“Well?” he asked, smiling devilishly. “I promise, I won’t hurt you, Nikki. In fact, I imagine you’ll enjoy my company, tremendously.”I let out a ragged sigh and nodded.He stared at my mouth. “I’d like to hear you say it.”I cleared my throat. “Come in, Ethan.”

“Well,” he says; a smile curves his mouth, promising wonderful acts of misbehavior, “in that case—”And, well. I like my body when it’s with his body.”

“I promise that this will be the last time you’ll see me. I won’t come back. I won’t put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without any more interference from me. It will be as if I’d never existed.”

“I will not let anything hurt you,” Balik promised.“I will not let anything come between us,” I replied with my own whisperedoath.“You and me,” Balik smiled a little.“Always,” I agreed as I reached up to draw his face to mine and pressed my lipsonto his.”

“So what's the deal with you and my sister?" He laughs shortly and rubs the back of his neck like something is there, tickling, tapping. "Tamra." Clutching the dashboard, I turn and glare at her. "There is no deal."She snorts. "Well, we wouldn't be sitting here if that was the case now, would we?"I open my mouth to demand she end the interrogation when Will's voice stops me. "I like your sister. A lot."I look at him dumbly. He looks at me, lowers his voice to say, "I like you."I know that, I guess, but heat still crawls over my face. I swing forward in my seat, cross my arms over my chest and stare straight ahead. Can't stop shivering. Can't speak. My throat hurts too much. "Jacinda," he says. "I think you've shocked her," Tamra offers, then sighs.”

“I stepped toward the exit, and Jax’s hand shot out and grabbed my arm. I closed my eyes and waited for him to speak. “You think you’re jus t someone I spent time with?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. He looked at me incredulously, and I wasn’t sure what to say. I returned his stare. He seemed angry and hurt.”