But if you do, I’ll take it as a sign you love me.
Goose bumps sprouted on my arms. I tingled and shivered, my imagination running wild. Like I imagined Joseph strutting toward me with a molten hunger in his eyes, on the verge of exploding if he didn’t have me.
It would be scorching hot if he grabbed me out of the chair and threw me over his shoulder. The dining hall would fall silent, every pair of eyes on us. With his massive biceps, he could easily carry me out.
I wouldn’t struggle… much. Only play a little hard to get so he’d dominate and possess me. Then I’d beg him to take me to a private spot on campus. Or my dorm room. Or his place. Where we went didn’t matter. I only wanted to be with him.
Oh my God, being with him would be a dream come true.
Joseph intrigued me with all his secrecy. He gave nothing away about his personal life and never spoke of his family in Mexico or his interests and hobbies. What little I knew was stupid stuff I’d observed, like he didn’t like onions, raw or cooked. His left eye sometimes twitched when he got a text or a phone call. And this could’ve been a coincidence, but every time I saw a girl named Jessica from my apartment building, Joseph suddenly had somewhere he needed to be—and he’d bolt.
I’d asked Jessica if she knew him, but she’d said no. So perhaps I’d made more out of his weird behavior. It was possible.
If only he’d open up to me. Share his plans after graduation, and tell me about his childhood and his family. Confessing his desires would make my day.
My leg bounced rapidly, a growl rumbling in my throat. The more I thought about Joseph, the more frustrated I got. How could we have known each other for over a month, and nothing had changed? Why would he spend time with me but never ask for my phone number? Not that I had brought it up, either. I’d been afraid he’d say no… Call it a gut feeling.
“Well, great. Thanks for letting me down—”
“Who let you down, Bonita?” His gravelly voice licked down my spine, heating my lower regions. The scent of his cologne surrounded the table and nearly made me weep.
Dammit, I missed you.“Hey, stranger.” I peered over my shoulder as if indifferent.
“You sound upset.” Joseph sat across from me and studied my face. “What happened?”
“Oh, nothing.” I waved my hand like my comment wasn’t a big deal. “How’ve you been?” I forced myself not to smile and stayed neutral. If my feelings were one-sided, I’d never let him find out how much I wanted him.
“Good. Busy.” He didn’t take his eyes off me. I shifted slightly to squeeze my thighs when my clit started to pulse under the pressure of his intense gaze. “What about you?”
“Same. Busy. Only two weeks left.” My chest tightened at the thought of never seeing him again. Why did I mention school ending soon? “Are you excited?”
“Yeah. Sure. Aren’t you?”
“Mhm.” I hated how he always turned the conversation back to me.
“Not hungry?” He flicked his dark depths at my uneaten salad.
“No, I guess not. Where’ve you been?” I snapped my mouth shut. Jesus, Brynne. Must you act like a desperate psycho?
The corner of Joseph’s lip curled like he read right through me. “My buddy was in a car accident in Missoula last week. I’ve been out there helping him.”
“Oh my gosh. I hope your friend is okay.”Nice going, Brynne. He had a legitimate reason for being gone, and you wigged out.
Wait. Was it me, or did his English sound different today?
“He’s alive.” He shrugged, put his elbow on the table, and leaned closer to me. “You missed me, didn’t you?” Cocky and confident were the two words that always came to mind when I saw him.
My heart thundered in my chest. Was he about to kiss me?
Probably not, but please, God, yes.
“I don’t like eating alone.” Jeez, I sucked at flirting and playing hard to get. I memorized his handsome face, the shape of his eyebrows, and his sexy beard. But I avoided his full lips, which were his best feature… Next to his large hands and long, thick fingers. I squeezed my thighs together for all I was worth before I made a fool of myself and orgasmed involuntarily.
“Is that it, Bonita? I’m just your lunch date?”
My heart fluttered asBonitarolled off his tongue. One word, an innocent term of endearment, made me hot and bothered.
Don’t do it, Brynne. Don’t torture yourself.