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A muscle in Ryland’s jaw julares down at me with the same hard, impenetrable look he alears

I can’t stand it

My heart dru ood little stalker, just like he told you to? You say you don’t want to get inside my head, but you know a fuck of a lot about me, don’t you? Have you been in h the ? Do you watchteeth, and hate it the whole time?”

“Ayla”

There’s a warning in Ryland’s tone, but I refuse to listen to it I shove at his chest instead, desperate toforce that is the —move

“If you hate it sost—”

The last word is stolen frorabs ainst his, and for a wild, insane second, I think he’s going to kiss ether that I can feel his breath onto cover the entire width of my body

He’s like a rock

Like a fucking brick wall

But as I stare up at him in shock, the rock cracks

For just a heartbeat, so besides the usual hard disdain crosses his face

It’s soft

Almost sad

Then I blink, and it’s gone

He releaseson to my shoulders as he pushes me away from him His voice is low and controlled when he speaks “I can’t do that, Ayla It’s too late”