“I didn’t come over to hook up or whatever.”
I smile.“I didn’t think I’d be getting lucky.”A guy can fantasize, but that’s all it would be, at least for now.I need to give her time to realize how much she wants and needs me.“Just let me do this for you, Harper.”
She emits a soft sigh and nods.“Okay, yeah, sure.”
We open our textbooks, and I go over her notes with her and explain the equations and concepts that she’s been struggling with for the past couple of weeks.After a solid hour of going over everything, she sits back and stares up at the ceiling.
“Is your brain fried?”I tease, sensing that it might be a little too much for one day.I wasn’t planning on doing a cramming session with her, but that’s about how it’s going.
“No, it’s just—you’re so much better of a teacher than our professor.”
I nudge her playfully.“I’m not sure that says much.It’s not like I pay attention in class.Well, not to the teacher.”
Harper grins.“I knew you were staring at me!”She glares at me playfully, and her cheeks are bright red.
Is she embarrassed or turned on?I’ve dated girls like Harper.Jumping in headfirst and being overly direct just pushes them away faster.
“Would I do that?”I laugh, feigning ignorance when she playfully smacks me on the arm.
“Yes, I think you would.”
I shrug with a smile.“Maybe.”That’s all I’m giving her.Not because I don’t want to be direct and scream to the world that I like her, but because that type of intensity would scare her away.
And she’s all I think about all the damn time.
I’m not sure when it even happened, when desire and lust turned to want and need.But I’d do anything to make Harper McKenna happy, and if that starts with helping her pull up her grade in economics, so be it.
We spend another hour going over what will be on the exam before I hear her stomach grumble.I’m growing hungry, as well, but I don’t want to chance the night will be over the minute I suggest dinner.
“I should probably go, eat.”Harper leans back and stretches.
Everything about her is both adorable and sexy.Her messy hair, her rosy cheeks.The soft breaths that escape her gorgeous swollen lips that beg to be kissed.
It takes everything inside of me not to lean over and run my fingers through her hair and steal a taste.
“I’ll order food,” I say, hoping the invitation isn’t too forward for her.“We can finish studying while it gets here.”
“Okay, but my treat, since you’re helping me more than I’m helping you,” Harper says.
There’s zero chance that I’m letting her pay for dinner.“What do you feel like eating?”I ask.
“What doyoufeel like eating?”she counters back.Harper runs her fingers through her long tresses, and damn, is it hot.I love that messy hair look on her.
“I asked first,” I say, suppressing a growl and the need to claim her, to tell her she’s what I want to devour.If I let my mouth run, she’d tear out of the place and never speak to me again.
“You can’t go wrong with pizza,” she suggests.
We agree on the toppings and where to place the order.She shoves her credit card at me, but I refuse to take it while I’m on the phone, turning my back on her.I retrieve my card from my wallet and read off the digits, finalizing the order before hanging up.“Forty-five minutes.”
“You said I could pay,” she huffs at me.
A smirk plays on my lips.“You can pay for the next date.”
“Oh no, this isn’t a date.”Harper’s eyes widen, and she gestures between us, shaking her head adamantly.“And who said anything about us doing this again?”
“Oh, come on.We’re only halfway through the semester.Admit it, you’re going to need my help for our final.”
She curses under her breath.Harper has to know that I’m right, but she doesn’t seem like the type to easily admit defeat.“Fine, but next time we order takeout, I’m calling it in.”Her eyes are blazing, and I like how easy it is to rile her up.
