Page 42 of Brutal King

I arrived at her door and couldn’t resist pressing my ear against it to try to listen. Was she alone? Was she with someone? With him?

Oh, stop being so silly and knock.

I knocked and seconds later Kat was at the door. Wearing what I’d come to assume was her usual sleeping attire – that barely there tank top, super tight short shorts and no bra.

Damn. Why did she have to look so good?

I sucked in a breath. I wanted to tear off that top and pull down her shorts so badly.

“You’re not ready yet?” I scolded as I barged in. I was a morning person and liked to get an early start. Clearly, Kat didn’t share that quality. “Come on, Kat. I wish you’d take this project more seriously. We have to get up and get at it. Go get dressed. And do something with your hair.”

“Kobe,” she murmured, the slur of sleep still clinging to her voice. She scratched her head and yawned. “What are you doing here?”

“We have a project to work on, remember? Damn, Kat. You’re driving me crazy with your lack of...”

“My lack of what?” she said with tired irritation. “You know damn well that I’m working hard on this project. Just because I’m not up at the crack of dawn doesn’t mean I’m not taking this project seriously.”

“Well, I suggest you get used to getting up a little earlier than usual, because I will be here bright and early every single morning that we are to work on this project. I will wake you up if I have to, I will drive you to the restaurant, we will work together and we will return to this campus together. Comprendez?”

“Oh, brother,” she griped as she turned to head back to her bedroom. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“What are you going to wear?” I said as I followed behind her.

She quickly turned to press a firm and halting hand to my chest. “No. You are not going to come in and play stylist, Kobe. I’m quite capable of dressing myself.”

I opened my mouth to protest.

“And,” she quickly added, “if you must know, I plan on wearing the midi dress that I wanted to wear yesterday. So, sit tight. I’ll be out in a bit.”

My jaw clenched tight despite my wish to remain cool and calm. She was turning me into a wreck.

I left her and paced the living room as I waited.

“What time did you go to bed to be getting up so late?” I finally asked.

“Well, I did get in a little late last night,” she called through her bedroom door. “And once I arrived, I wasn’t really tired... too agitated, so I went to bed rather late.”

She got in late? What the hell did that mean? How late? And why?

Trent.Trent Howard.Howie.Yeah... Howie.The dick.

As I fumed my way across her dorm room, I could hear Kat humming a tune in her room. It was a cheerful tune. She was happy. So happy.

Still humming that tune, she stepped out of her room, and I almost lost it. That midi dress; black, tailored to her curves, down just below the knee, three quarter sleeves and a slit neckline.

Sexy.Classy.Professional.Sexy.So, freakin’ sexy.

“What do you think?” she said as she turned around to show me the full effect.

“Those heels are too high,” I grunted.

“Yeah. Right,” she countered. “Nice try. They’re perfect. Now, let’s get going. I’m sure Trent will be waiting for us.”

I straightened my jacket and cleared my throat. “Speaking of Mr. Howard, did you stay at Ginger late last night.”

“You could say that,” she quipped as she headed to the door.

My stomach turned, and I didn’t like it.

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