Page 27 of Deck of Scarlets

Josh almost closed the distance, just enough space to speak without our lips touching. My toes curled guiltily. “Use the window in your dorm next time. Don’t ever come out here again this late.”

When he finally released me, I stumbled back on the wet grass, only to take my slipper and give it a good throw at his head. “I can’t believe Nickie is with you.”

He dodged it at the last second, shaking his head. “Really? You’re ridiculous.”

I assessed him up and down. “Says the one dressed in all black.”

Josh smirked at my wandering eyes. “You’re quite fixated on my attire.”

“Stop trying to change the subject.”

Those dangerous lips curled into a Cheshire Cat grin. Fuck, I hated how it made my stomach flutter. “Go inside.”

“Make me, asshole.”

Josh smiled at the challenge and came forward. Trying my best to sneak past those large hands, I was too slow and got tossed over his shoulder, then he carried me back the way I ran, leaving my other slipper completely drenched in the grass.

“Put me down!” I whacked at his chest, only to find hard muscles under the layer of clothing. My hands throbbed.

“Keep your voice down,” he commanded in a tone so deadly that I remembered my common sense and kept my mouth shut.

Not a single complaint came out of his mouth carrying me back up the steps, only to drop me right in front of the Carman Hall entrance.

I stood facing the doors, lacking a slipper, waiting for him to leave.

“Get your key out. I’ll make sure you get safely inside,” Josh quipped.

Rolling my eyes, I pulled the lanyard attached to my key card out of my pajama shorts pocket and waved it over the censor, hearing the click indicating it was unlocked.

Without looking back, I entered, only to turn around to find him holding the door open. I threw my arms out, exasperated. “What do you want now?”

Josh’s baby blues traveled from my bare legs up and over my arms, where he took notice of the little arrow tattoo on my inner right arm. His unexpected touch against my skin where the tattoo was embedded sent goosebumps all over, revealing my forbidden desires.

His lips parted as if touching me was an intimate moment we shouldn’t have shared. Leaving my skin sizzling from his soft fingertips, Josh removed himself from my personal bubble and let the door slowly shut on its own, but not before he had the last word. “Sweet dreams.”

Snapping out of the lustful stupor, I flipped him off through the glass and said loudly, “Good fucking night, asshole.”

He smirked and gave a little sarcastic salute of farewell and disappeared, leaving me with a guilty conscience, heated in forbidden areas of my body, and one shoe.

Chapter Eleven

Sneaking back into our room without a sound, I huffed a soft sigh in frustration. Who the fuck does he think he is telling me what to do? What makes him the goddamn boss? I needed to relax and keep my cool before I disturbed Heather. She slept as if nothing could wake her.

Lucky.

Eventually, I found myself dozing off after I took the last sip from my flask, trying to simmer the rising irritation.

Morning came faster than expected, with Heather awake at her desk, curling her red hair. She carefully parted each piece and twisted it until steam sizzled, reminding her to release that piece before it disintegrated on the metal plates.

“What time is it?” I asked, my voice sounding hoarse.

“Eight-forty-five,” she replied, twirling another piece around the curling wand. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna shower.”

“Okay.”

Grabbing my bag of toiletries, I left our room and trekked down the hall to the female bathrooms. A few girls were already in some of the showers; one had their music blasting, while another stall smelled of vanilla and lavender, filling the room along with the excessive amount of steam. I chose the shower second to last and slipped in, discarding my clothes and turning on the tap. Cold water shot out from the shower head, making me yelp with surprise. I quickly adjusted the temperature before sticking my head back underneath the waterfall of grimy city water.

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