Page 19 of Cold as Ice

Elliott opened his mouth and snapped it shut again. He’d actually meant it as a compliment, but naturally, Mal was so fucking prickly he’d thought Elliott was poking fun at him again.

“Actually, it’s a good idea.”

Normally, Elliott might’ve ratherdiedthan admit to Mal that any of his serious over-preparation was good.

Mal didn’t need more encouragement in that direction.

But for someone he didn’t want to help and a task he didn’t want to do, he’d still put the time and effort andthoughtinto this.

It was impressive. And interesting.

“Are you okay?” Mal asked, staring harder at him. “Are you really Elliott or are you a shapeshifter just pretending to be Elliott?”

“Elliottcantake some stuff seriously. Like passing this class,” Elliott said bluntly.

“Alright then.” Mal nodded. Pulled out a notebook. “Let’s start with the basic building blocks of statistics.”

The next hour might’ve been the most boring of Elliott’s life. At the end of it he still didn’t like math, but hedidunderstand it a little better.

Malcolm pushed the notebook away and leaned back in his chair. “Good job,” he said. “If I’m being really honest. . .I didn’t expect that to go so well.”

“I’m not stupid,” Elliott retorted. Telling himself that he wasn’t upset, not in the least, by the surprise on Mal’s face. Maybe hehadthought Elliott was stupid. That wasn’t another fucking blow to his ego, or anything.

“No, you’re not,” Mal said dryly. “But I was more talking about your ability to be focused on one single topic that isn’t hockey or a hot guy or a beer pong tournament or a party on frat row.”

“Ouch.” Elliott winced. “I’m notthatbad.”

Mal shot him a look.

Okay, maybe he could be, a little. But this wascollege. Shouldn’t he be having some fun, too?

God knew Malcolm’s general personality could be improved by some fun.

“Maybe Iwasfocused on a hot guy,” Elliott teased, leaning in a little, just to see how Malcolm would react.

Would he freeze him out? Or would he melt a little?

Mal stiffened and shifted away, looking down as he slid his notebook into his backpack. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said firmly.

Elliott had actually gone out of his waynotto check out Malcolm during their tutoring, but now that it was over, he let his gaze sweep over him. And his cock still loved the way he looked. His body still wanted to get as close as possible.

See what he looked like—what hefeltlike—when he lost some of that serious reserve and got desperate.

“I’m not being ridiculous. You are, factually,hot.”

Malcolm glared. “You just behaved for a whole hour. Don’t start that shit again.”

“Jesus, you can’t even take a fucking compliment,” Elliott retorted. “With how much you hate me even telling you that you’re attractive, I’d think I was some gay guy hitting on a straight bro who didn’t even look at hisowndick.”

Mal’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? Just because I don’t wantyoumeans I don’t want any guy? I gotta go, because if I’m being honest, I’m not sure there’s room in this room for me and you and your fucking ego.”

He picked up his backpack and before Elliott could attempt to explain—though he wasn’t going to fucking apologize for thinking the guy was hot, okay?—Mal was gone, storming through the door.

“Well, that went fucking wonderful,” Elliott said to the empty space where Mal had been sitting only a moment before.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. Typed a text to Ramsey.Let’s go grab a drink.

Spoiler alert: you’re not twenty-one,Ramsey texted back.

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