Page 74 of Becoming Selfish

“Baby.”

“Use it in a sentence.”

I laugh aloud at his persistence. “You’re ridiculous, baby.”

He reaches across the center console and presses his smiling lips to mine, before leaning back in his seat and shaking his head in satisfaction.

I like seeing him this way, and I have a feeling that I’m the only one who ever has.

He leans across the center console again with his arm reaching out. Just as I think he’s about to pull me in for another kiss, he reaches behind me into the back seat and pulls his laptop out of his bag before opening his door.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m coming with you,” he states as if it should be obvious.

“Eli...” I drag out his name, silently telling him he doesn’t have to do this.

“Logan...” he says my name in the same mocking manner.

“I don’t want you to miss your party just because I don’t want to go,” I tell him, trying to reassure him that I’d be totally fine with him going. Even though, there is a nagging ache in my chest that doesn’t want him to leave me. What is happening to me? I’m never clingy.

“You think I’m going to leave you after the night we just had, and after you just called me ‘baby’, baby? Besides, I really don’t want to go. I would rather work on my paper upstairs with you.” He gives me a soft grin.

God, he’s beautiful. I’m in trouble.

“I really do need to work on my paper, though.” I raise my eyebrows, shooting him a knowing look.

“Logan. Are you accusing me of wanting to come upstairs for a reason other than academia?” He quickly leans across and brushes his lips with mine. “I’m offended,” he says in mock disgust before laughing at himself and getting out of the truck to jog over and open my door.

I’m still giggling as I climb out, but I’m not sure if it’s because of his humor or the fact that he just seems so giddy right now.

As we walk into my dorm room, a blanket of heat instantly surrounds us.

“Logan, are you kidding me?” Eli hurries over to the thermostat to turn in down.

“I thought it might be cold when I got back.”

“You’re going to give me heat stroke, woman,” he says as he peels off his sweatshirt, taking part of his shirt with it and giving me visual access to his perfectly chiseled abdomen.

My mouth gapes at the view.

He catches me staring and quickly pulls his shirt down to cover himself. He has a cocky grin on his face as he shakes his head. “I don’t think so, young lady. We have schoolwork to do.”

I’m really regretting making that rule in his truck.

Taking his jacket off, I drape it on the back of my chair where it belongs. I reach for the hem of my sweatshirt before remembering that I didn’t wear a shirt underneath, only a bra. Sifting through my drawers, I pull out a pair of shorts and a cropped tee, wanting to change into something cooler and more comfortable.

“Turn around,” I instruct Eli.

He eyes the clothes in my hands before giving me a very smug, “No.”

“Excuse me?” My eyes light up at the thought of him wanting to watch me undress. I quickly recall just this morning I was standing here in only my robe, the spot between my legs aching, as Eli took in every inch of my body with his eyes.

“I’m not turning around.” He shrugs, testing me as he puts his hands in his pockets.

I hold my ground and his gaze. Just as I see the flicker of hope cross his face that I might actually undress in front of him, I reach out to the wall and flip the light switch, instantly coating the room in darkness.

He chuckles from across the room before. “Well, fuck.”

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