chapter 3:crossing the line

Emma should have known last night’s study session from hell wasn’t the end of Jaxon Hayes and his infuriating games. She had spent half the night replaying the way he leaned in too close, the way his voice dipped into that rough, teasing murmur, and—worst of all—how her body had reacted to it.

She hated him. Hated him.

So why did she feel so warm just thinking about him?

Her best friend, Riley, had laughed at her over coffee this morning.

“You have it bad.”

Emma had scoffed. “Please. I’d rather fail my finals than fall for Jaxon Hayes.”

Yet, as she stepped into the study room for their next session, her traitorous pulse betrayed her. Because there he was, sitting back in his chair, legs spread wide, twirling a pen between his fingers like he didn’t have a care in the world.

And the worst part? He was wearing a gray hoodie and sweatpants, the kind that made him look effortlessly hot.

Unfair.

Jaxon glanced up, and the slow, knowing smirk that spread across his face told her everything she needed to know.

He remembered last night, too.

Emma dropped her books onto the table with more force than necessary, determined to ignore the heat crawling up her spine. “Let’s make this quick.”

Jaxon arched a brow. “That’s not something a guy wants to hear, Carter.”

She shot him a glare, flipping open his textbook. “Read this paragraph and tell me what it means.”

Jaxon leaned forward, and before she could process what was happening, he reached out—

And tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

The air crackled.

Emma’s whole body froze as his fingers lingered just a second too long, his thumb barely brushing her skin. Her breathing hitched, and she hated that he noticed.

He pulled back slowly, his smirk deepening. “You looked distracted.”

Oh, he was playing dirty now.

Her heart slammed against her ribs, but she refused to let him see how much he affected her. Instead, she reached across the table, grabbed his pen, and dragged it slowly across his wrist, tracing lazy circles over his skin.

Jaxon’s smirk faltered.

Emma tilted her head, feigning innocence. “You looked tense.”

Two can play this game, Hayes.

His jaw clenched slightly, and for the first time, she saw something flicker in his hazel eyes—a shift, a heat so intense it sent a rush of warmth straight through her.

Their eyes locked. The tension between them wasn’t just thick anymore.

It was dangerous.

_____ ___

The silence stretched, neither of them backing down.

Then, without warning, Jaxon leaned in again—closer than before, so close she could feel his breath on her skin.

His voice dropped to a rough whisper. “You really wanna play this game, Carter?”

Emma’s fingers twitched against the pen still in her hand, her entire body hyper-aware of how close he was.

She swallowed hard. “I don’t play games.”

Jaxon’s lips curved slightly, his gaze dropping—for just a second—to her lips.

Her stomach tightened.

Then he did something she wasn’t prepared for.

He reached out and traced a single finger down her arm.

Slow. Deliberate.

Her breath hitched, her skin erupting in goosebumps.

Holy. Hell.

Jaxon saw it. He felt it.

And he smirked.

Emma yanked her arm back as if burned, standing up so fast her chair nearly tipped over. “That’s it. We’re done for today.”

Jaxon didn’t move, still looking up at her with that dark, unreadable expression that sent heat curling low in her stomach.

He exhaled a slow breath, shaking his head with amusement. “You keep running, Carter.”

She gritted her teeth, grabbing her bag. “I’m not running.”

Jaxon leaned back, a knowing look in his eyes. “Then why do you look so damn scared?”

Emma didn’t answer. Because for the first time, she was.

Not of him.

But of herself.

Because Jaxon Hayes was crossing lines she swore she’d never let anyone cross.

And worse?

She wasn’t sure she wanted him to stop.

---

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