A Whole New Crowd(9)

“Oh?”
“Yeah. Where’d you go?”
“Why do you care?” I frowned. “I don’t like the idea of my sister keeping tabs on me and reporting to you.”
“Relax.” He grinned. “She told Devon. I was right there so I heard. There’s no tabs and there’s no reporting going on, but I am curious where you went.”
“Why? I’m none of your business.”
“No.” He shook his head. “But you are damned intriguing. Where do you spend your time?” His tone softened, and he grew pensive.
I reacted to his change. Heat started to build inside me, and there was a small flutter in my chest. Then I rolled my eyes. For f*ck’s sakes. What was I doing? Developing a schoolgirl crush? I shook my head. This was the last guy I wanted that to happen with.
I fixed him with a chilly stare. “Aren’t you the busy bee with an inquiring mind.”
He laughed. The sound of it rushed over me and I sucked in my breath. Oh boy. I was in trouble. A corner of his mouth curved up, and he murmured, “For some reason, I am becoming a busy bee with you. You’re not like normal girls, you know.”
“I do know.” I flashed him a smile. “I’m smarter.”
Another laugh from him. It slid over me like a spray of water on a hot day. It was refreshing.
I scowled. It was a headache.
He tilted his head to the side. “You may be right.”
My eyes snapped to his. “Was that a compliment?”
He flashed me a grin. “What have I done to earn this horrible reputation with you? I’m being honest.”
The truth from him came loud and clear. He was being genuine, and dammit, I felt myself softening towards him. His eyes were warm and inviting. His tone didn’t reflect anything other than his honesty, and my interest was piqued.
I shrugged and forced myself to look away. “You haven’t done anything except ask me to risk losing everything. Other than that,” I smiled, “nope, you’re right. It’s unwarranted.”
His eyes darkened and dropped to my lips. “I asked the first time because Mandy made it sound like you would want to do it. I asked the second time because I was testing a theory.”
“Really?”
He nodded, his gaze never leaving my lips. “Yeah. A theory.”
My chest tightened. His words were weaving a spell over me, one that I enjoyed and hated at the same time. I found myself asking, “What theory was that?”
“That it’s a rush to you.”
“What’s a rush?”
“Stealing.” His eyes lifted, pinning me in place. “Taking what isn’t yours. You love it. You get off on it, don’t you?”
I shook my head. “It’s not that.”
“It’s not?” He reached for me, and I closed my eyes, feeling his hand take hold of my jeans. One of his fingers slid through a loop on my waistband, but he didn’t do anything. He kept it there, as if anchoring me in place. I couldn’t run. I didn’t want to run, and I frowned as I realized that. He asked, “So what is it? What did I get wrong?”
Tipping my head back, I held his eyes. “It’s not the taking something that isn’t mine.”
He grinned. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”
“It’s the power knowing that I can. I can take it if I want to and no one can stop me.” A shiver wound its way up my spine, but it was the good kind. It was the delicious kind. Remembering that power was overwhelming, beckoning me to remember what it felt like to yield it again. At the tips of my fingers, I could decide what was mine and what wasn’t. It was intoxicating. “It’s a rush.”
His thumb fell from the loop. It was pressed against my stomach, warm against my skin. The heat inside me was building again. Then he began moving his thumb, rubbing it back and forth, and I closed my eyes. My breathing deepened. One touch and I felt scorched by this guy. Then I stopped thinking. His hand curved in, and he pressed his palm to my stomach now. I was pulled closer to him. His chest was inches from mine. As my pulse quickened, I lifted a hand to push him away. I needed space, but it didn’t happen. Instead, my hand curved into his shirt and his other hand found my hip. He pulled me even closer. Our hips were touching now, a light graze against each other as we both stood there.
I wanted his touch. I wanted it in more ways than I had ever wanted Brian. My eyes opened and I realized what I was doing. I stepped away from him, breathing raggedly, but so was he.
“Shit.” His eyes raked over me.
I turned. I didn’t want him to see the evidence of his power over me. “Go to your party.”