Her jaw tenses and her seafoam green eyes darken at me using her own words from the Clone House.
Was that really only two weeks ago?
It feels like it’s been a lifetime.
“Nothing much to say when everyone saw the way you were eye-fucking her.” Denise states it like it’s a fact which it’s sure as hell not.
I can’t help but grin. “I only looked at her when she was talking. It’s called being polite. But you know who I was looking at that other ninety-nine percent of that time?”
She doesn’t answer and I’ve officially let this get to my head because gorgeous, talented, smart, and funny Denise Stryker thinks I, of all people, would have eyes for someone but her?
It’s sickening how often I think about her. How much I want her. She clearly seems to think that having one taste of her is enough. Like I haven’t practically been begging for more.
Denise scoffs. “Why don’t you just fuck off, Callahan?”
That should definitely not be turning me on as much as it is, but I don’t give a shit about decoding that right now. Instead, I grab Denise’s waist and hoist her onto my shoulder without so much as a warning.
She gasps but she’s quick to start slapping my shoulder and demanding me to put her down but I do no such thing. I walk her all the way through the house, not caring to look at what anyone’s reaction could possibly be. The second we’re outside, I hear Denise’s protests clearly.
“I swear to fucking god, Lucas. Put me down or I’m shoving my heel so far up your ass.”
“Promise?” I chuckle.
That just makes her slap my shoulder harder, which only makes me set her down abruptly in front of my car, deciding that I can’t wait to get her back to either mine or her apartment.
When her heels touch the pavement and she’s no longer in the air, she huffs, face red and attitude all over her face.
“Do you not know what fuck off means? I’m sure you’ve heard it plenty of times before.”
I step closer to her, caging her between me and the side of my car.
“It was a little loud in there, Stryker. Couldn’t really hear a damn thing.”
She pushes against my chest, trying to walk away but this time I don’t let her because I’m not letting her walk away thinking I want anyone else but her. And I know she doesn’t mind when she allows me to pull her right back to me, not bothering to try and push me away again.
Denise looks directly in my eyes, not backing down. “Well, why don’t you go back in and ask Xanthe to translate that for you.”
I hum. “’Cause I’m dumb, right?”
Her breath hitches and for the first time tonight, I think she might actually be sorry about something but I don’t give her time to say or do anything else.
“Don’t know my left from my right?” I continue. “All brawn, no brains. That right, Stryker?”
She slowly begins to shake her head but I grab onto her chin, keeping her in place. My other hand rests on the side of my car, near her head. Her breath entangles with mine and without even kissing her, I can taste the cheap beer she made me get just to complain that it was lukewarm.
“What if I agreed?”
“Lucas—”
I shake my head. “’Cause the truth is, Princess, whenever you’re around, I go completely stupid. All I can think about is how to get you to touch me. To talk to me. Smile. Laugh. Fuck, I don’t even care what you do to me, as long as I’ve got your attention. That makes me a little dumb, don’t you think?”
I begin to kiss her shoulder, slowly moving to her neck. My hand moves from her chin and down to her neck, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“What?” I chuckle against her skin. “Now you’ve got nothing to say? That’s a first.”
“You’re an asshole.” The insult comes out panted and only further stirs me on.
“Well, that’s a bit of a stretch. I wasn’t the one who called out a girl for simply having a conversation.”