Page 39 of Dream Chaser
“Black eye, you jackass.” I can’t help but laugh. “What is wrong with you?”
Pot, meet kettle, I scold myself.
“Don’t act like you’re not?—”
“Let’s pretend that was rhetorical and let me answer for you,feel me?”
His nostrils flare as he looks me over.
Okay, so now is not the time to soak in the fact that Skinner just made me feel sexier and more desired than any man ever has.
Focus.
“You’re used to hooking up after a game, and?—”
“Only wins, and not since Vegas, Iz. I?—”
I shake my head. “Not information I need or freaking want. The point? Your closest friends are all coupled up and you have a severe case of FOMO.”
He snorts. “Not even close. I have a very healthy appreciation for my own space, my own bed, and not having to share my leftovers.”
I arch a brow. “So your fridge is your soul mate?”
“Damn straight.” He leans in a little. “But even your favorite leftovers get boring. Sometimes you crave something spicier, unexpected. Someone who tells you that you smell like her ex, and you still need to have her. Make her come.”
My heart slams against my ribs, but I don’t flinch. “You want me like you want your spice of the month girlies?”
He grins. Slow. Dangerous. “I don’t do monthly subscriptions.”
I want to scream, turn it the fuck off, but somehow, we’re having this conversation calmly and quietly enough that no one is hearing us, and I am one hundred percent sure of that because Mags would be rolling if she heard any of this.
So, no screaming.
“I get that the shelves of the proverbial supermarket have been empty since Vegas, and now you’re hungry so that?—”
“Fucking starving, Iz.”
“—can of beets you’ve passed by for months is now looking good,” I manage to continue, “but…”
I stop when the bus doors open and stand with everyone else as Warren and Grimes walk on, followed by Dylan and Dean, Lauren, Aunt Tessa, Uncle Lucas, and Dad.
The bus erupts in applause.
My eyes connect with Dad’s, and he motions for me to come up front.
I grab my things and turn, seeing Skinner sitting there, jaw muscles popping, eyes basically fucking me.
“You wanna move?”
“Nope.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I move to step over him, and his big paw wraps around my thigh, sending a jolt of lightning up to my freaking core.
I look down.
“We’re not done with this, Iz.”
“If you don’t wanna lose that hand, I suggest you?—”
