Page 16 of Unforgivable

Miscreant

If you really want to be prepared, I’d suggest three fingers.

I’m a big boy.

I choked on the coffee I had been guzzling as his crass words stared up at me. I was appalled by his implication, but was hardly surprised. He was trying to rattle me. I just couldn't let him know he'd partially succeeded.

Me

Not even if you were a proctologist would I let you anywhere near my butt.

Miscreant

Nervous for your first time? It’s okay, pookie. I’ll be gentle.

And just like that, my irritation flared at his flippant mockery. Instead of justifying him with a response, I did the first smart thing all morning and locked my phone, shoving it in my pocket. Walking across campus gave me ample time to let my over-thinking brain run wild with theories about why Hawk had drawn me in so easily. He was unreasonably attractive and charming, but it wasn't as if I was a flighty schoolgirl who lost all sense for a pretty face. I was surrounded by attractive men all the time. UT had plenty of them. None of them ever ignited my temper or fascination like Hawk did. It was vexing to say the least.

My classes passed in a blur, each one interrupted by periodic texts from him. Oddly enough, the texts had been free of innuendo or teasing and had been confusingly tame.

Miscreant

So were you born in Austin or somewhere else?

Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?

What superpower would you want most?

What kind of nursing do you want to do after you graduate?

Top three phobias….go!

What was with this miserable cretin? Did he have nothing better to do than play this one-sided game with me? I read and ignored each question he shot off, reminding myself with every buzz of my phonethat he was baiting me. He wanted my reactions, and he wasn't going to get them.

When I trudged through my door at the end of the day, I decided to turn off my phone and give myself some peace. That only lasted so long since more texts were waiting for me the next morning.

Miscreant

Top o' the morning, Sweetness. You didn't answer my questions yesterday. You're leaving me in suspense over here.

Me

Smarter men would get the hint.

Miscreant

I'm too pretty to be smart. Besides, these are important questions I need answered!

Me

Get used to disappointment.

Miscreant

I’m trying to play nice, Rhys. Humor me.

Everything in my gut told me nothing good could come from entertaining him. Despite what he said, Hawk was smarter than he let on and he was pulling me in for a reason. He wanted my complaint dropped, and he was clearly willing to cross lines to ensure it. Too bad for him, that was something I wouldn't even consider no matter what games he played with me. It was probably the first time in his perfect little life that he'd ever had consequences for his actions.

Far be it from me to deprive him of that lesson. I'd just let him think he was getting to me. It'd be satisfying to see him proven wrong.

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