Twelve of Roses

“Jesus,” I muttered, my eyes flying up to meet his.

“Rose?” he questioned.

“Hey,” I stupidly replied. Unsure of what to do with my hands, I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Did you need something?” His eyes left my face and slowly traveled over my body.

I was all too aware of my short silk pajama shorts and white tank top that showed my bra underneath.

“I got a dare,” I blurted out after a minute.

He didn’t say anything, but his blank facial expression morphed into a knowing smile.

“Come in.” He stepped to the side, gesturing for me to enter his room. I wasn’t counting on him responding the way he did. Trying to keep a brave front, I walked in as if I’d expected an invite from the get-go.

His bedroom didn’t tell me much about him. There was a queen-sized bed, a futon sitting against one of the light gray walls, and a black desk in the corner with a laptop open, streaming the music that was playing.

It looked so…adult. If that was a thing.

His curtains were pulled back from a window that faced the front of the house, giving him a clear view right into my bedroom.

Did he watch me as I watched him?

“So, what was your dare, and how does it involve me?”

I turned around to see him leaning against the bedroom door that was now shut.

“It’s stupid. I’m supposed to get a kiss from you.” I forced out a laugh. “On the lips,” I added when he didn’t react.

“You think that’s stupid?” he checked, cocking his head.

It made me notice he’d recently got a haircut. His dark locks were always in a perfect undercut.

“I think…well, I have to admit it’s a little childish.”

“So then why didn’t you ask for another dare?”

“I don’t know,” I shrugged helplessly, jamming my hands beneath my armpits.

“Judging from how often you watch me from your bedroom window, I think you do know.”

“My bedroom…?”

Oh, God. He knows!

There was no way he couldn’t see my face turning beet red. My skin was so pale, a snowman would be jealous. I didn’t have a response or explanation.

No lies sprang forth in my mind that made sense, and my tongue was suddenly glued to the bottom of my mouth.

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed. I watch you too,” he confessed, pushing off the door and coming to stand in front of me.

His confession had blood rushing to my head. Perhaps I shouldn’t have downed so much liquor before seeking him out.

“You shouldn’t, though,” I mumbled, cursing my lack of self-confidence to hell and back.

“When it comes to you, Rosie, there are a lot of things I shouldn’t do.”

He pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up until I was looking him in the eyes.

“Tell me…when you lie on your bed and spread your legs, imagining me between them, do you use two fingers or one?”

I told myself not to answer that, but my mouth decided now was the time to speak—albeit unintelligibly.

“I don’t—”

“Stop,” he bit out, dropping his hand to the base of my throat. “Don’t lie to me, pretty girl. I know what your face looks like when you come,” he added, squeezing with the slightest amount of pressure.

It didn’t hurt, but the threat was clear.

“What do you want?” My voice was barely above a whisper. I was seconds away from spacing out. Little beads of sweat were already rolling down my spine, and my poor heart was bouncing around inside my chest.

Why did I think I could handle this?

On one hand, I was elated that he was touching me. That he noticed me. That he watched me. But I was also terrified for those same reasons—because he had just admitted how much attention he’d been paying.

“Hmmm, what do I want?” His blue eyes bored into my round, dark ones.

I could smell the menthol from a recent cigarette on his breath.

“Hey!” I yelped as my feet were swept out from underneath me. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for an impact that never came. At the last second, he wrapped his arms around me and gently lowered me the rest of the way to the floor.

“What are you doing?!”

“I’m helping you with a dare.” He shrugged, lurching down so his solid body was positioned over mine.

“You’re going to help me…just like that? You barely even talk to me.”

“But I’ve always watched you.” He sat back on his heels, staring at me with an intense expression on his face.

“Con,” I breathed, pushing myself up onto my elbows. “It’s just a dare.”

“Is it?”

Before I could ask what he meant and what the hell had come over him, he was flashing me an ornery grin and grabbing the waistband of my shorts.

He dragged them down my legs, taking my underwear along for the ride.

“Constantine!” I gasped, attempting to cover myself. What is happening?!