Page 30 of Hot As Ice

“I’m not dating anyone, and yes, I did find Hunter and thank him.” I smile in what I hope is an innocent way.

Mel’s eyes are huge. “What did he say when you thanked him?”

I shrug, glancing away again. “Oh, just that it was nothing and I didn’t need to thank him.”

“Wow. Really?”

I nod. “Mhmm.”

“That’s sweet.” Melanie taps her phone screen with the tip of her finger. “Shit. It’s almost time for my next class. I’m so glad we bumped into each other. Let’s catch up again, soon, okay?”

“Okay, have a great time in class.”

She rolls her eyes. “Impossible. It’s math.” She laughs and waves goodbye.

Twenty minutes later, I’m finally about to leave when Hunter walks into the coffee shop. He’s alone, a heavy-looking duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He doesn’t see me, and I take the opportunity to look my fill, even as I realize every girl in the vicinity is doing the same thing. He’s just that gorgeous.

And he looks absolutely delectable in gray sweatpants and a gray thermal, the sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms, dusted with dark hair. I never thought forearms could be sexy, but his are. My nipples tingle and I feel warmth and wetness in my underwear. Jesus. How can just looking at him bring such a reaction? Am I under a spell?

He faces straight ahead as he waits in line, even though I’m sitting only a few feet away from him. Staring at him when he doesn’t know he’s being watched makes me feel naughty, and I love it. His hands are in his pockets and he’s looking up at the coffee menu displayed on the wall. I’m about to go up to him when a pretty blonde steps in front of him and starts talking to him animatedly.

I have no right to feel jealousy – Hunter’s not my boyfriend – but jealousy quickly unfurls in my chest. I look away, too irritated to keep watching them. I grab my pen and notebook out of my backpack and scribble loops on a blank page over and over again. Ugh. I don’t want to feel jealous. I hate the feeling. It’s corrosive.

I look out the window again.

For a moment, I wonder what it’d be like to be a hot guy, popular and rich, with no financial worries ever, and pretty girls throwing themselves at you all day. The power has to be intoxicating.

Feeling sorry for myself is not going to help. I grab my laptop and open it up, determined to apply to more jobs. Determined to take control of my life.

A minute later, someone puts a coffee cup in front of me and slides into the seat Melanie vacated half an hour ago. I don’t even have to look up to know that it’s Hunter. I shut my laptop.

“Hey there, princess.” He grins. “Miss me?

I’m pretty sure every girl in the coffee shop is staring at me, possibly feeling the same jealousy I was feeling earlier. Weird. I straighten my posture.

“Not at all.” When his fingers aren’t in my pussy and he’s not licking my nipples, I feel a lot bolder around him.

“Ouch.” He presses a fist to his heart. “That hurts. Or it would hurt, if I didn’t know you were lying.” He smirks.

“You’re so cocky.”

“Yeah, you would know, the way you were feeling me up last weekend.”

I glare at him. “Shut up. You were the one feeling me up!”

“Yeah, and you fucking loved it. You were begging me to fuck you and take your virginity in the fucking bathroom stall.”

I flush, knowing he’s right. I cringe to recall how desperately I’d begged him. But in that moment, I’d wanted nothing more. I stuff my things into my backpack again. I really need to leave before he gets me any more flustered.

“What the fuck is that?” Hunter says suddenly.

I follow his gaze to the inside of my elbow, where I have a big bruise from my last plasma donation, when the nurse couldn’t find my vein. “It’s just a bruise.”

“A nasty fucking bruise. Did you donate blood?”

I shake my head. “Plasma.”

“Why?”