Page 65 of Kiss Collector

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Oh. Yeah.” I look back at Joel, who is staring at me again as he moves the tip of the cigarette to the flame of his lighter. I give him a hard glare and shake my head. His returning grin is impish and challenging as he takes a drag.

“I’m gonna go get a drink,” Dean says. “Need anything?”

Oh, crap. I was so distracted by Joel and his stupid oral fixation that I royally screwed up a chance for a conversation with Dean.

“No, I’m good, thanks. Are you coming back out?”

“Yup.” He turns to go, and when I look back at the game, I catch Monica watching him walk up the stairs. Then she catches me eyeing her, and she quickly looks down at her drink.Uuuuuugh. Why, why, why?

I stomp over to Joel, wanting to rip the cancer stick from his mouth and crush it in my palm like She-Hulk.

“Something troubling you?” he asks coolly.

“I thought you quit.”

He laughs outright, and God he’s cute when his whole face smiles like that. “I don’t recall ever saying that.”

I put a sassy hand on my hip and exhale. “Whatever. Thanks for what you guys did that day at the mall.”

Joel just looks at me, gives me a small incline of his head. “Rube’s a stooge.”

“Rube the boob,” Kwami says with a laugh before walking off, leaving us. I step closer to Joel, crossing my arms.

He waves his cigarette at the crowd. “Who are you wanting to add to your list tonight, Zae?” Another drag. This time he makes smoke rings, which I reluctantly admire before his words hit me.

“There’sno list.”

He chuckles. “You’re too easy to piss off. Relax.”

“Why do you mess with me like that?” I ask. Then, wanting to mess with him right back, I ask, “You tryna get on my nonexistent list?” My stomach flips as he stills. Why did I ask that?

He looks straight at me and flicks his cigarette impressively far away.

“I’m tryna burn that list.”

My body reacts before my mind does—flushing with warmth, my eyes glued to his, a weird pulsing in my belly. He steps toward me and I hold my breath as his face tips down, bypassing my lips and pressing softly against my neck. I involuntarily whimper at the feel of his mouth on my skin and the smell of cologne wafting off him.

He chuckles and walks away, leaving me staggering in a molten haze of lust.

Holy shit. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on, and he barely did anything! I turn sluggishly to see Monica and Lin both gaping at me. They rush over.

“What wasthat?” Lin asks.

“I... have no idea,” I say, reaching up to touch the hot spot on my neck.

“Oh my God, you should have seen the look on his face,” Monica whispers in a loud hiss. “Girl, he wants you bad.”

I shake my head. “He just likes to tease me. Did you know he used to hook up with Sierra?”

“Ew!” they both say in surprise.

“I know. Not my type.” I’m going to keep telling myself that. Just thinking about the look in his eyes when he came toward me sends tingles dancing across my skin again. Things are going to be awkward between us now without a doubt, which makes me kind of sad.

“Isn’t he a drug dealer?” Lin asks.

“I don’t think so,” I say. Though he definitely dabbles with that crowd.