Page 2 of Rock

She smiled, even though she knew she was nowhere close to being in his league, what with her mouthful of braces and total lack of makeup. She pushed her glasses up on her nose. “It’s okay. I’m used to it. Jackson’s a good guy. He just likes to posture in front of his friends.”

“Mmm. Not sure I like how he speaks to you.”

A shiver wracked her body. Was this guy sticking up for her? She squeezed her books tighter against her small breasts, grateful the cover was keeping him from noticing how young she was or that her nipples were suddenly hard.

His voice.Yikes. Deep and sensual. He never looked away.

She licked her dry lips, unable to keep moving past him.

“You’re in calculus too, aren’t you?” Rock asked. “I think I’ve seen you coming out of the third-period class.”

Stunned didn’t begin to describe how she felt. She gaped at him. “Yes,” she whispered. “I could help my brother myself, but he doesn’t like it when I do. Emasculating or something.”

Rock chuckled, the deep resonating sound making her heart race. “I understand that.”

She lowered her gaze to the jacket draped over his arm to avoid the intensity of everything that was Rock. When her eyes landed on the sleeve, she leaned in closer. “Is that patch a teddy bear with wings?”

He held it up for her to see better. “Yep. I’m a member of the Shadowridge Guardians MC. It’s our logo.”

“A motorcycle club?” She felt stupid for asking. Duh. Obviously.

“Yep.”

She’d never known anyone from a motorcycle club, but she knew one existed in town. “Aren’t you kind of young to belong to an MC?” she asked before she could filter herself.Shut up, Lyla. Just. Shut. Up.

He didn’t seem upset by her question. He simply shrugged. “My parents are members.”

Ah. So he’s like a legacy or something.

He nodded toward the fruit bowl. “You’re an artist.”

She shook her head. “No. I just dabble. It’s nothing really.”

“Can I see?”

Eyes wide again, she gaped at him. “Not a chance.”

His lips rose in a slow smile before he reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. His rough fingers lingered. “Okay. Keep your secrets. But I’m going to ask again, and one day you’re going to show me what you’re hiding, Little Lyla.”

She sucked in a breath. Every inch of her body was on fire. The hottest boy/man she’d ever seen was standing inches away from her. He was still toying with her earlobe, and he was looking her right in the eye.

She glanced at his full lips, her overactive imagination wishing he would kiss her. That was absurd of course. He surely had women fawning all over him. Not girls. Women. Sexy women with nice boobs and skimpy skirts. Women with fancy hair, makeup, contacts, and perfect teeth.

“I should go upstairs,” she murmured.

“Yeah, you probably should.” His half smile caused her tummy to flutter. “Think of me when you’re sketching. Remember: One day I’m going to look through that sketchpad, Little Lyla.”

Why did he call her that? She couldn’t make sense of it, but it did something to her. It made a knot form in her stomach. She didn’t want to go upstairs. She wanted to stay down here with this man who was giving her his undivided attention. She wanted him to look at her like that for hours, stroke her hair, speak to her in that sexy, rough voice, and call her Little Lyla.

In your dreams.

The sound of her brother stomping back down the stairs made her flinch and take a giant step back. Her face flushed as if she’d done something naughty and was about to get caught.

She’d done a lot of naughty things, in her head at least. All sorts of naughty ideas flitted through her mind. She’d never kissed a boy before, but she’d bet this man could kiss like a real man. She’d bet he could do other things too, and she’d love to experience them.

Don’t be ridiculous.

“Why are you still down here?” Jackson demanded as he jumped the last few steps to the basement floor.

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