chapter 2 : Too Close for Comfort

Emma carter prided herself on being unshakable. She had spent years perfecting the art of indifference toward guys like Jaxon Hayes-cocky, reckless, and devastatingly attractive. But as she sat across from him in the tiny study room, she realized she had severely underestimated the problem.

The problem being that Jaxon Hayes wasn’t just a distraction. He was a storm the air between them was thick with tension. An invisible tug of war she was losing fast. He had barely touched his textbook, leaning back in his chair, his intense hazel eyes locked onto her like she was the most interesting thing in the room .and damn him, he had that lazy smirk on his lips, the one that made her stomach flutter against her will.

"You're staring, Carter,"he drawled, stretching his long legs under the table. One of them brushed against hers, a barely there touch that sent a jolt through her system.

She snapped her book shut and crossed her arms."l was trying to figure out if you actually plan on studying or if you just came here to waste my time."

Jaxon leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, almost teasing murmur."oh, I'm studying. Just not the subject you want me to."

Emma's breath hitched. The way he was looking at her-like he was undressing her with his eyes-was infuriating. And worse, part of her liked it.

No.Focus.

She cleared her throat and slid his book toward him."then focus on this. If you fail this class, you’ll be benched for the rest of the season. "

He exhaled a slow breath, rubbing his jaw.

"You're Ruthless, you know that?"

"Because I'm making you do actual work?"

Jaxons eyes darkened slightly, his smirk deepening. "No, because you pretend like you don't want me."

Emma's heart slammed against her ribs.

Oh, hell no. She forced a laugh, rolling her eyes even as heat crept up her neck."please.you're__"

But the words died in her throat when Jaxon suddenly leaned across the table, his face just inches from hers.

"Go on,"he murmured. "Tell me how much you don’t think about me."

____ ____

the space between them disappeared, and Emma’s body betrayed Her. Her pulse raced, her skin tingled, and her breath came just a little too fast. She could smell him - a mix of clean soap, fresh cut grass, and something undeniably masculine. His presence was overwhelming, consuming, and for one dangerous second, She wondered what it would feel like if he really touched her.jaxons fingers brushed at the edge of her book, but it might as well have been her skin, because she felt it everywhere. His voice dipped lower, rough and teasing.

"Still convinced you don’t feel tHis?"

Emma's nails dug into her plan under the table" you are so full of yourself."

Jaxon grinned."maybe.but I think you like it."

her breath caught as His knee nudged against hers this time, deliberate.

Oh.my.god.

She had two choices:

●push him away and pretend this. So wasn’t happening.

●give in to the temptation that was coiling So tight inside her, it hurt.

And damn it, for fraction of second, She actually considered the latter.

But then Jaxon pulled back just as fast as he had leaned in, grabbing his pen And spinning it between his fingers like nothing had happened.

"Alright, Carter, "he said, his voice back to normal, like he hadn’t just wrecked her entire equilibrium, "let's get to work."

Emma clenched her jaw. Oh, he was playing with her.

Fine.two could play that game she straightened, forcing a smirk onto her lips as she flipped the textbook open to the most difficult section.

"Great ", she said, voice syrupy sweet."let's start with the essay on postmodern literary theory."

Jaxon groaned. "You're evil."

Emma smiled innocently. "Payback, Hayes." But even as she started explaining the material, she couldn’t shake the heat still lingering in her body or the fact that for the first time in her life, she might have met someone who could actually keep up with her.

and that thought?

it terrified her.

j

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***