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She winks at Tony and turns into the room as the first girl keeps the door open. Colton takes over door duty and smiles at her. She giggles at him as he winks. Colton is a man of few words, but that damn wink gets him laid every time. I’m the last one to file in, leaving Colton and sparkly eyes to themselves.

Tony and his female counterpart are in the middle of introductions as I remove my jacket. When I lift my face, it’s like my O line isn’t even there and I’ve been sacked. Breathless. Fuck me, she’s gorgeous. I mean, like, otherworldly ethereal.

Her umber colored bangs unfurl over the lightest green eyes. Then she shifts her focus to me. Her eyes are saying things only I can understand and hear. Normally my attention would have already drifted to her legs, hips, and tits, but I can’t look away from her face. My lips twitch into a smile that mirrors hers. Tony and the brunette point to her, but she doesn’t look away from me as she speaks. We’re in our own fucking world.

“I’m Lizzie.”

Without prompting, I say, “Dan. Dan.” She grins and it’s as if all the stadium lights on a Friday night blaze to life.

“Hi, Dan Dan. That’s funny, you know.” Her face pales a bit, as if she’s worried she’s made fun of me.

“No, it’s cool. Actually, everyone just calls me Dan.”

She looks down and then back up, and her long-ass eyelashes reveal her seriously stunning sea glass green eyes again. “I’m Lizzie Fox.” She shakes her head because she’s introduced herself twice, and I want to snap her up on my lap. Flustered Lizzie Fox is fucking hot.

“Dan Dan, Lizzie and Lizzie Fox?” I say.

She laughs. “Let’s just go with Lizzie and Danny.”

My stomach bottoms out as she chooses a name for me. Dan’s the nickname everyone uses at school. I say, “Danny’s good.” I’ve never been Danny, but I can be Danny to her. Fuck, she’s beautiful. She’s hitting all the spots in my brain. And in my crotch.

Tony and Makenzie start catcalling, and it pulls our attention from each other. Tony raises his umbrella, but this time he points his long and annoying fake sword towards Lizzie, then over to me.

“Consider this union blessed by the king. Go forth, Knight Danson and fair maiden…”

Makenzie fills in for him, “The Lady Fox.”

Lizzie protests, “Why does he get to be a knight and I have to be a fair maiden?”

The room looks at her. She shies away for a second, then the tall girl sitting next to her nudges her and whispers in her ear.

Her face is blooming red, but she says, “Why can’t I be a knight?” It’s flush with pink now and she’s even more beautiful the more flustered she gets.

He bows to her, and her friend pushes her up. Lizzie curtseys. Then he nods and she kneels. He places his umbrella on each shoulder.

“Arise, fair knight, and go forth and make knightlets for me. So I may rule with an attractive army.”

She huddles with her friend and shoots me a secret smile. I move over and nudge Tony so he stops making her the center of attention.

He yells, “Guards! Guards! Remove the warrior from my sight.” He turns towards the raven-haired hostess. “And you, good witch, your spell has landed upon me. Goodie Makenzie?”

She bites her lip. “You’re fucking crazy. Can we just drink beer, or do we have to find mead or some shit?” Everyone laughs. And we all find places to sit.

I want Lizzie to sit near me, but she retreats to a chair in the corner. Colton’s getting cozy with Maggie, whose bubbly giggle rises above the din.

I think I’d wrestle anyone who tried to sit near Lizzie. I glance back at her and she’s looking at her feet. I can’t see her tits, but I want to, yes sir, I do. My dick twitches and I arrange my jeans a bit. I mean, I get hard constantly, but this is different. There’s no fucking way she didn’t feel that shit between us, too.

Finally, she looks over and we’re trapped by each other’s gaze. Fuck me, she’s so freaking pretty. Her neck is long and swan-like. I want to lick it wicked bad. I’ve never done that before, but I want to nip that neck. I’ve been so focused on not failing out of school and training. My only outlet from all of it is either fucking someone from the sister school—a townie—or drawing in my sketch pad. But at least I’m not at home with my less than ideal fucked-up dad situation.

I do want a part of this girl, though. Lizzie’s smiling and all I can think is how dangerous her lips could be. I move across the room and ignore my teasing asshole suite-mates and sit next to her. I can already tell she’s too good for me, but that won’t stop me. No one has ever validated me with a look before. I don’t feel less than, I feel more.

My voice comes out at half volume as she sidles up next to me. “Lizzie.”

She bites her lip. “Danny.”

And I never want to hear my name said by anyone else ever fucking again.

LIZZIE