Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men #9)(47)

When he sent me the middle finger emoji for my smart-ass crack, I grinned, feeling a little more settled with things between us.

But I didn’t feel so settled where she was concerned.

What’s worse, I took her to-go mug of coffee with me to school. And then I carried it around all day like some kind of lovesick sack. And the next morning…yeah, I washed it out, refilled it and carried it to class again.

We shared philosophy at ten. I still had a gulp of coffee left in the mug when I strolled into the lecture hall a couple minutes early. I set it on the corner of my desk, then kicked back, propped my feet up, and closed my eyes, waiting.

I hadn’t realized I’d been waiting for her until I smelled her perfume when she approached. The chair next to mine shuffled as she sat next to me.

Suddenly, my entire body came to life, nostrils flaring to inhale her scent, ears twitching for every little movement she made, nerves crackling with some strange kind of adrenaline rush.

Before she could speak, I said, “You’re not getting your mug back,” without even opening my eyes.

“How did you—” Her surprised voice sizzled through me.

“You have a very distinct smell,” I answered after she cut herself off. “And what other reason would you sit by me?”

I opened my eyes and turned her way. She was flawless as usual, so I should’ve expected the punch of awareness I felt. I should’ve been braced for it. But nope, it had only gotten stronger since I’d seen her naked—well, mostly naked—and tasted her and touched her and seen where she slept.

I wanted her even more than ever.

God, I was so f*cked.

“Well…” Her brown eyes were wide with surprise as she shook her head and finally stuttered, “It is my mug.”

I snickered and purposely picked it up to take a drink, taunting her. “Not anymore.”

Her eyes flared with challenge as she watched me, and dammit, dammit, dammit, why did that turn me on so much? But instead of telling me off, which was what I expected, and kind of craved—wasn’t I just a diabolical, masochistic son of a bitch—she drew in a deep calming breath, and steadily responded with, “You really need to stop stealing things from me, you know.”

“Things?” I arched my eyebrows, wondering why she’d phrased it as if I’d taken more than a cup from her.

“Yes!” she snapped. “Things, plural. My mug. My underwear.” Her voice went hushed and she moved in closer as her teeth clenched in ire, and damn…that so did it for me. I wanted to sink my fingers into her hair, yank her forward and kiss her hard and savagely.

“Oh yeah. Your panties.” I shrugged all nonchalant-like as I took another sip, even though I’d run out of coffee with the last one. “I threw those away, sorry.”

I regretted the words as soon as I said them, especially when her mouth opened as if I’d just stabbed her in the stomach.

Shit, I was such a bastard. I started to confess I still had them. I probably would’ve even offered to wash them and fold them and return them to her completely unharmed, along with her mug. But she narrowed her eyes and reached for her mug. “Give me my goddamn mug back!”

Being that it was still in my hand, I merely tightened my grip and refused to let go. No matter what thought had just crossed my mind a split second ago, I couldn’t give it up. Not while she was arguing with me. Besides, I needed this mug. It was hers. Which was probably why I really needed to loosen my hold and just let it go, but that stubborn gene in me refused. I was keeping as many pieces of her as I could possibly handle.

“No,” I muttered when she really started to yank on it and it slipped a couple inches between my fingers. Thinking quick, I leaned forward and licked the silver side. “There. I licked it. It’s mine.”

“Oh, well, if that’s all it takes to own something…”

Then she did the craziest thing in the entire world. She leaned in too, much like I had done, but her tongue didn’t go anywhere near the mug. It lapped its way up the back of my hand that was holding the cup.

My mouth fell open as she jerked upright and gaped right back at me, her eyes wide with shock as if she couldn’t believe she’d just done that either.

But holy shit, had she just claimed ownership of me?

What was even crazier, I think it had worked. Because in that moment, she did own me. She owned me completely.

“I…” She shook her head as if she were about to deny it, retract what she’d just done and take it all back. And I swear, if she had, I would’ve gotten up and left.

Except she wasn’t given a chance. The professor started class and we both straightened upright in our chairs and turned to face the front of the room, moving stiffly like robots. I honestly don’t think I was the only one who sat there like a frozen statue through the whole hour. I could practically smell the tension oozing off Julianna as she experienced the same dazed reality I did.

My heart pounded hard in my chest, and my muscles kept twitching with anxiety.

I wasn’t sure what this meant. I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

I just knew I liked her, despite everything. I was attracted as hell to her. But it seemed as if I shouldn’t be. I mean, what about Brandt? What about everything?

I was already dealing with enough shit. College, all the drama at home, my Vine business. I didn’t have the time or energy to be this mixed up over any girl. The back-and-forth with her was driving me crazy. I just…I needed a break. I needed to clear my head.