“Girlfriends then,” I translated with a tart look.
Shaking his head, Nix rubbed his temples before stating. “I don’t have girlfriends, they’re hook-ups, that’s all.”
I glanced down at the sofa and started to play with a frayed edge of stitching, no longer able to deal with his laser-like glare. “Well, whatever, I still don’t like it. It’s disrespectful.” I knew I sounded like a silly little schoolgirl talking to her first crush.
My tormentor’s lips twisted into a lopsided smile as he moved closer. “Are you getting possessive on me, baby girl?” I noticed how his gaze lingered on my mouth.
I glared back,hatingthat smug expression. “No. I just don’t like bumping into your cast-offs in the mornings. They always hog the bathroom and make me late for school.” I was such a liar, and of course, the douche called me out on that.
“First of all, I saidhook-ups, not castoffs, and secondly, you’re a liar, Harper Radcliffe. One who is totally in denial.” Phoenix was now at my side of the sofa, and I flinched as he lifted his free hand and pushed some of my hair behind my ear.
Licking lips that now felt like they hadn’t touched water in a decade, I raised my chin. “About what?”
“Wanting me,” he smiled, his grin even wider now, full of ego again. Phoenix ran a thumb over his jaw with the hand that held the bottle. He was so handsome and confident, even when he was being ridiculous and annoying. His dark eyes blazed with heat, and I felt it deep in my core. Nix was now looking at me with such possessive ferocity, and I didn’t understand how he could blow so cold one minute and then hot the next.
I decided to play him at his own game and batted that shit back at him. “Well, you clearly want that—as in—youwantme to want you.” What thefuckwas I saying!? The words that came out of my mouth made me sound like a moron. I wasneverthis inarticulate, and I blamed the annoying boy standing before me. He made me come undone ineveryway possible. “You know what I mean,” I added hotly.
“I know what you mean. As I said, it’s human nature.”
Phoenix leaned his hip against the back of the sofa and held the bottle of spirits towards me. I shook my head, and he shrugged, taking another drink. The spicy tinge from his breath gave me goosebumps.
Folding my arms over my chest, I held my own during our staring contest. “Now what. Stalemate or that truce we talked about?” I decided to put the ball back in his court.
He cradled the bottle against his wide chest. “I’m up for a truce. I said that.”
“So, you agree to my terms then? No more girls stopping over here?” He didn’t do it every day, as Ma would see. Ma had forbidden hook-ups under her roof. I remember how the shit hit the fan that first night Hudson snuck Molly into his room. He’d been grounded for weeks. They were in a relationship now, and so things were different, but Ma did not like one-night stands. And neither did I. Not when they were Phoenix’s anyway.
“So, you’re asking me to give up pussy for you? You sound like Hudson,” he snorted, nudging me with the bottle. I moved back a step and dropped my arms.
Hands on my hips, I hissed. “You’re so gross. Just call them girls, and if you mustslake your lust. Just do it at their place.” Fuck! What was I saying? I didn’t want him to do that either.
“Fine,” he barked and turned away.
As I watched him place the bottle on the table, I stated. “And I will agree to do the same.”
“What doesthatmean?”
“I won’t bring guys home.”
I only said it to needle him, and it worked as he spun back to face me. “So, you agree to the no-guys rule too, yeah?” He wasn’t impressed, but I could see a quality that suggested he was almost amused, and that pissed me off. He didn’t believe me.
I wasn’t the Virgin Mary! Well, I was a virgin, but I’d donesomestuff.
“Underthisroof, yes. Anywhere else is fair game,” I explained haughtily. “What’s good for the goose and all that.”
Phoenix then burst out laughing, and I snapped. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Wasn’t that a joke?”
He was such a cocky sonofabitch. The way he walked back over to me was panther-like. A beast stalking its prey, asmug beast, I might add. His eyes glittered with fresh amusement. “You’re so full of crap, Harper. You couldn’t get a guy to come within five yards of you, let alone in this house.”
Fisting my hands by my sides, I squared up to him. Anger burned through the last shred of my pride. “Yes, I could. I can easily sneak a guy into my room. That type of shit isn’t just a boy thing. A girl's gotta eat, too, you know.”
“Have you ever even had one?”
“One what?” I knew what he was asking, but was biding my time.
“An orgasm.”
