Chapter Twelve
Sienna
Noah clutchedthe neck of the bottle between two fingers, the beer dangling from his hand down his side. “I don’t like playing games, Sienna.”
“Who says I’m playing?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Noah.”
“Then what exactly are you doing?”
I frowned. “What do you mean what am I doing?”
“That other guy, your brother’s friend. You were practically glued to his side the whole night. And then I find you in the kitchen with Oakley.”
“Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t realize that what I do and who I do it with is actually your business.”
“Sarcasm is very unbecoming.”
“And you’re a jackass.”
He rubbed his palm across his jaw, and I heard the scratchy sound of his stubble beard. Not even the slight twinge of annoyance could tame my attraction toward him. The dim lighting of the cellar highlighted the amber hues in his dark hair, the white shirt a beautiful contrast against his tanned skin. Noah had sexy nailed to a T without even trying. The way he moved and how he talked, even in the way he fucking breathed, he oozed with confidence and this hypnotic charisma that had me all tied up. It was impossible to look at him and not want him.
He took a swig of his beer, iced irises never leaving mine. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”
I crossed my arms. “What do you care?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why are we even having this conversation right now?”
He pressed his lips into a thin line, diverting his gaze away from mine for just a second before looking at me again. “Like I said before, you don’t know me. So, I’d caution you against playing games with me.”
“I’m the one playing games?” I stepped closer, pressing my finger against my chest. “You’re the one who made it clear that nothing can happen between us, and then when I talk to another guy or have a conversation with my ex-boyfriend, you act like I’m doing something wrong.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then what the fuck are you saying, Noah? Huh? You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either?”
He shifted from one leg to the other. “Something like that.”
Silence dropped like a grenade between us, and all I could do was stand there and look at him, trying so damn hard to ignore the way I felt whenever I was around him. It wasn’t something I could explain or something that even made sense to me. There was just this strong, almost palpable connection that sparked between us, and no matter how much I wanted to ignore it…I couldn’t.
“You can’t do that to me, Noah.” I lowered my voice. “That’s not fair.”
“Yeah, well,” he scoffed, “life isn’t fair. Trust me. I learned that the hard way.”
And there it was. That one second of vulnerability that cracked through his tough exterior.
I eased back. “You got hurt.” It wasn’t a question but rather an observation.
“We live in a cruel world, Sienna. Everybody gets hurt in some way or the other.” He gestured in my direction. “You of all people should know that.”
“You’re right. I do know that.” I tucked a curl behind my ear. “But I also know that everyone has their own cross they need to carry, and using yours as an excuse to fuck with other people is nothing but the cowardly way out of dealing with your own shit.”
“Do not act like you know me,” he gritted out between clenched teeth, pointing a finger right at me. “You don’t know shit. I’m not one of your college boys who have nothing better to do than play with their dicks and follow girls around hoping to get laid.” He inched closer, white-hot flames burning in his eyes. “You think I’m fucking with you? You think I’m toying with you, enjoying this little game of cat and mouse between us?”