Whatever this is between us… I don’t like it.
I know damn well this is just a game he’s running on me. For goodness sake, he has this effect on everyone. I bet if he asked every single girl in this room to drop their panties right here, right now, the majority of them would actually do it. I’m nothing special to him and the last thing I want is to fall under the spell he’s able to cast over me so easily.
In my haste to distance myself from him, I end up stumbling backwards. Just as my arms start to pinwheel, Roan grasps my upper arms before jerking me towards him.
Neither of us say a word as his arms snake easily around me. It takes a moment for me to realize that I’m being all but crushed against that massive chest of his. Oh god, it’s seriously just as hard and granite-like as I’d suspected. This sends my pulse skyrocketing as I quickly untangle myself from him before stepping neatly out of his embrace.
“Sorry,” I mumble. Yep, I really need to get out of here before I become any more of a bumbling idiot and embarrass myself even further than I already have. For some reason I’m acting exactly like one of the silly little twits that are constantly pawing at him.
And I’m not even going to bother lying to myself by saying that I’m not attracted to Roan because clearly I am. I was from the very moment I spilled my coffee all over him. You would have to be blind not to think he’s one of the most attractive men you’ve ever seen in your life. The problem is that he’s aware of just how good looking he is. And he’s used to girls hanging all over him. He uses them for his own selfish pleasure without any thought to their feelings at all.
Not that I’m feeling too much in the way of sympathy for any of these women, because I don’t. They know exactly what they’re getting into when they hook up with him and that’s nothing more than bragging rights.
And yeah, he’s telling me he’ll do his share of the work load for this project but does that necessarily mean it’s going to happen? Or that it’ll be quality work?
Nope.
So… as much as I want to believe him, I don’t. Not yet. All he’s done up to this point is surprise me. Time will tell if he actually changes my opinion of him.
Holding out his palm, he says, “Give me your phone.”
Now that my sexual haze has finally cleared enough for my brain cells to start functioning again, my brows snap together because there is absolutely no way in hell I want him adding my number to his contact list of conquered co-eds.
Umm… no thanks.
I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
Quirking a brow, a smirk tips the edges of his lips upward. “I want your number so we can figure out times to get together and work on our ethics project. That’s it.”
My face instantly heats because it never occurred to me that he would want my number for that purpose. Now who looks like a total jackass? Feeling irritated, both with him as well as myself, I hand over my phone and watch as he programs his name and number into my contacts. Then he calls his phone before handing it back to me.
“There. How does meeting on Sunday afternoon work for you? We need a few hours to sit down and generate some ideas about the case study we’re going to consider for the project.”
I stare down at my phone for just a moment before glancing back up at him. “Sunday afternoon is fine.”
My breath hitches as he steps towards me until we’re so close again that I have to tip my face up just to hold his gaze.
“I’ll text you with a time and place.”
Nodding, I take another careful step away. As I do, two girls slide between us before wrapping themselves around him. With his eyes still focused on me, he drapes an arm around each of them.
“I’ll be seeing you, Ivy.”
There’s a slightly mocking tone to his words that immediately has my eyes narrowing. Without another word, I spin around, pushing my way roughly towards the door of the apartment. I need to get out of here and away from him.
Roan King is nothing more than a player.
I realized it way before Finn ever tried warning me off. I’m never going to be a card carrying member of the I-want-to-sleep-with-all-the-campus-athletes club. That’s not who I am. And whatever happened between us back there, I don’t want it happening again. I’m not interested in playing these ridiculous cat and mouse games with him.
I just want to work on this project and be done with it.
Be done with him.
Chapter Ten
It’s been said that Roan King kisses and fucks just like he plays football- with an amazing amount of skill, finesse, and single minded determination. *big sigh* Oh, how I’d love to find that out firsthand… KingOfCampus.com
“Are you being serious with me right now?”
Lexie is lying on her stomach in the middle of my bed flipping through the latest issue of Vogue. Vogue is her fashion bible and she treats everything written within there as if it were gospel. And since I get a free stylist out of it, I’m not really going to complain. Lexie is as passionate about fashion as I am about dance. So we have a pretty good understanding of each other.
Trying to be sneaky, I offhandedly mentioned my date with Finn while she was immersed in her magazine. I was hoping she wouldn’t be paying too much attention to what I was saying. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. As soon as I mentioned the F-word, she bolted up into a sitting position before skewering me with a hard edged glare.
So I ended up telling her about him waiting outside the studio last Saturday and us sitting down over smoothies and hashing things out. The bottom line is that he wants another chance and after a fifteen month separation, maybe we’ve both grown up enough to try again.
I liked Finn.
I was attracted to him.
I still am.
So why shouldn’t I give our relationship another shot?
Looking determined, she starts climbing off the bed. “Well, I guess you leave me no choice but to pull up all the pictures I sent you.”
“Let’s not go there.” Turning towards her, I hold her eyes before continuing, “I appreciate you trying to look out for me. I really do. But it’s just dinner. We’re not getting back together. We’re just talking things out.”
Her lips sink into a frown. With eyebrows practically meshed together, she mutters, “I don’t like Finn. He’s arrogant and a real douche for hooking up with those other girls behind your back as soon as you left. How can you just forget about all that?”
Well… I can’t exactly disagree with what she’s saying. He is a douche for doing that.
But like I said before, maybe he’s changed. I know I have. And it’s just dinner. Nothing more. “I don’t even know if I’ll see him again after this. So just chill out.”
In answer, she rolls her eyes at me.
Turning and twisting, I take a good look at myself in the mirror. “Do you like this shirt with these shorts?” Even though it’s the beginning of September, it’s still warm out. At least eighty degrees. So I’m wearing a little white halter and pale blue shorts along with a pair of silver sandals that have a small heel.
Taking my question seriously, her eyes travel slowly over me and then back up again. “Yeah, but I would pull your hair up into a messy bun and add some chunky earrings.” She purses her lips before squinting her eyes thoughtfully. “Maybe your big silver hoops.”
Grinning, I rummage through my jewelry box before finding the earrings she’s talking about. Once I gather my hair up into a bun, I turn to her with my hands outstretched in silent question.
“Yep. Totally hot.” Then she grunts, “Not than Finn deserves any of the effort.”
“Yes, yes… you’ve made your feelings on the Finn subject perfectly clear. You don’t have to say another word about it, okay?”
Shrugging, she says quietly, “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. Even though you were all the way in Paris and I wasn’t there to help you through it, I remember how devastated you were when he ended things.”
&nb
sp; Exhaling a big breath, my shoulders fall before I say with equal softness, “I know. And I appreciate you looking out for me, I really do. You’re a good friend, Lex, the best. But it’s just dinner. That’s it.”
Still looking skeptical, she finally nods her head begrudgingly in acceptance. “Okay.” Then she asks, “So where are you two going?”
“I’m not sure.”
Looking unimpressed, she grunts again.
Not a moment later my phone dings with an incoming text. It’s Finn telling me that he’s waiting downstairs in his Jeep. I must mumble the words under my breath because Lexie suddenly says, “What, Mr. Romantic can’t even be bothered to walk his ass up here and pick you up?”
I shoot her another look before gathering up my purse and heading for the door. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. Text me when you get back if I’m not here,” she calls out after me.
Opening the door, I yell back, “Will do. Have fun tonight.”
Stopping right outside my door, I smooth down my shorts and straighten my top. Just as I’m about to start down the hall, the apartment door next to us opens and out walks Roan. For a long moment neither one of us say a word as our eyes catch.
Not sure what to do, I hold up my hand in silent greeting as he starts towards me. His gaze, just like last night, ensnares mine, refusing to let it go. When he finally stops about two feet from me, his eyes take a leisure tour down my body before coming back up to meet mine. I feel the heat of a blush stain my cheeks at his perusal.
Why does this guy have such an effect on me?
I don’t even like him.
Well, in all fairness, I don’t know him well enough to make that kind of statement, but what I do know of him, I don’t particularly care for. And yet, he tangles my insides up every single time I see him. It’s maddening.
“Looking sexy, Ivy.”
“Thanks,” I mumble under my breath. “I’ve got to get going.” With that, I try making a hasty get away but he’s right there besides me. His long legged strides shortening to match mine. Apparently I’m not going to be able to shake him loose so easily.
“Hot date tonight?”
It’s so much better when we’re both facing forward and his eyes aren’t able to capture mine. Even though I can feel him watching me, it’s nowhere near the full effect and therefore I’m still able to keep my wits about me.
“Ummm,” well... “Just getting together with a friend.”
He nods as we continue walking. As silence settles over us, I find myself asking, “What are you up to?” Not that I care…
“Going to work out at the gym, then I’ll probably head out with Sam.”
I finally allow my eyes to slide over him. He’s wearing long athletic shorts and a black tank top that does incredible things for his arms. I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating- those arms of his are literally amazing. Huge. They have to be at least seventeen inches around. I’m not kidding. Roan has massive biceps. I can’t help but remember what it felt like last night to have them wrapped around me.
And…. I definitely shouldn’t be thinking about that right now.
Or ever.
I’m doing my damnedest to put out fires, not enflame them.
Arriving at the elevator, I quickly stab the down arrow button since we’re on the third floor. As we wait, I look everywhere but at him. Even though I don’t allow my eyes to stray towards him, I feel the heat of his gaze licking over me. I’m practically squirming as my unease continues ratcheting up to unprecedented levels. I just want the damn elevator to arrive so I can get the hell away from Roan and his gorgeous body.
Damn it! I really have to stop thinking about Roan’s hot body…
But it’s a thing of beauty. There’s no denying it.
Thankfully the elevator dings, signaling that the car has finally arrived. As soon as the doors slide open, I rush inside before punching the lobby button about seven times in quick succession. When I glance over at Roan, a big grin tugs at the edges of his lips. He’s all but smirking at me.
I seriously hate when he does that.
As the doors close, locking us inside together, my brows lower as I treat him to a full on glare. It’s so much easier to embrace the irritation than the attraction I’m currently feeling.
Crap. I don’t want to feel attracted to Roan. And I sure as hell don’t want him suspecting that I’m attracted to him either. He’d only end up thinking he could use me. And that’s never going to happen.
“Something funny?”
His blue-green hued eyes slide to mine. “Nope, not at all.” Humor all but simmers within their shining depths. That alone is enough to have me clenching my teeth.
“Just spill it, King.” This guy seriously aggravates the crap out of me. How is it possible to be so turned on one moment and so completely irritated the next by the same person?
With our eyes locked on one another, he reaches out before hitting the alarm button. I gasp as the elevator jolts to a halt.
“What are you doing,” I whisper as my eyes flare wide. My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. It’s all deep and breathy with just a bit of shake to it.
“What I’ve been dying to do ever since you spilled that damn coffee all over me.”
Before I’m able to fully realize what those words mean, his big strong arms snake around me, hauling me close to the heat of his hard body. And then his lips are crashing down on mine. Stroking over them with such an intensity that it has everything within me instantly going up in flames. I can’t help the stifled moan that escapes as his mouth continues sliding swiftly over mine. His mouth is like an assault on every single one of my senses.
Groaning, my lips part wanting- no, needing more of him. As soon as they do, his tongue slips inside before stroking over mine. Caressing me in a way that is so completely sexy it has my eyes rolling up inside my head. Pleasure explodes like a series of fireworks before ricocheting throughout my entire being.
And then he does the unexpected.
Instead of continuing to pummel my mouth with his, he draws away, holding me at arm’s length before searching my dazed eyes. After a long moment, he tugs me back towards him again until he can nibble at the corners of my lips before sucking my bottom one gently into his mouth.
“You taste even better than I imagined.”
His low, gravelly words wash over me, banking the fire within. And then his mouth is back to crushing mine and I… can’t… think. I don’t want to think about anything other than the addictive taste of him flooding my senses. The feel of him as he steals each and every breath from me.
It’s the shrill ringing of the elevator alarm that startles me into awareness and has Roan slowly backing away. His heated gaze continues holding mine captive as he reaches over to the panel of buttons on the wall and presses the lobby button. As the elevator jolts into a downward descent, he tugs me back to him until I’m once again pressed against that massive chest of his.
“You have to know one taste isn’t going to be nearly enough.”
I gulp.
What does that mean?
What the hell does that mean?
The confusion must be written all over my face because in the next breath he says, “This is going to happen between us, Ivy.”
Almost frantically I shake my head. “No.”
Slowly quirking a brow, he grins down at me. “You didn’t enjoy that, sweetheart?” Before I can even formulate an answer, he continues, his voice all low and sexy. The cadence of it strums something deep inside me. “Because I’m kind of thinking you did.” He lays a gentle kiss at the corner of my lips before whispering, “You were moaning into my mouth, practically begging me for more.”
Lying at this point would only make me look foolish. Not to mention a huge ass liar. And I may be an idiot for allowing this to unfold between us, but I’m not a liar. “It has nothing to do with enjoying that kiss and everything to do with not being the kin
d of girl you’re used to hooking up with.”
Even though it’s the last thing I want to do, I untangle myself from him just as the elevator doors slide open. I’m just about to step out into the lobby when Roan wraps his long fingers around my upper arm to stop me from escaping. As he turns my body towards him, our eyes lock and my breath catches in my throat.
His eyes are full of hot sultry promise. “I could make you feel so damn good.”
Inhaling a shaky breath of air, I force out the words. “I don’t doubt that. I’m just not into casual sex.” But he tempts me in the worst kind of way. More than anyone else ever has.
His eyes narrow just a bit before he finally drops my arm. “And I’m not interested in having a girlfriend. I like to keep things fluid.”
Fluid?
He likes to keep things fluid?
I almost start to laugh.
So… basically he’s interested in fucking me a time or two… maybe if I’m real lucky- three times and then he’s moving on. Because Roan King likes to keep things fluid.
What.
A.
Jerk!
And yeah… I’m a total idiot for allowing things to get so out of hand. I should have pushed him away as soon as he pressed his lips against mine.
But hot damn that was one hell of a kiss!
Unconsciously my fingers start rising to my lips. Not wanting him to see just how affected I am, I force my arm back down to my side.
Turning towards the lobby doors which lead outside the building, I almost chastise myself for feeling… god… am I seriously disappointed? Ugh. I want to smack the hell out of myself right now. The guy basically propositioned me (for a second time, no less) and I’m actually disappointed that he dropped the subject as quickly as he did when I told him I wasn’t interested in just screwing around with him.
Together we walk out of the building in silence. But still… I can’t get his words out of my head.
Fluid!
This guy is a real piece of work.
I’ll give him fluid alright… right up the ass.
My teeth are tightly clenched and my hands are balled up into fists that hang uselessly at my sides. As soon as we’re outside, I scan the parking lot for Finn. He still drives a hunter green Jeep and almost immediately I spot it idling about six spaces from the entrance. As our eyes meet, I have to consciously unlock my tensed muscles before giving him a halfhearted wave and smile.
King of Campus Page 9