I waved a hand, still not making eye contact, almost to the door when he jerked me back by the edge of my shirt.
“You’re forgetting something.”
I spun around and stared up at him, confused. Then, it hit me. “Oh, yeah, my jacket.”
The corner of his lips turned upward, transforming that smirk into a full-on smile, and then his stare flickered to his pants. “I’m supposed to get down to my boxers.”
My eyes widened, most likely popping out of their sockets. “No way. That’s where I draw the line.”
A knock forced our attention to the door. “Are you—”
“Not ready yet!” Austin shot out, the humor gone from his face, like someone coming through that door had hit the off button.
“She’s a professional. She can help you out of your pants.” I smiled and reached for my jacket on the chair.
“Come on.” There was a little whine in his tone. “I know how these women get. Seriously, it’s the one thing I’m deathly afraid of.”
I frowned like he was crazy. “Why?”
“They get all touchy-feely and giggly. They take pictures when I’m sleeping. Pop up in the most unexpected places. Please. I’m begging you here.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No.”
His jaw tensed as his eyes pleaded with me. “I’ll owe you.”
“What can you possibly give me that I want?”
He stood there, contemplating. “I told you I’d go with you to see Alec.”
“And I told you I don’t need you there.”
“Come on … Syd,” he said, like we were dear old friends and of course I owed him this much. “Please. Seriously, you don’t know what it’s like to be me. Having every woman’s eyes on me when I walk into the room, like I’m a piece of meat.”
I rolled my eyes then. “Oh, sorry, oh fine one.”
He closed his eyes, pressing his good hand to his forehead. “No, I’m serious.”
“I know you’re serious, and you’re also very cocky.” I shook my head. There would be no winning this fight. “Fine,” I snapped. “I do this, and I’m going to call in any favor I freaking want.”
“Deal,” he said immediately, his face flooding with relief.
I dropped my jacket and stood in front of him, my belly going all fluttery again. Damn his cute face. My fingers dropped to the waistband of his jeans, and I firmed up my shoulders, trying not to be affected by the mass of him, but it was so dang hard not to.
I unbuttoned his jeans, not without effort. Even though I avoided eye contact, I could feel his eyes on me, burning a hole through me.
“Thanks, Syd.” His warm breath cascaded down my skin, causing my nipples to pucker up without warning.
I hated how my body unwillingly reacted to him. How I couldn’t get my body to connect with my brain. I slid his zipper down and reached for his waistband, my fingers skimming around toward his backside.
“I really appreciate you helping me.” His voice was hoarse, shaky even, and I wondered if I was affecting him in some way or if he was simply messing with me.
I swallowed as I pushed the jeans past his waist. He was magnificently shaped, like Adonis in the flesh, his torso curving to a delicious V that made me salivate.
Damn me and my hormones.
It had been a long while since I’d gotten some. One year and two months, to be exact. I had been six dates in with the last guy before we had sex and he ghosted me without a trace afterward. Asshole. Not that I had been attached, but it’d stung. But not more than Dylan, who’d left me right after my mother died. Asshole times two.
Yes, concentrate on the assholes. Not Austin, standing in front of me, bare chest in my face.