Page 61 of Tricky Girls

I smirk, settling in behind her. ‘You’re telling me.’

‘You’re crazy,’ she says. ‘Literally crazy. You’ve still got clothes on!’

‘Would you rather I didn’t? I can make that happen.’

She shakes her head, hair plastered to her back like an oil spill. There’s a tattoo on her left shoulder but I can’t make out the design.

‘You invited me in,’ I say to her.

‘I need to stop joking so much with you. It’s clear you’re a literal creature.’

‘Not literal. Just hear what I wanna hear.’

She chuckles, still fussing with those damn bubbles.

I stroke a gentle finger along her arm. ‘Is this okay? Because despite what Elly says about me, there’s nothing more of a turn off than doing something a girl isn’t into.’

‘This is fine,’ she assures. ‘Really weird but fine. Besides, there’s nothing going on here, is there? Just two gal pals saving water.’

‘Right,’ I chuckle. ‘I don’t have a boner at all. Not at all.’

Tilda laughs. ‘Such a guy. Harriet—and I’m being legit serious here—am I actually your type? Like, for real. Would you go home with someone like me? Or are you just messing with me?’

‘Yes, already did, and yes. Tilda, man, I hate people. I wouldn’t get into a fucking bath with just anyone.’

She hums and I know without looking there’s a smile on her face. ‘Shame about the blue balls you’re gonna get with me living here then.’

‘Believe me, there’s no shame in you living here.’ Leaning forward into the wet heat of her, I put my mouth to her ear. ‘Sharing a bath is one thing, but it won’t be long ‘til you’re sharing my bed.’

There’s a long pause where I don’t dare move.

‘That was good, actually,’ Tilda finally replies. ‘I felt a tingle.’

My grin goes unseen. ‘Yeah, and how about multiple orgasms, wanna feel that?’

‘Not sure a girl can make that happen, but sure. Who wouldn’t wanna feel that?’

‘Only one way to find out, princess.’

I give her wet hair a ruffle before heaving my way out the bath and picking up my towel. Don’t want to overstay my welcome.

‘You know where I live, just say the word.’ At the door, I swing back. ‘Or no words. A kiss would do the job.’

CHAPTER 17

Tilda

Besides the east tower, the St Juliana lecture theatre is my favourite place in the whole castle. It has the same vaulted ceiling as in the grand entrance hall, electric lamps swinging between the beams and casting dim, buttery light. Floating out of ornamental columns and casting sinister shadows are sculpted angels, their halos limned in gold.

No matter how pretty though, in December, the place isfreezing.

Despite how large our course is, we barely fill half of the maroon velvet seats. Like the gentlewomen they are, Elly and Haz have me squished between them ensuring I don’t freeze over the next hour. I definitely have temperature regulation issues, but these two are always warm as wolves.

I like lectures. You don’t have to do much, just sit there looking in the vague direction of the projector screen with your tablet on your lap. The light in here’s so dim that no one can tell if you’re paying attention or not. And after a long week of tutorials and seminars, this Friday afternoon lecture is always one I look forward to the most.

As bored as I am waiting for it to start, Haz sits jiggling her knee, the motion jogging my chair and making me dizzy. I put my hand on her knee to stop her, but she only takes the opportunity to thread our fingers together. I roll my eyes at the smirk on her face, but don’t pull away. She’s just too warm.

Down by the stage, Tommy enters, passing in front of the projector and elongating his shadow to epic proportions. When he catches my eyes, I give him a wave but Haz slaps my hand out of the air.

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