“What you’re doing is not a good idea.”
“And what is that?”
“Being nice to me.”
“Wow… you don’t want me to be nice to you. Seriously?” His eyebrows shoot up, but his eyes are dancing playfully.
“Umm…no. I mean, I want you to be nice to me, but… I mean”—I’m stuttering now—“you need to quit seducing me.” And I move my index finger between him and me.
“Why? Are you having a hard time, Tia?”
His knee rubs into mine and this time is no accident.
“No, I don’t like it,” I blurt out.
“You don’t like this?”
Before my brain can process his words, his free hand touches my cheek slowly and tenderly. Blood rushes to my face and I squeeze my legs together, thankful they are hidden under the table.
“You’re so reactive to me. I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“Victor, this is not a game. This is not going in the right direction.”
He drops his hand and gives me a serious look.
“When you kissed me back, you told me everything, Tia. Everything is going according to plan.”
Not according tomyplan.
The gleam in Victor’s eyes tells me he’s ready to take what’s his. He reaches again but this time his fingers touch my lips, and images of the kiss flutter in my hazy mind.
I close my eyes. His fingers make circles and my lips burn from his gentleness. A disturbing thought crosses my mind. I want to taste him. Without giving my brain a chance to overanalyze this, I take his finger into my mouth and I suck it. I bite the tip of it, and a moan escapes my mouth as I release his finger. He gasps and my eyes snap open to find him staring.
“You feel it too, then.” The speed of the way his chest moves up and down matches my own.
But even if I do feel it too, that doesn’t mean I can go all boy-crazy with him. I need to find a way to stop my body from doing all of this, to resist him.
I revert my gaze to the table and my eyes stop on the sticky note.
“Wait a second. Last night you knew I was taking a shower, didn’t you? Of course you knew I was in there.”
“I just wanted to piss.”
My face twists. “You could’ve used the bathroom downstairs.”
He gives me a wolfish grin.
“You caught me.”
“You’re so cocky. I hate violence but right now, I really want to hit you.”
“Good. Doesn’t this make you feel… alive? In control?” He whispers, “I’m sorry. It was a dick move.”
I keep my mouth shut. Victor is gentle with me but deep down I know when his eyes get dark brown, he’s ready to murder a person. He could lose his temper anytime. He put someone in the hospital, for crying out loud. I need to have a cool head around him.
“We just can’t, Victor… I know you’re concerned about me because I’m the sister of your friend, but it’s for the best if we stay friends.”
The friend zone. That’s exactly what I need. I stand up and rinse my plate at the sink, feigning nonchalance.
