout with a mountain of baggage.