Page 80 of Corrupt Me

His hand went to the back of his neck and massaged. “Convenient.”

If it wasn’t for the phone in my hand, I might have reached out to touch him. The urge was there before I recognized it, to offer him support when it was obvious he was struggling. “If you’re suggesting I broke my phone on purpose, you can fuckoff the nearest cliff,” I snapped, more irritated with myself than him.

I didn’t want to be pulled by him, not when I was doing everything in my power to keep this casual between us.

Tristan chuckled, and I hated what the husky sound did to my insides. “Colorful.”

“Why did you tell me? Did Preston ask?—”

“No,” he interrupted. “The only reason he called me was because I was the only one who answered when he needed money. He couldn’t very well call our parents.” It bothered Tristan that Preston was icing him out, but it was so like Preston to use his brother when it was convenient for him.

I shouldn’t feel sympathetic for Tristan…and yet my heart wavered in his direction. “So you were an asshole to Brody for no reason.”

He shrugged, taking my bag from me and slinging it over his shoulder. He didn’t seem to care about the pink details stitched into the dark gray fabric. Not like Preston would have. “I had my reasons,” he muttered.

“Aren’t you supposed to be avoiding me or something? Scoping out your next victim?” We took a left, and I spotted Thorn Hall ahead.

“I am.” Something in his eyes bothered me. And I couldn’t tell if he was affirming that he was avoiding me or scoping out the next pretty girl to hook up with. Or both, but the way his eyes lingered over my body made me feel as if both parts of the equation pointed to me.

“I’m not your next victim. You said it yourself. What happened between us was meaningless. Just sex,” I threw his words back at him.

Tristan opened the door to our building, waiting for me to walk through. “I never said it was meaningless, Shortcake. But things have changed. What I want doesn’t matter.”

“What’s changed?” I demanded, frustration sharpening my words as I entered the building, turning around to walk backward so I could see him. “What are you hiding? Why won’t you tell me what’s happening? Are you in trouble? Is Preston in trouble?”

The door swung closed behind him as he strutted toward me. “All you need to know is that I’ll take care of it. I won’t involve you, but I’ll be damn sure you’re safe.”

My gaze narrowed. “Is that what you call this? Keeping me safe?” I snorted. My back hit the wall.

Tristan reached around me and hit the elevator recall button, but instead of pulling away, he remained in my personal space. Our noses nearly brushed as he leaned in. “I’ma hell of a lot nicer than the alternative, and that says something, Shortcake.”

I averted my gaze, choosing to stare at his chin than anywhere else. It was the only safe spot on his face that wasn’t deemed hazardous to my heart, but somehow even the sharp angles of his chin were sexy. “Tristan, I don’t have time for this.” I sighed, dipping down in an attempt to crawl under his arm.

He grabbed my elbow before I could escape. “Make time,” he gritted, dragging me into the elevator.

An enclosed box alone with Tristan equaled danger zone.

I whirled, my hair spinning out like a hand fan opening. “You won’t tell me what’s going on? So, what do you want from me?”

Brows furrowed. “I don’t know. And that’s the problem. But avoiding me is no longer an option. We’re going to be spending so much damn time together that you’re going to be sick of seeing my face.”

Doubtful. But I kept the commentary to myself, which I was proud of, considering the high levels of frustration burning through my blood. I didn’t know what came over me. Suddenly, I was moving closer to Tristan. “And how are you going to handle seeing me so much?” I tipped my head back, my eyes flicking tothe hoop shining at the corner of his mouth. “Who is going to protect you from me?”

It was his turn to be pressed against the wall. “Ever,” he growled, and the use of my name told me I was getting to him, just as I wanted.

The elevator doors glided shut, but neither of us moved to hit floor number three. “If you wanted to see me, Tristan, you could have just said so. You didn’t need to make up an excuse or use Preston.”

“You have no idea what you’re playing at.” His tone grew rough, and somehow, I liked it more.

“Show me.” My tongue darted over my lips, knowing Tristan watched my every move and it would draw his attention to my mouth.

He’d toyed with me for the last time. He deserved to have a taste of his own medicine. The plan was simple. As soon as he moved in to kiss me, I’d turn my cheek, denying him. Then a quick knee in the nuts.

My plan to snub him went immediately to shit.

I hadn’t anticipated Tristan stroking my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb or dragging it down so my lips slightly parted. I hadn’t foreseen him capturing my eyes with his dark, smoldering gaze or how every inch of me instantly flushed.

Just when I thought I gained the upper hand, even by an inch, Tristan swept the floor out from under me.

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