Part 53 (1/2)

”Glad to hear it,” I mutter. ”And I think I'd know if I had.”

”True, a night with me will be unforgettable.”

”Will be?”

He c.o.c.ks a brow. ”Could be?”

I rummage around in a cupboard and pull out a box of painkillers. Nate watches as I take them. Is he waiting for an answer to his unsubtle hint? ”A night with you? Dream on. Didn't I tell you the reason Ethan cheated on me?”

”Because you don't like s.e.x.”

”I never said that!”

”You do like s.e.x?”

As the heat on my face grows, so does his smile.

Right.

Two can play this game.

”I do like s.e.x”-I lean closer to his face and whisper in my best s.e.xy voice, which probably isn't all too s.e.xy-”a lot. Do you want me to tell you my favourite position?”

”What?”

I pull back and give him a smirk to match the one he was giving me until a few moments ago. ”Not that you'll ever find out. I don't have s.e.x with guys until they've told me they love me. End of.”

Silenced. Ha. That's new.

I s.h.i.+ft closer to him again and reach out a finger to touch the metal skewered through his lip. ”If you kiss somebody else who has one of these, do your mouths lock together?”

Nate doesn't respond to my touch, but his darkening eyes meet mine. ”Have you ever kissed a guy with a piercing?”

”Why?”

”Want to try?”

Is this still a game or did we step in a different direction? I run a finger downwards from the piercing to his chin, the scruff rough against my fingertips. ”Ha-ha. Very funny!”

Nate inhales and steps back.

OhmiG.o.d, did he just adjust his pants?

”Why's that funny?” he asks.

”Because it is.” I aim for a light tone, but heat flares into my cheeks as my hoa.r.s.e voice betrays me.

The world s.h.i.+fts from its axis and I grip hold, dizzied by the realisation. No, not Nate; he can't be the man who tips my life sideways and into his arms. My attraction to him makes no sense, but I can't deny it.

Last night at the pub, even before I saw douchebag Ethan, I wanted Nate to be with us and, as my intoxication grew, so did my memories of our time together. The natural and easygoing meetings where we shared a laugh and chatted about everything and nothing, forging what we won't admit is more than a friends.h.i.+p. I told myself this desire last night was because the study group were together and Nate is part of that.

Now I know why. The indefinable and illogical intensity that hovers between us drags me toward him. His darkened eyes tell me he's a second away from taking that step. My mouth dries, heart stuttering as Nate trains his gaze on me, locking me into the moment I need to walk away from.

I side step Nate and flee to the lounge room. What the h.e.l.l is wrong with me? Less than twenty-four hours after rejection from one guy I'm prepared to throw myself at another to prove my self-worth? One who's guaranteed to cause more hurt than Ethan ever did.

”Totally ridiculous!” I say to myself as much as Nate as I walk away. ”Plus, as you so eloquently put it, I smell like a brewery.”

”I don't care. I like beer!” Nate calls after me.

12.

FLEUR.

After two days, Nate's pester power switches from flattering to irritating. I regret the day I gave this guy my phone number because I've had a few 'where are you taking me?' messages. When Nate said he wanted lunch with me the morning I found him in my house, I presumed he was teasing.

He's serious.

I'm not in many seminar groups with Nate, but the ones I am are early morning. I chose these so I could have my lessons out of the way leaving me more time for personal study. Nate usually looks half-dead at 9 a.m. and never attempts to hide his bored or glazed look either.

A couple of days after my drunken performance, we leave the cla.s.sroom and Nate catches me as I head out of the building.

”Fleur! I'm waiting for your answer!”

I stop. ”You've woken up then? You had your eyes closed for half the cla.s.s.”

He rubs an eye with the heel of his palm. ”I can't do early. It kills me.”

”Why sign up for this cla.s.s, then?”

”I didn't. I mean, I did but didn't. Messed up.”

”Right.” I shrug my bag higher up my shoulder. ”What are you waiting for?”

His eyes glint. ”Lunch.”

”You really mean this don't you?”

”Why wouldn't I?” He clutches his chest. ”Don't want to be seen in public with me?”

”I don't think that matters; from what I hear, you're never seen with the same girl twice.”

Nate wrinkles his nose. ”I've been seen with you more than once.”

”Lucky me!”

”Yep. So, where are we going?”