Page 67 of Cold as Ice

Reached for his T-shirt, but suddenly Elliott was right there, fingers closing over his wrist. “I mean it,” Elliott said.

“You certainly seem to,” Mal agreed.

But will you next week when the next cute boy at the Gamma Sigma house propositions you?

Mal had known that if he took this road, it might mean less than he’d hoped it would. That it might only be scratching an itch. But the itch had intensified so much, he hadn’t cared.

Then, anyway.

He cared now.

No doubt Elliott would think that the caring was sweet and nice, but in the long run, it wouldn’t matter. Not when that cute boy batted his eyelashes.

“Wait a second,” Elliott said, frowning. “Imeanit.”

“I know,” Malcolm said. Then sighed. “I don’t . . .”I don’t want to share.

“You think I’m going to keep fucking around, on the side.”

“It’s your right,” Malcolm said.

But before he could shuck Elliott’s grip and finish getting dressed—finish his escape from this awkwardness—Elliott’s mouth was hot and lush against his.

Kissing him hard.

When Elliott pulled back, his eyes were gleaming like hard emeralds, full of determination. “I know my history makes it hard to be convincing,” Elliott said, “but I swear, I promise . . .” He broke off, making a frustrated noise. “Here. I’ve even got proof.” He grabbed his phone from the table next to the bed and scrolled through it and finally turned it towards Mal.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a text. I sent it days ago. To the guy at Koffee Klatch.”

And sure enough, there was a message from Elliott to “Cute Coffee Guy” that was nice, undeniably, but blunt, too.Sorry,itread,but I’m involved with someone else right now and I gotta figure out if it’s going anywhere.

Cute Coffee Guy hadn’t replied.

“He left you on read?”

Elliott laughed. “You know what that is?”

“I’m twenty-two, not a hundred and two,” Mal said dryly. “And you forget, I’ve spent four years playing with Ramsey. I was bound to pick up some things by osmosis.”

“Fair. And yeah, he did. Can’t say I blame him for being annoyed, but it’s true.” Elliott tossed his phone to the bed. “I’mveryinto someone else right now.”

“Me?” Mal could barely get the single word out without stuttering.

Elliott rolled his eyes but he was laughing, too. “Welcome to the party, Malcolm. You were late, but you got here eventually.”

It felt too good to be true. But Elliott gave him another one of those lush, wet kisses right before he left, winding his arms around Mal’s neck and not letting him go until he’d taken his fill.

Mal nearly took his shoes off and pushed him back onto the bed.

But he didn’t.

“Uh, weshould. . .uh . . .” Mal hesitated.

“Keep this between us? Yeah. Agreed.” Elliott shrugged. “I don’t think anyone would probably understand. And it’s not any of their business, anyway.”

Mal nodded once in agreement. And then realized he had no reasons left not to walk out the door.

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