Boyfriend Bargain (Hawthorne University #1)(32)

Our lips move slowly, tasting and exploring, and my hand pulls her closer, until she can feel the hardness in my jeans. It goes on, our mouths taking more and more, and I don’t want it to end. We break apart with small movements, our faces still leaning in, and I brush my lips across hers again. I stare down at her. “Now that will give the gossips something to talk about for a while.”

“Sheee-it, get a room,” Boone calls from behind me, and she huffs out a laugh.

A few minutes later, the guys at the dartboard call out to us, and we walk over to where they are. Eric gives Sugar a hug while Reece hangs back, a reflective look on his face. Veronica just stares at her nails as she sits on the couch.

I introduce Sugar to the players. Boone finds out she’s taking law classes and starts questioning her about if it’s an easy major or not. He keeps a respectable distance between them and keeps his eyes on her face—trust me, I’m watching. She brings out all my alpha male instincts, and I feel protective just looking at her. She sends me little looks under her lashes every now and then as she talks to him, and I wonder what she sees on my face.

Amazement, probably.

She…is…fucking exquisite.

“Yo, you ready to go?” Reece says a few minutes later.

“We just got here,” I say, not able to keep the exasperation out of my voice.

“He’s in a mood. Probably his shoulder again,” Eric mumbles to me before leading Sugar off to play darts.

Yeah. Whatever. I know it isn’t his shoulder.

“Dude, I’ve got a test tomorrow,” Reece says again.

My jaw pops. I wish he’d just driven himself.

“You offered to drive,” he reminds me, holding up the beer he’s drinking.

I did agree to drive everyone because I’m not drinking during hockey season, and I am the captain. It’s up to me to make sure no one does anything crazy.

The calendar on my phone pings with a reminder of everything I have on my plate tomorrow, and I roll my shoulders, feeling the tense and tired muscles there. Truth is, maybe it is a good idea to head home. I have to run, go to class and hockey practice, plus drive to the city for another therapy session. Frustration eats at me. I want to get over this hurdle of anxiety. I want my life back, and I need rest or my body is going to fall apart.

“Five minutes and we’ll go,” I tell my brother.

“Veronica is coming with us,” he says as she hooks her arm through his. She meets my gaze and gives me a triumphant look, as if somehow she’s winning by being with Reece. Whatever.

I shrug. “You’ll be the one bringing her back to her car later.”

He gives me a tight nod.

I walk over to Sugar, Eric, and Boone, who are playing darts, telling them that we’ll be leaving soon.

Eric reads my face. “Sure, man.” He looks at Sugar. “See you at my party, right? You know I wouldn’t be opposed if you brought a pie.”

She grins. “It took me two hours to make that. How do you feel about donuts instead?”

“Sold.” He pats me on the back, walking off with Boone.

“I like your friends,” she says.

I glance over at the table where she came from, a guy and a girl there watching us with avid interest. “Maybe you can introduce me to yours?”

She frowns. “Sometime, yeah, maybe.”

I pop an eyebrow. “You embarrassed of me?”

“Well, this is just pretend, so…” Her voice drifts off.

I exhale. She’s got a fortress around her.

“Come here a minute,” I tell her as everyone else hangs by the door, getting their coats on.

“Yeah?”

I pull out my phone, hold it out for a selfie, and wave it at her. “I don’t post a lot on social media, but it might be good if we did some Instagram stuff and maybe your guy at Vandy will see it. Priming the pump a bit.”

“That’s a great idea.” She perks up and moves to stand next to me, and I lean toward her until our heads are together then snap the picture. I kiss her on the cheek and snap one more. She’s laughing and taking my phone and looking at the photos.

“We look nice.” Her gaze is bright when it meets mine. “Send those to me?”

I shrug. “Sure.”

She chews on her lip. “Are you really leaving?”

“You’re welcome to come with me.”

She laughs and, just to mess with her and perhaps on impulse, I wrap my hand around her nape and pull her to me, pressing my lips to hers one more time. I kiss her, my tongue sweeping in to taste her, and when I pull back, her lips are red and swollen—and mine.

“Just in case that first kiss wasn’t enough,” I say.

She nods, her face pink. “That’s four.”

“You’ll stop counting.”

She smirks. “I’m keeping a tally.”

Reece calls my name again.

I say goodbye and head to the door.

Part of me wants to look back at her, but I know she doesn’t want that. She wants me to keep it simple. Uncomplicated. Yeah, I’m wondering how long that’s going to last…





15





Sugar





Both Poppy and Taylor are waiting on the edge of their seats when I come back to the table.