I refuse to look him in the eye even though I feel him boring holes in my face. One look, one freaking glance and all the courage I’ve summoned might evaporate.
“Oh, what to do?” Bree asks with a honeyed voice. “The table doesn’t fit everyone.”
I lean over, plant my hand in front of her, and mimic her fake smile. “Then I guess you have to make room for the captain.”
Everyone at the table—and the entire cafeteria—grows silent, seemingly entranced by the duel.
This will either bury her or bury me.
And I haven’t returned from the dead to be buried.
“It’s okay!” Lucy rushes in. “I’m sure we can attach an extra table.”
“Hear that, Bree?” I tell her. “Go fetch the table.”
She doesn’t move, her face growing red with exertion. “Reina, you—”
I slam my tray in front of hers, shutting her up. I lean forward and snarl, “Move.”
Her mouth falls open, but no words come out. Her ears heat, looking close to combustion. It’s Prescott who grabs her by the arm.
I remove her hand from Asher’s arm and plant my ass right beside him.
“Right, ladies.” Owen chuckles. “We’ll help with the table.”
A few other guys from the team laugh along with him and go to fetch one. Naomi smiles in my peripheral vision, and I can’t help but smile back.
No one will step on me.
So what if I was a terrible person in the past? I’m changing, and no one will make me feel bad about that.
A heavy arm slings over my shoulder. I breathe in his sandalwood and citrus scent as I focus on his touch surrounding me.
Asher’s hot breath tickles my ear. “What are you doing?”
I swallow, squashing the flutters in my chest and the tightening of my belly. The flaw in this plan? Having to be this close to Asher.
It’s becoming harder and harder to control my reaction around him. A part of me sees him as the one who breathes life into me, the one who saved me twice.
And it’s a wrong thought to have about someone who means me no good.
“It has nothing to do with you,” I murmur back.
Down, body. Stay the hell down.
His lips graze the shell of my ear. A whimper gets trapped in my throat as he bites down for a split second.
“Is that so?” The rumble of his voice awakens goosebumps on my skin.
How can he pack so much sexual energy in three mere words?
My body catches fire from his lips and voice on my ear. I squirm in my seat, fighting to not make a sound or lean into his touch.
“What if I want it to be about me?” His voice deepens with darkness so tangible I taste it on my tongue.
My head snaps in his direction. He watches me closely, but it’s not intimidation. It’s almost like…he’s seeing me in a different light.
A new light.