Page 64 of The Ruler
“One meter and ninety-two centimeters.”
“And how old are you?”
His grin slowly spread wider and his eyes became hooded in a seductive way. “I’m honored that you take such interest in me. Do I turn you on?” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“What are you doing?” I asked, pointing to his eyebrows.
“I saw it in a movie. It’s supposed to excite women.” He did it again, humor sparkling in his eyes. “Does it excite you?”
“That’s a definite no.” I laughed.
“Then how about this,” He sat up and rolled his sleeve up, flexing his large muscles.
“Eww, no.” I shoved at him but he just laughed louder. “I’m not some woman from the twenty-second century drooling over muscles.”
“Damn!” He muttered with mock disappointment. “What if I told you I am waaay above average down there?” He looked at his crotch.
I shook my head. “Nope, doesn’t excite me either.”
“So how do I make you crazy for me?”
“You don’t,” I said. “And you can stop flirting now.”
“Why? I like flirting,” he said and winked at me.
“What’s wrong with your eye?” I was grinning now because Finn was so playful and despite the fact that he was clearly coming on to me, I felt safe with him.
“What are you doing?” I asked when his hand snaked slowly toward me.
“There’s this one thing that I’ve seen in movies and I want to try it so bad,” he pleaded.
“I’m not sleeping with you,” I said quickly.
“That’s not what I wanted, but I wouldn’t say no or anything.” He paused, giving me a chance to regret my refusal.
“No!” I repeated.
“Right,” he said and shrugged. “But I want to see if women really squeal when you tickle them.”
“I hate being tickled,” I said but he still came closer, grinning from ear to ear and before I knew it, I was squealing like a pig while Finn was roaring with laughter and tickling me mercilessly.
“Stop, stop,” I squealed in between fits of laughter and felt like a kid again.
It was the sound of his wristband beeping that made him stop, and out of breath he pressed to be connected to Magni.
Magni’s image popped up, half of Khan’s head visible too.
“Yeah?” Finn said, “What’s wrong?”
Magni frowned. “Finn, why are you out of breath like that?”
“It’s nothing. We were just talking. See, Pearl is fine.” He turned his wristband to me and I knew they would see my flushed cheeks.
“Did he touch you?” Khan’s voice came directly to me.
“No, nothing happened. We were just trying to see who could hold our breath the longest,” I said and felt disturbed at how easy that lie came to me.
“That’s stupid,” Magni commented.
