Until Harry(41)

His eyes didn’t waver from said legs. “They don’t look stumpy. They look longer.”

I snorted and shook my head. “You’re losing your mind.”

“I think I am, because your legs are seriously looking good to me right now – and so is the rest of you. Since when do you dress like this?” he asked, and swayed a little.

“Are you drunk?” I quickly grabbed his arms. “How much have you had to drink?”

“I’m good, just a little tipsy.” He shrugged. “Just a couple cans of Bud, but we did some Jack Daniel’s shots when we got here. Three of them, I think. Or maybe it was four?”

Whisky? I thought on a groan. Brilliant.

My Uncle Harry loved Jack Daniel’s, but he always said it was a grown man’s drink for a reason, and seeing Kale struggle to keep his balance proved that theory correct. He wasn’t slurring and still had his wits about him, but he was slowly starting to fade.

I opened my mouth to ask if he wanted me to get him a glass of water, but out of nowhere two girls appeared at his side and shamelessly pressed their bodies up against him, giggling. “Hey, Kale,” the red-headed girl on his left purred. “Do you remember me?”

“And me?” her blonde friend murmured.

I glared at the both of them, anger and jealousy swirling inside of me. “If you have to ask, maybe neither of you was very impressive.”

I clamped my mouth shut when I realised I’d just spoken out loud, while Kale, on the other hand, laughed. Both girls ignored him and narrowed their eyes at me, moving to step towards me, but Kale prevented them from getting near me – thank God. He stepped forward and blocked my body with his.

“I don’t think so, ladies.”

I heard annoying complaints, and threats, but instead of Kale getting mad at the obvious ex-mattress-dancing partners he was turning down, he politely sent them on their way with the wish of them having a great and safe night.

Even tipsy he was almost too perfect, and it irritated the hell out of me. He turned to face me, grinning down at me. “Are your claws stowed, kitty?” he asked.

I pretended not to know what he was talking about. “Can I get you some water?” I asked.

He chuckled and took hold of my hand, sending jolts of electricity up and down my spine. “Come with me. I want to talk to you somewhere I can hear you clearly.”

I followed him then and was surprised to find he was leading me back up the stairs Lavender and I had just descended. At the thought of my friend, I cringed. “Shit, Lavender,” I grumbled, and looked over my shoulder but saw no sign of her.

She was probably still with Daven, the prick.

“Where are you bringing me?” I shouted over the blaring music to Kale.

“Somewhere quiet,” he replied, and led me down a long hallway and took a right, then opened the first door on the left. We entered a white bedroom that was dimly lit by a lamp in the corner of the room.

“Whose bedroom is this, pup?” I asked Kale.

I heard the door close.

“It’s a guest room.”

I blinked and turned to face him, only to find him leaning against the now closed bedroom door. “How do you know it’s a guest room?” I quizzed.

He grinned. “I’ve been here to party a few times.”

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to know how many girls he’d shagged in this house, or in this room. “I don’t want to be in here if you bring girls here for sex.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I’ve never had sex with anyone in here. I just know it’s a guest room.”

I eyed him, and when I saw the truth in his hooded eyes, I nodded.

“Come here,” he said.

I blinked. “Why?”

He shrugged. “’Cause I want you to.”

“Okay,” I said with a quizzical look, and I walked over to him, stopping a few inches away.

“You never answered my question downstairs,” he mumbled and reached out, placing his hands on my bare hips, causing my eyes to widen.

I blinked at the sound of my thudding heartbeat.

“What was your question?” I asked, not recalling anything I had said, because he put his hands on me.

He smirked. “I said, since when do you dress like this?”

I nervously swallowed. “Since tonight. They’re Lavender’s clothes; I’m just borrowing them.”

He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and let his eyes roam over me once more. He looked at me like he appreciated what he saw. He looked at me like I wasn’t a kid, or his best friend. He looked like he . . . desired me.

“Since when do you look at me like that?” I asked, my breathing becoming a little rapid.

Kale’s eyes flashed with fire as he grinned at me. “Since you wore those skinny jeans and I saw you in your bra two months before you turned sixteen. You started looking more like a woman than a little girl.”

I almost fell over. He’d noticed me back then?

I rolled my eyes as if what he said didn’t affect me. “It’s my boobs, isn’t it?” I asked, teasing.

I was trying my hardest to play it cool.

Kale’s eyes zeroed in on my chest. “It’s always the boobs, Lane.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You perv.”