Then, a Cheshire cat grin spreads across her face. She thinks we fucked. And in some ways, it’d be so much easier to handlethatconversation. Instead, we’re looking at each other like two idiots who spent way too long at a carnival having so much fun that it appears we have some sort of secret language that includes communicating in stares.
“We have to go,” I say, interrupting her thought pattern, while vigorously shaking my head, hoping my best friend of eleven years can also read my face. “We’re late.”
I walk right past her and give her a kiss on the cheek before grabbing Xander by the sleeve and dragging him behind me.
“It was nice to officially meet you,” Xander says, over his shoulder.
“Don’t encourage her,” I say, chastising him. I won’t let go of his T-shirt until we’re in the hallway and in the clear.
“Wait!” Em calls. Xander’s physically bigger and stronger than me, so when he turns around and takes five steps back into the living room to meet Em, who’s followed us out, I go with him.
“Do you know how groundbreaking this is?” Em says to Xander, her generally happy predisposition gone. “Or should I say rule breaking.”
Oh god, I was not prepared for this. Mostly because Em has never had to do this. But it seems she’s decided that since I’ve been on two dates, now is the time to go all confrontational father figure from a teen movie on Xander’s ass.
“Em,” I say, shaking my head. “We’re good.”
She breaks eye contact with Xander and looks at me, the sunshine returning. She’s really going Method for this. “Let me do this, please,” she whispers before turning back to Xander, intimidation rolling off her. Fuck, she’s a good actress. I remind myself to push her to sign up for the community production ofGrease.
Xander, to his credit, doesn’t falter under the look. He takes it.
“If you hurt her, it will not end well for you,” she says, all business.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, playing his part. My grip loosens on his T-shirt and my hand falls to my side. I feel exposed having my best friend talk about me like I’m precious, and the guy I’m in an arranged relationship with agree with her like I’m not here.
“She might act all tough, but she’s all gooey inside, like a self-saucing pudding,” she says, always a flair for the dramatics.
“I promise the only person getting hurt is me.” Xander tilts his head slightly as he delivers the perfect line. Before I can roll my eyes at him, I watch as Em almost melts on the spot.
“Nawwwww.” Em unleashes a swoon.
“You were this close to playing it cool,” I say to her, holding up my thumb and pointer finger, almost touching.
“I felt the fear,” Xander says to Em, smiling.
“All right, enough of this. We gotta go,” I say, nudging Xander. Then, he slides his hand down my arm and interlaces his fingers with mine. I don’t know why this act has me in a chokehold, but his fingers heat up my entire body.
“It was lovely meeting you, Em,” Xander says before turning toward the door and taking me with him. When we’re clear in the hallway, Xander turns to me and says, “I like her.”
“She’s single,” I say, joking as I stab the button for the elevator.
“Jesus,” Xander says, letting go of my hand. He shakes his head. “When will you realize that I’m not one of your douchebag Bone It boys?”
The elevator doors ping open and we both step in.
What I think he meant to ask was,When will you realize that I’ll never hurt you?
My heart rate starts thundering at the realization that I’m fluent in Xander. When did that happen?
“I know you’re not,” I say quietly, keeping my eyes on the elevator buttons. “I’m just fucking with you.”
“If you want to fuck with me, there are other ways,” he says, his voice low. I turn to look at him. His eyes have grown dark. The energy shifts around us. I raise an eyebrow at him, daring him to go on.
He reaches out and hits the emergency stop button, the elevator jerking to a standstill. He turns to face me. My heart rate picks up, pumping blood everywhere. My whole body vibrates. There’s a sudden urge to look at his lips.
“That little moan of yours, especially when I have my hands in your hair. That fucks with me,” he says, stalking closer. And holy shit, it is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen him do. The end of his lip curls up. Oh, he’s not done.
“When your eyes glaze over, thinking about that night. That fucks with me,” he says, prowling even closer. Excuse me, what is happening and why am I so fucking turned on? He reaches out and grabs my hand, turning the palm facing up.
