“So, I take it you slept together?”
I put the car in drive and pull out onto the road. “Unfortunately, no, and it’s not for a lack of trying.”
She looks just as confused as I feel. “Then what happened?”
“Asher happened,” I groan. “He basically declared us celibate. He said we can kiss, but that’s it. Apparently, even though we’ve made out, he still thinks it’s wrong for us to sleep together.”
“He said that?” The amusement is clear in her tone.
“Don’t laugh at me. A girl has needs, Len, and this compromise as he likes to call it, is getting in the way of having those met!”
Her hands raise in surrender and she chuckles. “I’m sorry. It’s just funny. Most guys would kill to have a girl who wants sex as bad as you do.”
I slam my head back against the headrest in frustration. “I know! Ugh. What is wrong with him?”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this though? Even just doing something with him?”
My one brow raises. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She shrugs. “Well, you told me after everything with your uncle, it took you weeks before you could stand doing anything sexual with Easton. With what happened last weekend, I’m worried that maybe it’s bad timing.”
I get her point. I do. And I know she’s only saying it because she cares, but no part of me is willing to let two douchebags’ actions get in the way of this.
“I’m okay, really. It sucked, and it was hard to deal with, but I’m not going to let it get to me the way I did six months ago. I won’t let someone else’s choices have that power over me again. I refuse.”
I don’t tell her about the flashbacks, or how the nightmares have become so frequent that I’m barely sleeping. It’s classic mind over matter. If I convince myself I’m okay, I will be. Plain and simple.
I’M SITTING AT MY desk, admiring the way Asher looks in that suit. Judging by the way he’s struggling to stay focused, he’s having just as much trouble as I am with pretending we don’t want to jump each other’s bones right now. Every few minutes, he glances in my direction, and I have to look away to keep from smiling. As a distraction, I fiddle with the scarf that hangs around my neck—a necessary accessory for today.
The bell rings and everyone stands up, collecting their things.
“Miss Callahan, can I see you for a second?”
He sounds all professional when he says it, but I know I’ve done nothing to attract the attention of Mr. Hawthorne, meaning instead I’ve attracted the attention of Asher. Kellan gives me an odd look, but Lennon, being the goddess she is, grabs his attention when she brings up the party he’s throwing this Saturday. As soon as they’re gone, Asher appears behind me.
His hand brushes against my side, and I instinctively lean into his touch.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
My breath hitches. “What?”
“Take off the scarf, Tessa.” The authority in his tone threatens to make me obey him without question, but there’s still that little bit of resistance I hold onto.
“See, I would, but then everyone would see the hickey on my neck that makes it look like I had a make-out sesh with a vampire.”
He reaches in front of me and removes the fabric himself, then moves his mouth next to my ear. “The fuck do you think I put it there for?”
I turn around, finding him standing so close I have to bend my neck to look at him. Despite how much I want to cave under his intense stare, I smirk.
“You’re awfully possessive for someone who won’t sleep with me.”
He lets out a breathy laugh, licking his lips and checking me out for a second. “Just because I won’t fuck you doesn’t mean I can’t get you to scream.”
I bite my lip in the way I know he loves-slash-hates. “Oh yeah? Prove it.”
The next bell rings, and he grins as he steps back. “Go to class, Callahan.”
I do my best to cover the mark on my neck with my hair, just to irritate him. Then, I grab my books and walk out of the room, swaying my hips as I go. I don’t need to look back to know he’s got his eyes on my ass.