Page 27 of Devil's Kiss
Derek swallowed. This close up, he noticed that there were flecks of gold around Jordan’s—Waitttt up.When did I start thinking of him as that? As…Jordan?
Had it changed because he was so close that Derek could smell the cologne that lingered over his skin, or was it because Jordan was hovering over him in a way that made Derek want to scoot forward in his chair and press his mouth to the one that had just asked him a question?
He wasn’t sure, but one thing Derek knew for certain was if he did this, if he left with Jordan and laid all of his secrets out for him, then it would forever change things going forward.
ON HIS WAYover to the library, Jordan had gone back and forth on his motives for why he was doing this. But each time he talked himself out of following through, he thought of Professor Hamilton and her words to him:“Find what makes you work the hardest, and dare yourself to make a difference.”
And that’s what he was doing. His motives were well intended, Jordan knew that, but as he lingered mere inches from the man peering up at him, he knew those same motives, at least some of them, were less than pure.
“Yes,” Derek finally said, his voice pitched so low that if Jordan hadn’t been as close as he was he might have missed it. “I want to talk.” Then he was moving.
Derek shifted forward in the chair, causing Jordan to back up, and as he straightened to his full overwhelming height, Jordan raised his head so he could look up into Derek’s face and suggested, “Then let’s go.”
Side by side they headed for the exit, and when Jordan caught a crooked smile tug at Derek’s lips, he raised an eyebrow at him in question.
“You’re kinda short. You know that?” Derek said.
Jordan’s mouth fell open with indignation, and then he jutted his chin out, as if it would help add inches to his height. “Andyou’rekinda bulky.”
“Bulky?” Derek said as he pushed through the doors and then held one open. Jordan sashayed by, and as it shut behind them they stepped out into the cooler night air. “It’s called muscular, and I’ve worked damn hard for it.”
“And this”—Jordan gestured down his own body with a sweep of his hand—“is called lean. Not short andnotlittle. Don’t let looks deceive you. I am quite capable of handling you, even with all that extra bulk you carry around.”
When Derek’s eyes tracked down over him and Jordan realized what the hell he’d said, he inwardly groaned and headed for the stairs that led to the parking lot.
“Hey, wait up,” Derek called out, but Jordan wasn’t stopping—hell no. He needed to get in his car and use the time between the drive from there to wherever they decided to go to get himself together.
Professional, he reminded himself. Youare a professional.
When he reached his car, he popped the locks and opened the door just as Derek came to a stop beside him. With the door open and between them, Jordan asked, “Where did you want to meet?”
The puzzled look on Derek’s face would’ve usually resulted in some smartass comment from him, but right now, with the night and a weird vibe settling between them, Jordan wanted an answer so he could get in his car and get away from the guy for a minute…or five.
“I thought thiswaswhere we were meeting.”
Oh for the love of…“I just assumed we would go and?—”
“Grab a coffee?” Derek supplied. “Yeah, I know. But…” Derek’s eyes lowered to his feet and he shuffled back and forth. He appeared nervous all of a sudden. But what Jordan couldn’t understand was why.
Frowning, Jordan suggested, “We don’t have to do this. We can stay here if you like, or go someplace else?”
“No, no, it’s fine,” Derek quickly said, and when Jordan shook his head and offered, “Really, we can go somewhere else—” Derek sighed.
“No, it’s just… Shit,” Derek said as his eyes flicked to Jordan’s car and the penny finally dropped.
Ohh, he has no way to get there.“Derek.”
When Derek didn’t look at him, Jordan said his name again in a tone that brooked no argument, just capitulation. “Derek. Look at me.”
As soon as their eyes met, Jordan’s heart tightened. He looked so…lost.
“Do you need a ride?”
“Yeah,” Derek finally mumbled.
“Okay. Then get in and we’ll track down that coffee, yeah?”
Derek gave a self-derisive laugh. “Why are you being so nice to me?”