The image slammed into me so hard I almost swayed. Those big hands on my waist. Lifting me like I weighed nothing. My body pressed against that solid chest. My legs maybe wrapping around him before I could think. My face went hot so fast I had to look away, pretending to stare at the bookshelves while my heart tried to beat out of my chest.

This was dangerous.

Not just the rules. Him.

The way he stood there like he couldn’t be moved. The calm in his voice that somehow made me want to push back just to see what he’d do. The way my stupid body was already...