Page 19 of Monster's Delight

He pressed a kiss to my neck, just below my ear, and goosebumps raced across my body.

“I’m not interested in being distracted from my studies,” I replied.

“Every time you answer a question in class, I get turned on. There’s no way I want to interfere with your studies.” He kissed me again, a little lower, his teeth scraping over my skin. “Maybe I can study with you.”

“Not sure much studying would get done,” I gasped, my knees weak. He’d been watching me? His grip on my hips tightened, supporting me. “You’re in my classes?”

“I’m hurt you didn’t notice me. Does that have something to do with the guy you usually sit with?” His voice deepened to a growl.

I laughed. “Chuck is distracting in a bad way. I’m more focused on the professor than the other students.”

“Chuck isn’t your boyfriend?” He sounded possessive, and I liked it.

“We dated for about a week last year, before I discovered that he was a scumbag who thought that the academy should only allow witches as students.” It still made my blood boil. “He says he’s changed, but I don’t care. I don’t want him.”

“Good.” He spun me around until we were facing each other. “You’re interested in me, but don’t want the distraction of having a boyfriend. What if we only see each other when you’ve got the time? You need time to relax sometimes, right? I can help with stress relief.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I chuckled. “You’d be willing to do that for me?”

His face serious, he nodded. “You have no idea what I’d be willing to do for you.”

“Will you tell me your name?”

He smirked. “I’ll play you for it.”

“What?”

“I’ll challenge you for it, Siobhan. What do you say?”

The way he said my name felt like a caress. I gave myself a shake. “I could just ask your friends.”

“You could. But where’s the fun in that?”

He traced my jawline with a rough fingertip, tipping my head up. My heart pounded as he drew closer. I saw a flicker of red fire within his eyes, which I dismissed as a reflection from the neon lighting from behind the bar.

“What’s the challenge?” I asked in a whisper. I could feel his breath on my lips, enticing me to close the distance between us.

“Billiards,” he replied smugly, standing upright once more. “For every ball you sink, I’ll tell you one letter of my name.”

“That doesn’t seem fair,” I protested, already missing his warmth. “What if your name has a lot of letters?”

“It doesn’t.” He played with a curl of my hair, twisting it between his fingers. “I’ll give you a choice; either I tell you how many letters in my name, or I’ll let you break.”

I bit my lip. It had been a long time since I played the game. Sinking a ball on a break seemed unlikely. “How many letters?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Quite.”

“Five.”

Hmm. It’s a start.

“Shall we claim a table then?”

“After you, Siobhan.” He gestured to the back with one hand, taking mine with the other.

It didn’t take long for a table to open up, and my mystery date quickly set up the balls in the triangle rack and then put the white cue ball opposite it.

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