Page 25 of Ink & Stardust

“What the fuck are you doing back here? There’re no classes in this area until this evening.” He steps in front of me, his eyes tracking from my head to my feet as if he needs to see for himself that I’m okay.

I hold up the water and crackers clenched in my hands in lieu of answering.

“You sure you’re okay? Fuck.” He blows out a hard breath, dipping down to pick up the remainder of his phone.

“Areyouokay?” I ask him the same question, given that he just shattered his phone against the wall after cussing someone out.

“I shouldn’t have thrown it,” he says, rising to his full height. “I’m just glad it didn’t hit you.”

“Is everything all right?”

I shouldn’t ask. Hell, I shouldn’t care. But for reasons I can’t even begin to understand, I do.

“Yeah, just a personal matter.” He shoves what remains of his phone into the front pocket of his jeans.

“Why areyouback here?” It’s my turn to ask.

“What?”

“You said there’re no classes back here until this evening, so why are you back here?”

“I’m a civil engineering major. I practically live back here.”

“Oh.” I nod slowly. “Okay, well...” I start to step around him, but he cuts off my path.

“What are you doing right now, Converse?” He glances down as if just remembering to check my shoes. “I think those might be my favorites so far.” He gestures to my bright pink low tops, a trace of a smile tugging at his lips.

“I have class. Why?” I ask, not letting him distract me.

“Skip it.”

“What?” I look up at him like he’s grown a second head.

“Skip it.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I need a distraction.”

“I’m sure you have plenty of girls who can help you out with that.” I move to step around him, but he’s quick to move with me, blocking my exit.

“What if I don’t want them?” He snags my wrist, tugging me closer. “What if I want you?”

It takes everything in me not to melt right into him and give him exactly what he’s asking for, but I know I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did.

“You can want me all you want.” I look him straight in the eyes. “But unless you earn me, you can’t have me.” I tug my hand out of his grasp, and this time, when I move to leave, he lets me.

I’m shaking so badly by the time I reach my classroom that I’m not sure if I want to scream, pass out, puke, or a little of all three.

Kai Elliot is one confusing, infuriating, maddening man. And somehow, I have to find a way to shake him, or it might just be the death of me.

Chapter Five

“What time are you getting here? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I might actually miss you,” I tell River, snorting when Maisie gives me a look from her bunk.

“Is that the hot brother?” she whisper-hisses, giving me a wide smile.

Maisie and Charlotte always talk about how hot River is, though they’ve only ever seen him in the picture that sits on my desk. I think it’s gross. Not because I think River is bad-looking or anything, but because he’s my brother and that’s just... yuck.

---