He came in close and stopped. Not meaning to, I breathed the scent of him in and shivered. He was turned on—I don’t know how my nose detected it, but I could tell. This smell thing was freaking me out.
He leaned in, his breath tickling my skin. “I think we have some unfinished business. I think you do like me, and I’m prepared to convince you until you can no longer deny it.”
The air thickened, and my breathing came out in ragged bursts. Something was going on between us, and if I didn’t end this soon, I was going to do something regrettable.
I stepped around Andre and grabbed my towel and some clothes from my closet, breaking our connection. I walked to the door and turned back to him. “Convince away.”
***
I took a quick shower, dried my hair, and threw on my clothes. When I walked back into my room Andre was sprawled out on my bed, holding a framed picture of my mom and me at one of my old track meets.
“This is your adoptive mother?”
“Yes.”
“She seems nice.”
“She is.” I crossed the room and took the photo from him, placing it back on my desk. It unnerved me to have him peering into my personal life. Only then did I notice what he said.
I froze. “How did you know I was adopted?”
He shrugged, but a smile tugged at the corner of his lips and his eyes glittered mischievously. “I can tell you, but it will cost you.”
“It will cost me what?” I asked, agitated.
Now his smile widened, showing pearly white teeth and a little fang.
We both heard my heart rate pick up at his unspoken offer. “Are you seriously going to withhold my family’s past from me?” I asked, exasperated at the entire situation.
His eyes twinkled.
Yes, he would withhold the information I desperately craved.
I shook my head. I could expect no less from the same man who thought it was okay to kidnap an uncooperative girl for a date.
I grabbed a coat from my closet and tugged it on. “Ready?”
He got up slowly, slinking towards me. The energy between us pounded in my ears and swept across my skin. Then he passed me, and the energy ebbed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
We walked down the stairs. In the lobby the girl behind the desk was speaking on the phone and biting her nail anxiously. I still hadn’t seen Professor Nightingale since moving in, and it appeared that she couldn’t be bothered for this kind of problem. So much for having a house mother.
When the girl behind the desk saw us, she pulled the phone away from her ear. “Is your friend leaving?”
“We both are,” I said.
“Students are not allowed to leave—”
“Just call Professor Blackmore. He’ll okay it,” I said, not breaking stride.
“You can’t lea—” The doors closed behind us, muffling her protests.
“Okay, so where’s this meeting happening?” I asked.
“My place.”
“You’re taking me to your house?”
“I’m not exactly thrilled to bring you there, so stop staring at me like I’m going to deflower you.” He had the audacity to look martyred. As though he hadn’t been propositioning me only minutes ago.
“My house functions similarly to Buckingham palace—I both work and relax there.”
“Oh.”
We walked towards his car, some exotic sports model that had to be worth more than what most people made in a year.
“Consider yourself lucky,” he added. “Many would die for the opportunity.”
I was mid eye-roll when I caught his wording. “Die? You don’t actually kill anyone, do you?”
He opened the passenger door for me. His chivalry didn’t fool me. The man had already thrown me over his shoulder—twice.
“No—well, not usually. Only on my off days.”
“What?”
“I’m kidding,” he said. “Has anyone told you you’re no fun?”
“I’m so much fun.” I sounded whiny, even to myself. “Has anyone told you that you are difficult to get along with?”
He smiled, showing some fang. “Many. It’s part of the job description.”
***
“Before we arrive at Bishopcourt, there’s something I want to show you,” Andre said, his eyes never leaving the road.
I raised my eyebrows. “I have to be honest with you Andre, I think I’ve had enough surprises to last me a long time.”
“I promise you’ll like this one.”
We drove for about ten minutes, just long enough to hit the outskirts of the city, before Andre pulled over to the side of the road. “Close your eyes,” Andre commanded.
“Nuh uh. Last time I did that I woke up in the morgue.”
Andre sighed loudly. “Fine. Let’s get out.”
“Where are we going?”
“Are you always this stubborn?” he asked, rubbing his jaw. I tried to not concentrate on how sexy the action was.
“Are you always this rude?” We stared at each other for a few moments before he turned and began jogging away from me.
“Where are you going?” I called after him.
He didn’t respond. I contemplated just standing there and seeing what he would do if I didn’t follow him, but curiosity won out. I jogged up to him.