Page 56 of A Voice In Chains
We lock eyes, and I wave him over, ignoring the curious glances I get from Harrison and Ryan. I get it—I’ve gone from cold to hot, ignoring and taunting him one minute to inviting him to sit with us the next.
After pulling out the chair next to me, I stab the pasta on my plate, pretending my body doesn’t light up when he settles beside me. “You want to get some food?” I ask, nudging my chin to the queue, which is significantly shorter now than it was earlier.
Arkin shakes his head and removes a packed lunch from his bag.
I had no idea Mum packed him those.
Harrison leans forward on my other side. “Jones giving you any trouble?”
Arkin unwraps his ham sandwich with a small shake of his head and then takes a large bite, strands of dark hair falling forward.
The other day, he spoke to me at the abbey before we…
Memories of Arkin lying beside me on the grass freshly fucked invade my mind, and a blush creeps up my neck. I quickly stab some more pasta spirals to distract myself.
Will he ever talk to me? Truly talk? I wish he would. I want to listen to him for hours. It doesn’t matter if he discusses broccoli versus cauliflower. I just want to hear his voice.
“Hi, Zach,” a feminine voice sounds in my ear.
A girl bats her wispy lashes, twirling a strand of strawberry blonde hair. I think her name is Gemma, but I could be wrong. If I remember correctly, she’s in my business class. Either that or economics.
Beside me, Arkin takes another large bite before dropping the sandwich back down to wipe his hands on a paper napkin.
“Hi,” I reply, but it sounds more like a question. It’s not that I’m unused to women openly flirting with me—it’s common practice—but this is the first time it’s made me uncomfortable.
She squeezes in between me and Harrison, nibbling her lip in a way that’s supposed to be seductive. “I hear you and Amy broke up.”
Before I can answer, she walks her long nails across my shoulder. “How about you help me study for our exam tomorrow? I’m home alone tonight if you want to come over.”
Across the table, Ryan sticks his tongue into his cheek and jerks his hand in the universal gesture for a blowjob, which makes the other guys snigger, and he high-fives one of our teammates.
I kick his shin, stifling a chuckle, but then freeze when Arkin puts his hand on my thigh beneath the table. I suck in a surprised breath, and he glides those long fingers higher up my leg.
Gemma leans down, her top lowcut enough to offer a glimpse of her black lace bra. “I hear you’re very good at studying.”
Beside me, Harrison chokes on his fizzy drink, and then one of the other guys smacks him on the back when he starts to cough.
Arkin palms the outline of my dick, and I jump in my seat, earning a few curious glances. I’m not fully erect yet, but I’m well on my way to a painful hard-on in the middle of the canteen.
“I’m busy tonight,” I choke out.
Ryan gives me a look that says,“What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you tapping that?”
I ignore him, grabbing Arkin’s wrist beneath the table. He’s surprisingly strong, or maybe I don’t want him to stop what he’s doing.
Gemma chews her gum, about to say something else, when Amy clears her throat behind Ryan.
If the cafeteria were a U-boat, alarms would blare right about now to warn of an incoming missile attack.
With her hip cocked and her arms crossed, Amy oozes hostility. “Look what the cat dragged in. Are you lost? The skanks’ table is in the corner.”
Gemma pops a pink bubble. “How original. Still struggling with your IQ, I see. Tell me, is that the best insult you can come up with?” She looks her up and down condescendingly, then finally—fucking finally—walks away, but not before she winks at me. “Let me know when you’re free to help me study.”
I sink lower in my seat with a groan. What a fucking mess. Amy glares at me accusingly and arches a brow. “Really, Zach. That slag?” Then she smiles at Arkin. “Hi, handsome.”
She walks up to him and plops down on his lap with a glance in my direction.
Ryan mouths “awkward,” but I ignore his attempts at humor. It’s almost impossible not to roll my eyes at how Amy pushes her tits against Arkin’s chest like a cat in heat.
