Page 11 of Fire

“You want to trade sexual favors for tutoring lessons?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, because I don’t want to be overheard. And we’re in the library.

He casually shrugs, confidence nearly oozing from him. “Seems like a good trade to me.”

I lean forward, and even though I’m wearing only a T-shirt and cardigan, his eyes dart to the way the V-neck dips, revealing the slightest hint of cleavage. “Here’s the thing,Jimi.” I force a smile that exudes way more confidence than I feel. “I may look sweet, but I’m far from innocent.” I lean back in my seat, and he nearly groans in his. “And the only form of payment I accept is cash.”

“Jimi?” he asks, his voice slightly hoarse.

I grin—a real one this time. “Tit for tat, Hendrix.”

“It’s been a while.”

He blatantly checks me out again. “Clearly.”

“I guess I don’t need to ask why you’re here,” I say, taking a moment to return the favor and check him out. Hendrix seems to be one of those guys who has only gotten hotter with age. His sandy-brown hair straddles that fine line between styled and wild. His beard, however, is perfectly trimmed, allowing the sharpness of his jawline to shine through. The black suit he’s wearing fits him like a damn glove, but the tiny wisps of ink that peek out from his wrist and curve down his hand and knuckles only add to the appeal. Even the silver rings that adorn his fingers are hot, especially since he’s missing one on the all-important ring finger. “I’m surprised you aren’t marrying the guy.”

“Funny,” he deadpans. “ButEd…” He says his stage name with a strange mix of contempt and…sadness? “And I haven’t been friends in years.”

“Oh?” I raise a brow in surprise. When I met Hendrix during my junior year—he was a year ahead of me—he and Edwin were basically besties for life. They were forming a band and determined to make it big. Obviously, that didn’t work out, since Edwin is a solo act. Neither did their friendship, apparently. “So what are you doing here then? Checking out the catering?”

He grabs the back of his neck in a gesture that almost makes me think he feels embarrassed. Then, I realize where we are and glance over his shoulder at the door he just stepped out of.

Not the bathroom, but a bedroom. “Is that…were you just in their bedroom?”

“Depends,” he answers.

“On?”

A woman’s laughter echoes down the hall, and suddenly, his hand is grasping my wrist, and I’m being pulled through the open door into Ed Eaton’s bedroom with my secret college crush.

This is not how I thought this evening would go.

Chapter Five

HENDRIX

Zara Valentine.

If there’s one person I didn’t expect to run into tonight, it’s definitely her.

This is not her scene. Or at least, it wasn’t. The Zara I knew wore cardigans two sizes too big and spent way too much time in the school library. That Zara was relentless and pushy and drove me fucking nuts for an entire semester.

I cannot believe I just offered this girl sex for tutoring.

Who does that?

I also can’t believe she didn’t kick me out of the library for it. I definitely would have deserved it. I stare at her as she flips through my textbook, marking several chapters and then writing a few notes on a legal pad. A strand of hair slips outof her braid, and I have to stop myself from reaching out and tucking it behind her ear.

I do not need another reason for her to hate me.

And I really need this tutoring.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do, Jimi.” She smirks, sliding over what appears to be a game plan for the first few weeks of the semester.

“Sticking with Jimi, huh?”

“Maybe I am. Worried you can’t live up to your namesake?”

I bark out a laugh. “Oh, I know I can’t. That man is a legend.”