Boyfriend Bargain (Hawthorne University #1)(10)

You were, a voice reminds me.

But not in a sexual way, I insist, yet uneasiness tugs at me.

And for what purpose? I’ll never get into Vandy with this plan.

God, what am I doing?

I sway on my feet.





6





Sugar





“Are you okay?” Zack says, lifting a hand as if to touch my arm but then letting it fall.

My skin feels hot. “I need off this dance floor.” I’ve barely eaten a thing today except junk food and now this loud, gyrating party is about to send me over the edge. Toss in a hockey player with enough virility to get me pregnant just by looking at him, and I’m toast.

“Come with me.”

“Where?” I look up as he takes my hand.

He gives me a concerned glance then leads me off the dance floor and up the stairs of the frat house. “You need air. I know where we can get it.”

And he seems like he does, his fingers laced with mine as he pulls me through a throng of people. Girls glare at me as we pass by, shooting daggers, and several call out his name, but he keeps going. There’s a get out of my way pace to the way he moves, his shoulders edging around people as they step aside to give him a wide berth. We pass the second floor, which is just as crowded, and I get glimpses of rows of doors and assume those are the bedrooms where lots of shenanigans happen. Frat Boy lives here, probably. Julia might be inside one of those rooms too. I feel a pang of envy at the way she’s able to just let go and do what she wants.

We head up the steps to the third floor. As soon as we hit the landing, I hear the welcome sound of muted music. He stalks through a common area with a sectional and a TV. Our hands intertwined, I follow him as he steps out onto a huge screened-in porch along the back of the house. No one is out here, and it’s bliss. Quiet and lit with moonlight, it’s warmed with gas heaters in each corner.

“Better?” he asks softly.

I let out a huge sigh of relief. “It’s paradise. Thank you. I…got too hot down there.”

Indeed.

He shows me to the railing at the edge, and even though it has a screen, the cold air rushes in. I inhale a deep breath, looking out over the lights of campus just a few blocks away. He stands next to me, a few inches to the side, eyes on me and not the view.

A sigh comes from his chest. “Look, I came on too strong down there. I can be a bit abrupt, it’s just I get tired of girls…” His lips twist as his words taper off.

“Throwing themselves at you?” I arch a brow. “I watched a girl crawl on the floor to get to you tonight. I get it.”

He shrugs broad shoulders, the movement graceful yet filled with power. “I don’t encourage it.”

“Just a normal day for you, huh?”

“Yeah.” He blushes. Actually blushes.

I stare down at our joined hands and remorse hits. I shouldn’t have stalked him. The entire idea was stupid. “You know…I’m sorry. I did go to the Tipsy Moose to see if I could talk to you, and yes, I was behind that column waiting for you. I even tried to approach you in class a few times, but I always chickened out. It wasn’t for bragging rights.” There. It’s all out. Relief flows. “I’m just…shy…and I couldn’t figure out how to be a regular person, so I thought I might tag along to where you go and see if we had anything in common.” I grimace. “We don’t. I can’t even hang at these parties. All I want to do is go home and crawl in bed. Maybe eat some snacks, maybe read some poetry.”

There’s silence, and I feel the weight of his eyes on me even though I’m staring at the lights below us.

“Sugar?”

I turn and meet his gaze, and my breath hitches at the heat I see reflected back at me.

“You’re not a jersey chaser. I get it. You just…took me by surprise. You’re very beautiful.” That last part is uttered with a deep sincerity, and I…I can’t stop looking at him.

I don’t think I’m beautiful; my nose is a hair too long and my ears stick out more than I wish they did, but the way he says the words makes me believe them. I lick my lips and he watches the motion.

“Your mouth is…perfect.” He steps in closer and rubs a knuckle across my lips, back and forth, until my lips separate slightly of their own accord, and before I can stop myself, I’ve kissed his fingers. It’s completely impulsive, yet right.

His breathing deepens as he continues that motion, tantalizing me slowly as if there’s nothing he’d rather do than touch my skin. “There’s something going on between us that’s…I don’t know…interesting. I knew it the moment I saw you.” He pauses. “I want you.”

I want you.

His words send a jolt of exquisite pleasure through my body.

He moves, shifting closer, the spicy scent of his cologne and fine leather lulling me.

I feel dazed. My stomach flutters. And my heartbeat—it’s so loud I wonder if he can hear it.

The moon is out and the light shows me the sharp granite angles of his face, the way his eyes burn. There’s heat there, ready to combust, just waiting to be lit with a match.

I inhale cool air, feeling lightheaded.

“Maybe it was meant to be, you following me around.” His fingers shift down to trace my jawline, outlining the curves from my cheekbone to my chin. He touches my bottom lip and then tilts my head up. “I want to kiss you.”