Disengaged: A Dangerously Forbidden Love Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

to play. It was the temperate look in his eyes that told me maybe we were safe just then, that I could trust him. The gray was soft, the tension in his jaw was lax, and his upper lip was daring to shudder into what I was sure would be a heart-stopping grin.
    If he grinned, I was done for. I was sure of it. I was the one flinching a grin as I dropped my gaze and started to work through the meal he’d given me. We sat in silence, watching the TV, eating so slowly you’d swear it was our last meal, until long after dark.
    He pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket then nodded for me to stand. I eyed the bathroom in the back. Reading my glance he nudged me that way. Each booth I passed had at least one person look up at me shyly, some with a mixture of jealousy and disdain. Boldly, like I knew what the hell I was freaking doing, I pulled my shoulders back and stared them down as I went about my way.
    I was quicker this time in the bathroom, but I still made sure I took the precious moments to calm my thoughts down. This silent game between him and me had gone on long enough. I wasn’t so sure it was a good idea for me to relax in his presence. Doing so was making this ‘crush’ blossoming deep inside of me all the more painful to fathom. Any fool could see this boy and me in no way would or could ever fit together, not for long.
    The only thing crazier than falling for this dark, silent, dangerous boy was the fact that I was already mourning his departure from my life. Hoping it wasn’t as sudden and unexpected as his arrival.
    When my courage was properly built, I made my way back to the dining room. I knew he wasn’t in there long before my questioning gaze touched on every soul there. His commanding presence, the zing I constantly felt in the air was gone, and I swear the absence of it made the world seem colder, bigger, and just as lonely as it was seconds before I saw Slayton for the first time.
    The lady who had served us smiled warmly at me then leaned her head toward the front window. The twist in my gut, the heat in my cheeks, the anticipation bubbling in my veins, would’ve made you think it had been days since I’d seen him.
    Hopefully, hiding my reaction to him from the world, I moved as casually as I could toward him. The city had come to life outside. The lights were so bright they were blinding, the cars rushing by, the trains, they all seemed to roar. The people weren’t much quieter, droves of them were moving down each side of the street. Only half of them were looking up at where they were going, who was around. The others were lost in their devices.
    Slayton was leaned against the brick wall outside the deli, smoking, completely ignoring the looks that were coming his way. I assumed he was waiting on me so I edged closer to the bike but he just barely shook his head no.
    I missed words, the art of conversation, I really did.
    It was a miracle I picked up on half his gestures, ones I was sure I’d be blind to if I wasn’t so acutely aware of every inch of him. He didn’t have to say a word, but I knew he wanted me to stand next him. So I did, a moment later he casually pulled me to him, his arm rested across my belly as my back pressed into his chest. Intimate and unnerving at once.
    When I saw someone approach his bike, lifting the compartment on the back, I moved, sure that he was about to attack. He didn’t, he let them do it, he even looked away while they did. When Slayton realized I was looking over my shoulder at him, those damn lips of his landed on mine, and I fought the same head-swimming, anticipation building sensations all over again. Even the stench of smoke on his lips could not stifle the glory of his touch.
    A slow wink was the only answer I received from my searching stare, and then he resumed his people watching. It was a good half hour before another shady guy came about and did the same as the one before. This time, I acted like I wasn’t paying attention either. And no,