Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Don’t get fucking hard right now, man.
“Nothing.” He chuckled a few more times than sobered.
“No, you have to tell me what’s so funny.” She tried to act serious, but he saw the way she smirked.
“Your question just sounded like a really bad pick-up line.”
For a moment, all she did was stare at him, and then she started laughing, like a full, real laugh that made this warm feeling consume him.
God, he loved her laugh.
After a long moment, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and sobered. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me laugh like I hadn’t done in a long time.”
Maybe that shouldn’t have made him feel as good as it did, but shit, he was fucking riding cloud nine right now. He cleared his throat, because what he felt right now was so amazing it was almost uncomfortable. “To answer your question, I’ve been here a lot of times. They have a special on burgers and fries after the dinner rush, so it’s cheap eats.”
She looked around. “I wish I’d come here more than I have. I like the feel of this place.”
Yeah, so did he. It wasn’t just because of the cheap food at night, but because the atmosphere was easygoing, unlike half the other shit going on in his life. It was like a whole other world, the different era making him able to pretend for a short time he didn’t have some fucked-up upbringing.
“You want to tell me why you seemed like something was wrong when I ran into you?”
She glanced at him sharply then, and he didn’t miss the way her pulse beat rapidly beneath her ear. “What do you mean? I was okay.”
He knew the look he wore as he stared at her showed that he didn’t believe those words.
“Was it because of what happened at Alistor’s party?” His voice had gotten harder at the fucking memory of that piece of shit putting his hands on her.
After a second, she shrugged. “Kind of, but not so much.”
“Then what is it?” He saw the way she started picking at the napkin, her focus on her hands.
“Surely you’ve heard the rumors about me?” She looked up at him.
He shook his head, answering honestly, “I don’t listen to that bullshit gossip. I mean, look at the fucked-up shit they say about me.” He didn’t press her on what was wrong, but he knew something was bothering her. Yet if she didn’t want to talk about it, he understood. “Listen,” he said and leaned forward. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I get it. Trust me. But if you do—” He gazed into her eyes, hoping she saw how sincere he was about this. “—I’m here to listen.”
She stared at him for so long he didn’t think she would say anything, but then she exhaled, placed her hands in her lap under the table, and leaned back.
“There’s a rumor going around that I’m sleeping with you, and that’s why you kicked that guy’s ass.”
Every single part of his body went tight. His pulse started racing, his palms went clammy, but he forced himself to remain cool and collected on the outside. But hell, the thought—of hearing her talk about sleeping with him—instantly had arousal moving through him like a damn freight train.
“And on top of that, I had a little run-in with Lindy in the bathroom, and that just put me in an even bigger shit mood.”
The very mention of Lindy was like acid on his body. He couldn’t help the sound of disgust that left him, didn’t miss how Keira clearly heard and how her eyes widened.
“I guess you’re not a fan of her either?” she asked softly.
He grunted and shook his head. “Fuck no.” It was strange, but he swore he saw relief on her face. “She’s up her own ass too much. Not to mention, I swear fucking her way through the male student body is some kind of sport to her.”
“She wants you,” Keira said instantly, and he sure as hell didn’t miss the jealousy laced in her voice.
“Lindy wants anyone with a dick. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if she hoped to fuck the staff, Mr. D included.”
“I think everyone wants to sleep with Mr. D.”
Jealously now hit him like a punch to the side of the face, but he played it off like he didn’t care that she found the principal of Black Mountain hot enough to fuck. “Everyone, huh?” He made himself have a teasing note in his voice, even though possessiveness was heavy in him where Keira was concerned.
She shrugged, and he tried to see any outward cues that she was part of that group. “Not me. He’s a little too old for my taste.” She laughed, but before he could say anything, Judy was coming by with their food. When Judy left them alone, Keira said, “And I don’t listen to the rumors either, not normally.” She looked down at the table for a second as if thinking of what to say or how to say it. “But I guess when those rumors are about yourself, it’s hard to block them out.”