Good question. Too bad I didn’t know the answer. I’d asked myself that several times.
“You know how it goes. I can’t have her, so it makes me want her even more. Or something like that.” Trying to change the subject, I nodded to the empty pizza box. “Thanks for saving me some, assholes.”
Auryn shrugged. “We didn’t know if you’d be home tonight. I think there’s some leftover Chinese food in the fridge. Unless Dom ate it.”
“Where is he anyway?” I glanced toward the staircase on the other side of the room that led down to the basement.
“Out,” Casper signed.
Picking up the metal container next to the pizza box, I popped it open and plucked out a pre-rolled joint from inside. As I tucked it between my lips and dug around in my pocket for a lighter, I leaned back against the couch. If Dom was out with someone he was interested in, he sure knew better than to tell these idiots about it. They’d been players for so long. They didn’t know anything else. When Rebel got serious with Storm, we’d all given him a hard time.
The two of them went back to their movie while I absently stared at the screen, smoking my joint. Lost in thought, I replayed the evening in my head.
Codie had no idea what she’d gotten herself into. She wanted someone capable of doing the absolute worst. Her recklessness had awoken a slumbering beast inside me.
She wanted someone dangerous. Someone unpredictable and predatory. That someone would be me. I hoped when it all went down that she could handle getting what she’d wished for.
CHAPTER FOUR
STRAY
When Monday morning rolled around, I dragged my ass out of bed and into the shower. I dug some clothes out of the laundry basket filled with clean items that I’d neglected to fold and put away. I was out the door before anyone else in the house was up and about.
Instead of heading to campus, I drove to Codie’s apartment. There was this persistent need in the pit of my stomach that only eased when I parked down the street from her building. I hated having this need to watch her. I’d never stalked any woman before. Was this stalking? Yeah, it was.
I sat in my car waiting until I saw her red Cadillac SUV pull out of the parking lot behind the building. I waited until she had put a block or so between us before following. At one point, she came upon a red light that slowed her down. I managed to make sure there were a few cars between us as I reached the same red light.
Part of me wanted her to see me following while a more sensible side seemed to know it was better to go unnoticed. She had Athena in the car with her. I could see the two of them talking and laughing animatedly. We made it all the way to campus without her noticing me tailing behind.
Upon entering the campus parking lot, I veered off down a different row. The itch that I’d had since leaving her building Saturday night had been scratched. I felt much better. I waited for the girls to head into the building first before following.
It didn’t take long for Codie to spot me. She stood outside near the entryway, talking with her friends. They stood in a circle, gossiping about whatever before class started.
She glanced up as I passed by, hazel eyes narrowing as they locked on me. I flashed her a mischievous grin and kept going. I went to school here too. It only made sense that she would see me around. Too bad for her if she didn’t like it.
Since Codie was taking legal studies and I was taking investigative police studies, our classes were not that far apart. She had to pass down the hall where most of my classes were located to get to hers. Most people wouldn’t expect a known criminal to take investigative studies. However, I had an interest in such things. I doubted that I’d ever become a cop, but if I did, it would be beneficial to the Kings to have a man on the inside.
I lingered in the hall outside my first class, checking a message from Rebel about an upcoming business deal. I felt Codie’s approach before I saw her. Moments later, the fragrant scent of strawberries reached me. I looked up to find her hurrying past, her eyes straight ahead as she did her best to pretend I wasn’t there.
“You’re in quite the hurry I see,” I said. “Is that because you remember telling me how hot I was the other night?”
That jerked her to a stop. Clutching her shoulder bag tight, she spun around to face me. “I said absolutely no such thing.”
“So you’re denying it. I figured you would. Let me guess, it was the drugs talking.” I tilted my head one side, blatantly ogling her ass. She wore a pleated plaid skirt that screamed school girl fantasy. How could I not?
Codie glanced around, worried that someone might have overheard. “Can you not talk about that? I don’t need the whole school to know my business.”
“No problem. As long as you admit that you’re attracted to me.” I offered her a half-shrug and a playful smile.
“Not happening. I never said that and I never will.” She spun back around, storming away as fast as she possibly could without breaking into a run.
I watched her go, satisfied with my ability to get under her skin. Needing to really leave a lasting impression, I called after her, “I suppose you forgot about the kiss too. We both know you kissed me back.”
As she reached the end of the hall and rounded the corner, she paused long enough to flip me the middle finger. I couldn’t have been more impressed with myself.
I went to class, doing my best to stay engaged in the subject matter. Something about Codie gave me a rush like no drug ever had. It was hard to come down from that and be in the moment when my focus had to be elsewhere.
When class ended, the hall filled with people leaving their classrooms. I did my best to blend in as I waited for her to come along. She walked with a girl I didn’t recognize. Probably someone from her class. I fell into step behind them, letting the thick swell of students block me from view.
