Page 16 of Filthy Little Pretties

“Would you like me to be?”

“You wish.”

My words come out so quiet. I can’t help it. Grey’s eyes are on me, and I don’t even have to see them to tell. My whole body can recognize it. I know what male attention feels like, and I know what it feels like from mature men. Especially ones who know exactly what they’re doing.

But this. Grey. Holy hell.

“You got me. I do wish.”

I can’t look at him. He’s managed something I didn’t know I could still do. I’m blushing. My hand darts out to steal the paper in his hand, but he doesn’t let it go, holding it between his fingers and forcing me to tug. My eyes tip up to his. “Let. Go.”

“Say please, Cherry.”

He points toward a door, and I nod, tugging again, but he raises a brow, waiting for me to be polite.

“Please,” I barely concede.

“I like the way that sounds.”

He hums before letting the paper go and making my cheeks feel hot again. And they’re getting hotter by the second, so I turn away and try for a subject change.

“It’s weird. You’re like the most familiar stranger. Except you look exactly how I thought you would.”

“How’s that?”

“Devastatingly handsome. Broody and dangerous.” Jesus, shut up, Donovan. I’ve turned into a complete idiot. Thankfully, I manage to keepsexyandfuckableinside my mind.

“And you expect me to stop trying to fuck you when you say things like that.”

I push at his shoulder as he gives a silent laugh and shake my head. “Shut up. We can be friends without benefits. It’s all the rage.”

He opens the door, ushering me in and staring down at me arrogantly, before whispering his words into my ear. “My dick is the benefit. Otherwise, I have nothing to offer.”

I would laugh, loudly, but—library.

“I should’ve guessed. Boys like you only have one thing going for them. It’s fitting, really, because you never were very bright.”

His shoulders shake as a wide smile exposes his amusement.

“Always with the comebacks. I still can’t beat you.”

“Maybe when you grow up.”

My faux nonchalance is exposed by my voice; it’s way too suggestive. I’m flirting. I shouldn’t be, but I am. He started it. Grey’s bottom lip deposits itself between his teeth, pulling out slowly as our eyes stay locked, rooting us in place. Still, after all these years, I can see the wheels turning in his head, searching for a comeback.

He’s unreadable but still predictable.

He pulls my schedule from my hands and puts it on the counter for the attendant, not breaking our stare. I’m not breaking first. No. Damn. Way. The boy behind the counter, maybe a freshman, clears his throat and says my name quietly, pulling my attention and forcing my loss.

“Do you want them all?” he says, pointing to the schedule.

When I don’t answer fast enough, he walks to a stack of books and brings them back for me to take. Shit. That’s quite the stack.

“The books…do you want all of them now?” he repeats.

Grey grabs one from the middle. “Put them in her locker. Leave the lock open.”

Without any other sentiments, like a thank you, he turns and takes me with him, back out of the door.