Page 6 of A Little Tempting

“So, do you seriously not remember my actual name?”

“I remember,Dylan.” My name sounds like a caress as it slips past his lips, making my stomach clench even more.

He does know it.

Noted.

If only it explained why he doesn’t use it.

“Oh,” I murmur. “Okay, then.” I turn back to my paper, unsure what to do or say after opening my stupid mouth.

“Why did you think I forgot your name?” he questions.

My pen hovers an inch above the paper as I debate whether or not I should even reply. If I do, I’ll probably blush again, and if I don’t, he’ll think I’m a bitch, which is the last thing I need, considering the fact we’re partners in this class. Finally, I give in and look up at him again. “You called me Thorne.”

“Your last nameisThorne.”

“Well, yeah, but why call me Thorne if you know my first name?”

“Maybe I need the reminder that I know your brothers.” His mouth lifts, but it only fans my confusion.

Tucking my hair back behind my ear, I ask, “Why?”

“Because I’m pretty sure they’ll kill me if I forget.” His attention drops to my mouth, and his amusement grows. “And if your brothers don’t, Everett will.”

My forehead wrinkles. “What about Everett?”

“I’m sure he’ll explain one day,” he offers cryptically.

“Should I call you by your last name, too?”

“You already do.”

My brows cave. “Reeves is your last name?”

“Surprised?”

Uh, yeah. Kind of. I literally never hear anyone call him anything else. I guess I assumed…

As I fiddle with my pen, my curiosity gets the best of me, and I blurt out, “What’s your first name?”

“No one calls me by my first name.”

“Obviously, or else I would’ve heard it by now.”

“Excuse me,” Mr. Broderick snaps from the front of the room.

My eyes bulge when I find his gaze pinned on me, his bushy brows pulled low in disappointment.

Way to go, Dylan. Pissing off your teacher on the first day.

Now, everyone’s looking at me.

Ground, please open up and swallow me whole.

“Sorry,” I squeak.

“As I was saying…” Mr. Broderick turns back to the whiteboard, continuing his spiel as Reeves leans even closer to me.

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