Part 5 (2/2)
”Well, maybe you should have gotten the hint the first time I sent you to voicemail.” I shove my phone into my pocket and set off down the sidewalk, knowing he will follow me.
Sure enough, within moments he steps up next to me, matching me stride for stride.
”Do you mind?” I throw him an annoyed glance.
”Not at all.” He smiles.
”What do you want?” I stop abruptly, causing a woman walking hand in hand with a small child to sidestep to get past me.
”Now is that any way to talk to a friend?” His lopsided smile may be enough to distract my eyes, but it's not enough to melt my resolve.
”We're not friends.” I act bored by this exchange.
”Well, now my feelings are hurt.” He huffs, prompting a laugh to bubble in my throat.
”You're really something else, you know that?” I shake my head, not able to rid the smile that has crept its way onto my face.
”What are you doing now?” He's like a curious child playing twenty questions.
”I have a few things to pick up from the store. Anything else you need to know?”
”Want some company?” His offer catches me off guard.
”You want to come to the store with me?” I hit him with a curious look.
”Not really,” he answers on a laugh, his cheeks starting to turn red from the cold. ”But I do want to spend time with you. So what store are we going to?”
”You have got to be kidding me right now?” I spin around and take off walking again, trying to ignore the fact that he's still directly by my side.
The fates must find some humor in my discomfort because for the life of me I can't figure out why I keep ending up in these ridiculous situations.
Chapter Seven.
Gavin Harlee tries to act like she's annoyed that I chose to follow her into the secondhand bookstore, but the sideways glances she keeps throwing in my direction tell me she's anything but annoyed.
I didn't actually expect my little play on her on New Year's to have such an effect, but it's clear that I have definitely ruffled her feathers a bit. I like that she's agitated. I like that she's frustrated. It will make f.u.c.king her again that much more satisfying. Just the thought of her taking out her frustrations on my back with her nails causes my d.i.c.k to spring to life.
Down boy.
”So what are we looking for?” I shove an old worn book back onto the shelf before turning toward Harlee who pretends not to hear me.
”What are you doing?” She finally spins toward me, tucking the book in her hand under her arm.
”Apparently, I'm shopping for used books,” I say, a smile creeping across my face.
”No. I mean what are you really doing? You're not a student. You clearly have no need for used textbooks. You're here to rile me up. Why?” She narrows her eyes at me.
”I'm just catching up with a friend.” I shrug casually, picking up another book off the shelf.
”Bulls.h.i.+t.” She rips the book from my hand, pulling my gaze back toward her. ”We aren't friends, so why are you torturing me?”
”I didn't realize I was.” Again I keep my tone light and casual.
Her nostrils flare slightly as a frustrated growl breaks from her lips. ”Go away, Gavin,” she bites, spinning around as she stomps toward the back of the store.
”Is that what you really want?” I ask, stepping up behind her.
”If your plan is to see how far you can push me with your little games until I finally lose it, you've just about succeeded.”
”Hey.” I grab her shoulder, spinning her toward me. ”I'm sorry.” All the playfulness is gone this time. ”I'm not trying to play games with you.”
”No?” she questions. ”Because it sure feels like that's exactly what you're doing.”
”f.u.c.k.” I sigh.
Gripping the bridge of my nose between two fingers, I take a deep inhale. ”I don't know what I'm doing anymore,” I admit, dropping my hand away. ”You make me f.u.c.king crazy.”
”I make you crazy?” she bites. ”How the h.e.l.l do you think you make me feel? One minute you're all over me, the next it's like I don't exist. Back and forth we go in this endless cycle. I'm starting to think this is fun for you.”
”It isn't. You just... f.u.c.k, Harlee, I can't stop thinking about you.”
I can see the surprise that flashes across her face for the briefest moment but it's quickly replaced by anger.
”Well that's too f.u.c.king bad, isn't it? You should have thought about that after you blew me off and then treated me the way you did at the cemetery. Let's not forget the bulls.h.i.+t you pulled at the New Year's Eve party either.”
”Are you really mad that I kissed you that night, or are you just mad that you liked it?” I take a commanding step toward her.
”I'm mad that you wait until I am dating someone else, who I really like by the way, to decide you actually want to have something to do with me.” She doesn't pull away when I reach for her hand, pulling it into mine.
”If you liked him that much, you wouldn't have let me kiss you in the first place.” I lean in, our faces now so close that a mere two inches separates the distance between us.
It doesn't matter that we're standing in the middle of an old, musty bookstore. It doesn't matter that moments ago she was on the verge of slapping me. It doesn't matter that she's seeing someone who isn't me.
All that matters is the way I feel her hand tremble in mine as I lean down and press my mouth to hers.
It's the softest swipe of my lips against hers, but it does the trick. I can physically feel her resolve melt away. She lets out a small whimper, clearly wanting more. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I settle my hand against the small of her back. Pulling her firmly against me, I deepen the kiss, my clear arousal apparent as it presses into her stomach.
”Gavin, please.” She pants as I trail my tongue between the seam of her lips.
”I want you.” I grind my erection harder against her. ”I want to feel you.” I suck her bottom lip into my mouth before slowly pulling away. ”Is that clear enough for you?”
She sways slightly, clearly off balance. The realization that I did this to her instantly brings a smile to my face. I've got her. Even if she doesn't want to admit it just yet, I know it.
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