Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
I’m a little taken aback by how far this prank has spun out of control.
I should clear this up and tell her it was nothing more than a joke. But before I have a chance, she storms out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
I shift from one foot to the other and reluctantly look at Carter. If the air had been charged before, it’s all but crackling now. His stoic expression looks like it’s been carved from stone. Every muscle in my body tenses as I suck in a breath, waiting for him to lose his temper.
I hold up the scrap of paper Hookup Girl shoved in my hand. “I’m, ah, just going to throw this away.” I clear my throat. “Obviously, I won’t be needing it.”
With his lips pressed into a tight line, Carter stalks closer until we stand toe-to-toe and glares down at me. His irises have turned an unnaturally striking silver hue that make it impossible to look away.
Self-preservation makes me take a hasty step away. I search his face for the tiniest clue as to what he’s thinking, but his expression is closed off. The red stain from the slap has spread across his shadowed cheek, leaving a handprint.
When I continue trying to retreat, Carter advances until my back hits the living room’s brick wall and I have nowhere else to go. He places one hand on each side of my head, caging me in. My heart stutters a painful tattoo under my breast as his face looms closer. My breath wedges in my lungs. I’m not sure if it’s from his nearness or his barely restrained anger. In all the years I’ve known Carter, not once has he frightened me. But he does now. I’m half afraid that he’s going to wrap his hands around my neck and strangle me.
And I wouldn’t blame him.
Not entirely.
I crossed the line this time.
By like a mile.
I should apologize. It won’t change what happened with the girl who just stormed out of here, but maybe it’ll diffuse some of the fury flashing in his eyes. The fact that he hasn’t lost his temper concerns me. The silence I’m being treated to is way more frightening than getting my ass reamed.
My tongue darts out to moisten my parched lips. Nerves dance along my skin when his eyes track the movement. “Look, Carter—”
He shakes his head just once.
I swallow painfully past the thick lump that has settled in my throat as he lowers his lips to the side of my face. My thighs clench as his warm breath feathers across my ear.
“You want to play?” he growls, his bristly cheek sliding against my smoother one. “Then we’ll play. Game on, Thompson.”
My knees turn to jelly and threaten to collapse. I lock them and fight to stay upright.
He pulls away, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “What’s wrong?” he mocks. “Where’d all your bravado disappear to?” He smirks and heads back to his room.
Once the door closes, I blow out a breath and wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. I’m embarrassed to admit that my panties are flooded with heat. Had he continued touching me for one more second, I probably would have—
Filled with horror, I force that thought away where I can’t inspect it too closely. Clearly, I need to avoid Carter until this all blows over.
That shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
7
CARTER
As I push through the doors of the small lecture hall for sociology, I pause and scan the tiered rows until spotting the back of Daisy’s head. Even with her long hair pulled up into a bun, I would recognize that particular shade of blond anywhere.
She’s been absent from the apartment these past few days. I’ve been busy with football, so it’s possible that we’ve just missed each other. But I doubt it.
Daisy is operating under the assumption that I’m pissed about the crap she pulled the other morning.
And I let her think it.
But I’m not.
Far from it, actually.
Not that I would ever admit it to Daisy, but she did me a solid by getting rid of that girl so quickly. I had zero interest in meeting up with her later that night. The only reason I’d taken Jackie home in the first place was to get my mind off my delectable little roommate. Yeah, that turned out to be an epic fail.
I shake my head and bite back a smile.
That girl…
Daisy’s got a spine made of steel and brass balls to match. I wish I could say that those qualities weren’t attractive, but they are. And I’m certainly not the only one who thinks so, either.
Once my eyes fasten on her, they don’t deviate. I’m like a hawk zeroed in on its prey while making my way toward her seat in the middle of the room.
My gaze travels over the slim column of her neck. It’s long and swan-like—