Page 60 of Merciless

If I don’t go to the party, however, I won’t hear the end of it from my mother. It’ll be a weekend spent with rich snobs playing golf, birthdays be damned. Joe always wants to play golf with the guys and his friends.

I sigh and lower my phone to my lap.

“I’m assuming you got a text as well,” a deep voice whispers into my ear.

I jolt and turn toward the person.

Elijah smirks and leans forward, his elbow resting on his knee while he cups his jaw. “Someone’s a little jumpy.”

“How did you move so silently?”

“I wasn’t being all that quiet. You were zoned out.” He winks. “Besides, it’s not that hard to be sneaky with you.”

My lips part. Seriously? He’s going to make that innuendo right here in class? Especially years after saying nothing about what happened when he woke me up with his mouth?

Elijah tilts his head, his dark eyes flicking back and forth as he takes in my flustered state. “Such a peculiar reaction to an innocent tease,” he mumbles. “Is there something you need to tell me, birdie?”

I scoff and avert my gaze. “Is there something you need to tell me, Eli?”

“Elijah.”

My gaze slips back to him. “What?”

“My name is Elijah. Not Eli.”

“And my name is Eden. Not birdie or sis.”

He leans in and brings his frustratingly good scent with him—expensive cologne and body wash. “I like the sound of my name on your tongue. So don’t cheat me out of hearing every syllable.”

There’s no way he’s flirting with me in the middle of the classroom.

“What are you doing?” I whisper when I look at him again.

He raises an eyebrow, but the corner of his lips curve. Every bit cocky and frustrating. “What do you think I’m doing?”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sis. Why would I do that?” His smile widens, looking every bit like the Cheshire Cat.

I swallow hard and peer around the classroom again.

Elijah pinches my chin between his fingers and turns my head toward him again. “They won’t do or say anything.”

I scoot my chair back and gather my things to leave class.

Only five minutes remain, and I’m willing to take the risk of seeing the dean if the professor has a problem with me leaving early. I can’t be around Elijah for a second longer.

He’s teasing me, and I hate admitting it, but I love it.

I spare one last glare at him. He watches me with the same amused expression, relaxing in his seat beside my abandoned chair.

My face heats, and I rush out of the room with the feeling of his eyes on the back of my head. I just hope he doesn’t follow me and do something more about the tension growing between us.

CHAPTER 22

EDEN

DAY 4 OF THE BET