Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Mal just shook his head and stared at the ceiling. “Just because I don’t talk about that with you or anyone else doesn’t mean shit. Maybe I like keeping private shit just that… private.” Mal’s body was ramrod straight, and even I could see how tense he looked. “And just because I don’t run my mouth like half the douchebags at school doesn’t mean I’m not into someone.”
Now that statement had my spine going straight. I hated that I was jealous, that it sounded like he was into someone by the tone of his voice. A little voice in my head wanted me to be that girl Mal was into.
God. I’m losing my mind.
That thought had me pinching my lips together. I shifted on my feet, and the floorboard beneath me creaked from the movement. Both Aiden and Mal looked over their shoulders, Aiden promptly rolling his eyes before standing.
“D, stop eavesdropping.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped at my brother.
He chuckled. “Why, Delilah?” He emphasized my full name. “Does calling you D remind you of something else that starts with the same letter?”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. “You’re so damn immature.”
Aiden chuckled. “I know, but it’s fun to see you bothered by it.”
“You’re a pig.” I turned my focus back to Mal and saw he still watched me, this weird expression on his face.
“Hey, Delilah,” he said in greeting, his masculine, deep voice making my body warm instantly.
I licked my lips, wanting to say some smartass comment, but instead, I said, “Hey.”
I stared at my brother. Aiden—and Mal—were only a year older than my eighteen years, and both of them attended the same university in town. I did envy them already being in college, having more freedom that came with that. But being my senior year of high school, I’d get to experience university life soon enough.
The guys opted to commute for this first year instead of staying at the dorms, but I knew Aiden didn’t want to do that next year. He told me plenty of times he wanted the full college experience. I didn’t know where Mal stood on that front, and we didn’t talk about stuff like that, so it seemed weird broaching the subject.
“How much did you hear?” Aiden asked, pulling me back to the present and having my thoughts—which were starting to turn sexual where Mal was concerned—fade to the present.
I shrugged but then curled my lip in disgust. “Before or after you brought up ‘new girl in school pussy’?” I felt my cheeks heat, because I still felt Mal’s stare on me.
Aiden chuckled. “Serves you right for getting an earful of that conversation. Don't be so nosey next time.” He didn’t say anything else as he left the living room, and a second later, I heard him rummaging around in the kitchen.
I glanced back at Mal, hating how on edge he put me and he hadn’t said more than “hey.”
I liked to think he was my enemy, but the truth was, he wasn’t a bad guy. Annoying and frustrating, yeah, but I knew he was decent and had a good heart. He was wicked smart and super athletic. But he was my brother’s best friend, so by default he got on my nerves.
We both stayed there just staring at each other for long moments, and the longer he stared at me, the harder and more intense his gaze became.
I started to feel bare, spread open from the inside out for how focused he was on me. Beads of sweat dotted the valley between my breasts, and my pulse beat frantically.
And that just pissed me off.
“You parked in my spot,” I said in a clipped, frustrated voice.
He didn’t react at first, but then a slow, devilishly sexy smile spread across his face. He stood, all six-feet three-inches of him. He was lean but muscular, his body uncoiling as if he were a snake about to strike.
I stood where I was, unable to move, my heart beating even faster. I shoved my hands in the pocket of my light jacket, curling my fingers toward my palms, my nails digging into my skin. He walked toward me, stopping when he was only a foot from where I stood, looking down at me. I had to crane my neck back just to see his face, and my breath left me so harshly I actually felt dizzy, having to reach out and place a hand on the wall to steady myself.
“I know,” he said so confidently.
I wanted to snap back, give him a smartass comment, but I couldn’t. I felt weak-kneed, warm and soft all over. I took a deep breath, his scent so, so good. I didn’t know what cologne he used—or hell, maybe it was just his natural aroma—but it had my heart hiccupping in my chest and other parts of my body becoming… wet.