“I have been dating, a little.” It was better to rip the bandage off now than to have a great weekend with her and then tell her.
She stood up straight, then turned her back and went to a cabinet, pulling out jars of various tea blends. “Oh, anyone serious?” Her voice was high-pitched and tight.
“Yes and no. I met someone when I first got to school. We dated a few months. The rest have been a lot more casual.”
“What happened? Between you and her?” She spun around. Her eyes were large, and I could see the jealousy flaring behind them.
“I met someone else. I’d rather not talk about it.” I put my hand on the back of my neck and looked to the ceiling. “It didn’t end well. It was kind of messy.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” She frowned, but her eyes didn’t reflect what she was saying. It was always her eyes that spoke more than her lips. She wasn’t sorry. She was glad. “I’m glad you’re dating, though,” she added.Another lie.
My expression darkened. “I thought we talked about this.” I went over to her, pulling her against me. Desire coursed through my bones. “Just say the words, and I’m yours…”
There was so much more to it than that. I was already hers. We both knew that. I’d been hers since the day we’d been taken by the Family and tossed in a room together. We were so little, but I knew even then that I’d do anything for her.
“Have you seen my teapot collection?” she squeaked and pushed away from me. She went to two swinging doors and thrust them open.
“Holy shit,” I muttered as I peered inside what once was a pantry to reveal a room lined floor to ceiling with teapots of all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. “Where did you get these?”
“My private clients. I have a wish list they buy from. Or sometimes they surprise me with rare ones. Come on, pick one and I’ll tell you all about its history.”
Just then, the whistle from her kettle blew, and we turned back to the kitchen.
“Another time.” I smiled.
I didn’t like asking about the gifts men gave her as much as she didn’t like me fucking other women.
Rule 4 - Kansas
Play the long game.
“What tea have you tried?” Eisley peered into her cabinets.
My eyes traveled up her legs. She wore the same skimpy goth dresses and skirts she had in school. She looked way too sexy for a girl who didn’t like to be touched. My cock grew hard the longer I stared at her perky ass. I wondered if she was wearing panties.
“The fruit ones mostly. I don’t like anything bitter.”
She turned back and rolled her eyes. “All right, I think I might have something you’ll like.”
“Do you have anything stronger?”
“You don’t want tea?”
“Not really. Tea is more of a cafe date thing for me. I’d be a lot happier with a beer in my hand.”
She scowled. “Fine. I don’t have beer, but I can make you a cocktail. Ooh! I have a blueberry syrup I made myself. Do you like bourbon?”
I laughed at her quick shift and high level of enthusiasm. “Bourbon sounds good. Actually, can we order a pizza or something? I’m kind of starving.”
“You’re hungry?”
“You know, the whole broke college student thing. I’m rocking that.” I gave her two thumbs up and laughed it off.
“Could have fooled me. You’re twice the size you were when I last saw you.” Her eyes drifted over my toned body.
“My little Eisley, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve been checking me out.”
“Maybe…” She gave me a sly grin. There was a flush in her cheeks that made her look even sexier. “You’re finally giving me something to admire.”
