Page 23 of One of Them Girls

“My car, my parents, the tractor. You name it and I can probably change the oil. Hell, most parts honestly. That’s not from being raised with boys, though. That’s all my dad. He wanted me to know how to take care of myself. Besides, living on a ranch meant taking care of things yourself. Daddy never hired anyone to come tend to his machinery.”

“Fuck, I shouldn’t say this while you’re in my arms, but you keep getting hotter and hotter.”

“Oh, so I don’t intimidate you?” I quip.

“You do. For all I know, you’re about to chop my dick off or you’re about to kiss me, but fuck, that just makes you sexier.”

“You say that now, but if you dated me, my mouth would get old real quick.”

He pulls back so I tilt my face up to look at him.

“I don’t know who you dated in the past, but there’s nothing wrong with your mouth. Hell, if I was in a better place mentally, I would do many things with that mouth.”

His eyes glance to my lips. My tongue sneaks out, wetting it. I think I hear him mutter something like “fuck it,” but I can’t be sure because the beating of my heart drowns it out.

Just when our lips are about to meet, a sudden, loud noise in the room startles us a part.

“Fucking gross ass roommate of mine,” Xavier mutters.

My hand flies over my mouth as I try to withhold the laughter. “Did he just fart?”

“Yes, that fucking cockblock.”

I press my face into his chest as I let the laughter flow. A few seconds later, I feel Xavier’s chest shake with his own amusement.

“I think that was a sign we should go to sleep. We have class tomorrow,” he says.

“We do,” I agree.

He pulls me in closer before whispering in my ear. “‘Night, Adra.”

“‘Night, Avi.”

In the warmth of his arms, I allow myself to drift into a peaceful sleep.

* * *

I startle awakeat the slamming door.

“Fuck, why are you always so goddamn loud, Jack?” Xavier murmurs into my hair.

I breathe in his scent as I cuddle closer to his chest. I feel completely content as I hear the beating of his heart beneath my ear.

His hand reaches out to run his fingers through my hair.

“Sorry, princess. I didn’t realize you still had company. Besides, it’s like noon. You should be up by now.”

I shoot straight up. “Noon? Fuck, I have to go. I’m going to be late to class.”

Xavier chuckles. “Late? Try I missed all of my morning classes.”

I wince. “Sorry.”

He stands up, watching as I pull my shoes on and grab my bag. “It was worth it.”

My belly warms at his words. Missing class was worth it. Does he mean because of me?

Is it wrong that I hope it’s because of me?