“Two grand,” Orok says too quickly. “I’d also settle for a new gaming system. Dealer’s choice.”
Thio pretends to consider. Or, at least, that’d better be fake consideration. “Done.”
“Two grand?” I squawk. “Fuck you both, my virtue is worth more than that.”
Orok laughs in a way that’s just the wordwahshouted really loud. “Virtue. Right.”
I wave Thio to leave and follow him into the hall. But as I shut the door behind me, I lock eyes with Orok.
Thanks,I mouth.
He winks.
Then points in the direction of Thio and makes a complicated series of perverted hand gestures I interpret astap dat ass.
I slam the door.
Thio’s leaning against the wall next to the stairwell, swinging a set of keys around his finger.
He looks wildly amused. “I passed the best friend test?”
“That’s not an accomplishment. Orok has a terrible bullshit radar.” I nod at his keys. “No Hordon tonight?”
“Nope. I’m going full proper date with you. Pick up at the front door, interrogated by the father—”
I’m on him, pressing him into the wall, hands fisted in the sides of his shirt.
He does smell good. Like the deep part of a forest after it rains, lush greenery and warm springtime, but something else, too; garlic, maybe? Spices? I bury my nose in his neck and he hums contentedly.
“I need to get this out of my system before you drive us anywhere,” I whisper against his skin.
He shivers, hands going down to grab my ass. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve stopped believing there’s a way to get this out of my system at all. I’m pretty sure youaremy system now.”
My lips trail up the side of his neck, tongue following the curve of his jaw. I rest my mouth over his and close my eyes, but he’s still consuming me. Scent and touch and taste and the stuttered gusts of his breath.
“You’ve wanted me all semester?” I ask into his mouth. No way I’m going to let that comment to Orok slide. Not when Thio’s said stuff like that before. Not when he didn’t back down from Orok’sinterrogation,and does seem to be legitimately unthreatened by our relationship.
Thio threads his fingers up the back of my hair. I swear I can feel the warmth coming off his cheeks from his blush. “Yes.”
“Even when we hated each other?”
His forehead rests against mine and he drags his hand around to cup my jaw. My eyes are still shut. Can’t look at him. Can’t see whatever his face is doing as he says, “That’s part of what drew me to you at first—you so obviously hated the Touraels. And it wasn’t the usual type of hate we get; it was—” He falters and goes silent. “It was personal. I know now. But I knew you wouldn’t be a pushover like everyone else. I knew they wouldn’t be able to manipulate you.” He pauses. “Plus, you’re insanely hot.”
I peek at him, doing my best to look sardonic. There’s a crash of emotions battering me apart, fighting to be felt, to be acknowledged. “Ah. My prejudices and virulent sex appeal are the only reasons you’re with me. The truth comes out.”
He smiles. “At first. But now?”
A kiss on my cheekbone, trembling.
“Now,” he says again. Like there’s a lot more waiting behind thatnow,more he doesn’t want to say. Not yet.
I swallow, my body overheating in this chilly stairwell.
“Now,” he says again, more resolute, “I’m going to take you to my apartment, where I made you dinner.”
I pull back with a goofy grin. “You made me dinner?”
He looks deservedly proud. “And I’m going to wine and dine the fuck out of you. I haven’t had many good things in my life that my family didn’t ruin.” He interlaces his fingers with mine. “So this? I’m going to do this right.”
