Slow Play (The Rules #3)(30)

I want that. Damn it, I will make it my life’s mission to hear her talk to me like that just once.

“I wanted to say good night. I know we didn’t get to talk much and I feel bad about that. But you were sleeping and I didn’t want to bug you. Plus, I gotta admit…I hope I didn’t make you mad, coming over here to hang out with Conrad without asking you first.”

This guy. I roll my eyes at his lack of game. He needs lessons on how to talk to a woman, stat.

“It’s no big deal. You were friends with Conrad first, I get it.”

“Yeah, but I need you to know I didn’t come over here just for Call of Duty and pizza.” He pauses and I swear I hear him shuffle his feet. “I came over here to see you too.”

Irritation threatens to choke me. Guy upped his game, just like that. I can practically hear the mental awwww that’s happening in Alexandria’s brain right now.

“I’m really glad you did,” she says softly.

Unbelievable. She likes the sweet, aw shucks stuff.

Meaning, I’m completely f*cked.

“Can I text you tomorrow?” Steven asks hopefully, his brown eyes bright and seeming extra huge behind his glasses.

“Sure.” I shrug, not sure how I should respond. Indifferent maybe? I can’t flat out tell him no, that would be rude. But I don’t necessarily want to encourage him either. I feel like a jerk, having one guy in my bedroom while talking to another. I mean seriously, who am I, and what’s become of my life? I started this semester telling myself I needed to avoid guys and what, now I have a full-blown love triangle happening here?

No, not a real love triangle. I’m not going to get involved with either of these guys. I don’t care how kind Steven is and what a great kisser Tristan is. They’re both banned from my life after tonight.

Maybe…

Crap.

I press my swollen lips together and I swear I can still taste him. Terrible, horrible, arrogant, sexy, gorgeous him. I don’t like him, not really. The way Tristan looked at me right before I went to answer Steven at the door, his gaze running over my body like he could undress me with his eyes. So arrogant, so assuming.

I want him to kiss me again. I want to feel his hands on me.

Focus.

Steven smiles and I smile in return because I can’t help it. He’s just so sweet and nice and I hate letting him down but…

I’m going to eventually have to let him down. I can’t risk going on another date with him because I think he really likes me.

And I’m really attracted to someone else.

A someone else I can feel looming nearby. His commanding presence seems to fill the entire room and I can’t believe Steven doesn’t sense it. Sense him. My body is still vibrating from that kiss, from having Tristan’s hands all over me. I wrapped my legs around him and he pressed up against me like he wanted me to, oh I don’t know, dry hump him or something?

I go hot at the thought. I probably could’ve got off on his leg like some sort of demented sicko. So embarrassing.

“I’ll see you later then?” Steven asks, his voice cutting through my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.

“Yeah.” I smile wider, clutching the handle so hard my sweaty palm nearly slips off it. Nerves jangle inside me as I start to close the door. I need this conversation to end before I say or do something stupid and ruin it. “Good night.”

“Night Alex.” The door clicks shut on the sound of my name passing Steven’s lips and I press my head against the wood, closing my eyes. I hear Steven walk away, hear Tristan moving about my room and then he’s right behind me. Standing so close I can feel him, the heat from his body, the scent of his skin.

He places his hand at my waist, fingers slipping beneath the hem of my tank, touching my bare skin. Not an accident. I know what he’s doing.

And it’s working.

“I thought he’d never leave,” he murmurs hotly against my neck just before he kisses it.

I lift my head away from the door and tilt it to the side, giving him better access. He takes it, his mouth burning a path of damp kisses along my neck, the extra sensitive spot behind my ear. I shiver, pulling away from him but he just chases after me, his hand still at my waist, his mouth at my neck.

“Tristan.” It takes everything I’ve got to say the next words. “Stop. Please.”

He does. His hand drops, his mouth is gone and I turn to find him watching me, his expression downright savage. His eyes are wild, his hair a mess—from my hands I might add—his lips red and swollen and just like that, I want to jump him. Push him down onto my bed and have my way with him.

But I don’t. I stand my ground. Stand by my instincts. And they’re screaming at me to get him the hell out of my room.

“I think you should go,” I say, swallowing hard. The slightest tremor tinges my voice and I hate that. I don’t want to seem weak. He sees a soft spot and he’ll go in for the kill.

I know his type. I’ve dealt with them before. Confident, good-looking guys from wealthy families who get whatever they want, whenever they want. Including girls. I’ve let a few of them get me in the past.

No chance is it going to happen now. They’ve all hurt me at one point or another including my father. I’m concerned this particular one will knock a solid punch into my self-confidence…