Page 4 of Ice-Cold Obsession

“Hey,” I say, letting my voice drop into the smooth, easy tone that usually works. “I’m Gabriel.”

She looks up at me, and for a second, I think she’s going to blush, stammer, or do something predictably cute. But she just smiles politely.

“I’m Scarlett.”

“Scarlett,” I repeat, testing it out. “Pretty name. I haven’t seen you around before.”

“I just transferred.”

“Welcome to Northstone.” I lean against the wall next to her, close enough that she has to tilt her head to look at me. “So, what brings you to Taj’s party? You don’t really look like the party type.”

She glances down at her dress, and there’s a flicker of something in her expression. Embarrassment, maybe. “I wanted to meet new people.”

“Well, now you’ve met me.” I grin, letting my gaze lower for just a second before meeting her eyes again. “Lucky you.”

She laughs, but it’s not the reaction I’m expecting. It’s not flirty or nervous. It’s just polite, as if I’ve said something mildly amusing but not particularly interesting.

“So, what do you do here?” she asks, and her tone is so earnest it almost throws me off.

“I play hockey. I’m the team’s captain.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

Nice? She says it as if I’ve just told her I’m in the chess club or something. I wait for the usual follow-up, the questions about games, or the impressed look that girls always give me when they find out who I am. But she just sips her drink and looks around the room as if she’s already bored.

I shift my weight and try again. “Hockey keeps me pretty busy, but I always make time for other things.”

She just nods as if she didn’t understand what I’m implying.

“That’s good,” she says. “Balance is important.”

Balance? What the fuck? Is she serious?

I stare at her mouth because I can’t help it. All I can think about is what her full lips would look like wrapped around my cock. She’s playing dumb, or maybe she reallyisthat innocent. Either way, it’s intriguing.

“So, Scarlett,” I say, leaning in a little closer. “What are you studying?”

“Psychology.”

“Interesting. Are you planning to psychoanalyze me?”

She smiles again. “I don’t think I’m qualified for that yet.”

She’s deflecting, and it’s starting to annoy me. Girls don’t usually deflect. They lean in and laugh at everything I say and make it easy.

But this one isn’t making it easy, and that just makes me want her more.

“Well, if you ever need a subject for your studies, I’m happy to volunteer,” I say, flashing her another grin.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She’s still not biting. Her relaxed posture tells me that she’s not nervous or intimidated. She’s just not interested.

And that pisses me off.

I’m the captain of the hockey team. Girls don’t look at me as if I’m just another guy at a party. They don’t smile politely and sip their drinks as if they’re waiting for me to leave.

But maybe that’s what makes this fun. She’s a challenge, and I’m good at challenges.