Page 74 of Pick Me

“We?”

“Tanner. He said part of the stipulation for him accepting a place here was for me to join him. As long as I got my grades up, I’d meet the requirement for entry.”

“TannerblackmailedCovey U?” I couldn’t believe it. The golden boy of the college might not be so golden after all.

She shrugged. “Not really. Our parents called it negotiations, and it worked. I’m not proud of having to ride on the coattails of my much more talented brother, but I needed out of that place.”

“Understandable.”

“So we did it.”

Her gaze dropped to her hands, and I felt this awkward tension in the room. I knew what she was thinking without her telling me. Shame. That was why no one knew about the incident. Once again, she felt like she didn’t belong here, and all these assholes not talking to her was proving that.

Well, she couldn’t be more wrong. She’d just opened up to me and revealed something no one else knew, and I needed to show her what that meant. I wanted her closer. I needed her to know she had a friend in me… if she wanted it.

“Come here.” I beckoned her with my finger, and after a little hesitation, she moved slowly toward me. Why did I like the little control I had over her so much?

Her eyes were glued to mine as she closed the distance between us. When she stood next to the countertop, I shifted to face her.

“Thea,” I said, standing toe for toe in front of her as I took her in. She was a short thing but curvy in all the right places; her stupid sweatshirt was covering it, though. “You’re incredible.”

She shook her head, pushing me lightly. “No, I’m not.”

I fell back into place. “Yes, you are. You not only blackmailed an institution and got away with it, but you also broke a guy’s arm. It is by far the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard come out of a woman’s mouth.”

Speaking of, she was wearing a deep-red lipstick tonight and looked powerful as fuck. How I yearned for her to overpower me.

“What’s with you? It’s like you’re trying to sweet-talk me.”

“And it’s like you’re willing to tell me every one of your secrets just to stop me from asking about last night.”

She sucked in a harsh breath. “You’re talking nonsense.”

I shook my head, stepping forward and gauging her reaction as I did. “I’m just telling you the truth. I want you, and I think you want me too.”

“What makes you think that?” She leaned in to me.

“Plenty of things. First, you aren’t hiding away in your locked room. Second, you told me a secret you’ve been guarding since you got here. Third, I tasted it last night when you kissed me.”

Her gaze dropped to my lips, and I wished I could figure out what she was thinking. I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t push her until she asked me to.

“You really think you know all about me, don’t you?”

She was inching her way closer so slowly if I weren’t concentrating on her every move, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.

“I do now, Pyro. The only question I have is, are you going to take some time and get to know me?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, her chin tipping up. We were close enough that I could cup her cheek and kiss her like I did last night. I wasn’t going to do it. Matty was right.

Let her come to me…

Without warning, she wrapped her arm around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss.

Well, that was easy.

Punishing and frantic, her kiss caught me off guard. Last night, she was so tentative, and it was only after her hips started rocking that I realized she was into it. Tonight was different. Tonight, she was making a point. She was showing me who was in charge. As if I didn’t know already. Her hands slipped through my hair, tugging at the strands. I loved it. The fire between us, the electric energy. It was crazed. It was frenzied. It was us.

Gripping onto her hips, I lifted her onto the countertop and backed away enough to throw her a questioning glare. I knew what I wanted to do, but I had to wait for her.

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