Page 22 of Surviving Slater

I swallowed, trying to contain that familiar feeling when I remembered his rejection. Every time I thought back to it, it was like someone was rubbing salt in an old wound. And it hurt as much as it did the first time I had experienced it.

"Like you did."

He was about to say something but instead he shut his mouth and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "I never meant to."

Whether or not it had been his intent, it didn't matter. It didn't change the fact that he had.

It still frightened me how quickly he had gotten under my skin. Usually I was good at handling guys. I knew how to control them and keep them at a safe distance emotionally, but he had been the exception. It was another reason to avoid him altogether. Getting physically involved with him was like jumping off a cliff and hoping to land safely without injury. It was unrealistic.

Deciding it was time to leave, I got my phone out and called a taxi. I ended the call and re-pocketed my phone. I settled back on the sofa comfortably, crossing my arms again, needing to keep them busy; otherwise, he would see right through the confident facade to the nervous girl in front of him.

I didn't want him to see me as someone weak, someone he could bend to his will. No, I wasn't going to be one of those girls.

"So you've made your mind up," he said, watching me carefully as I looked around the room for something to do other than look at him.

"Yup," I said lazily, like we were discussing the weather instead of sex.

When my eyes caught his, he was watching me with a knowing smile. Folding my arms tighter, I glared at him.

"What are you smiling about?" I asked, unable to stop myself. I should have played it cool, indifferent. But I had to know why he didn't look slightly upset. It was killing my ego.

"It will happen." He leaned against the arm of the sofa angled to me. He looked so sure of himself. I had to stop myself from looking at how nicely his shirt showed off his fit build.Stop it!I told myself. I wasn't a hormonal teenager, for goodness sake. I had to exercise some control.

"What?" I asked, distracting myself with pulling my phone out of my pocket again so I could check the time.

"You and me."

I shook my head. "No, it won't," I said with a false sense of confidence as I held his gaze, willing myself not to tremble and give my weakness away.

"I give it a week."

I laughed at him. "A week? Are you on something?"

"I know you want me." His gaze intensified. It wasn't enough. I could fight it. Every time he looked at me like that, my heart fluttered and I had to fight to stop myself from reacting to it. "You want me to kiss you."

I held his gaze before my eyes dropped to his lips. I tore my gaze away from him for a moment.

"To slide my lips across your skin."

I swallowed.

"I'll strip you naked."

My eyes connected with his. That sentence had sent a shiver of awareness through my body despite my mind refusing to acknowledge what he was saying.

"And then I'll give you a night you'll never forget."

Oh, my God!Just listening to his words made my skin tingle where I felt his imaginary touch. Our encounter had been brief but I remembered how his kisses set me alight. I remembered how every touch had made me feel.

No, stop it.I wanted to tell him off but instead I shook my head at him.

"No."

He didn't say anything more. Instead, he continued to smile at me with that knowing look, which made me more determined to prove him wrong. Soon I would go on my third date with Steven and all this between Slater would be over and done with, then I could move on with Steven or maybe even someone else.

I was relieved when my taxi finally turned up and I got out of there as fast as I could. He walked me to the door and stood in the doorway, watching me as I got into the car. When the door closed, our eyes met for a few moments. His smile widened and I turned away from him, looking in the opposite direction.

I wouldn't let him win. I had a plan and it didn't include him.