Dark Child (Wild Men 5)

She gives an incredulous laugh. “Try what? Is this a joke?” She puts away her phone in her purse and lifts a brow at me. “Is this some sort of bet you set up with your friends? Tell them I’m not game.”

What?

“Hey, wait! Sophie!”

“See you in class,” she shoots over her shoulder as she heads toward the classroom. “Or not.”

What the hell?

She sits as far away from me in class as possible and only turns once to look at me. It’s a kind of suspicious, incredulous look she has no business giving me, and it makes me wanna break the desk and plow my fist through the wall.

My Calculus buddy Elliot sits down beside me, late as always, letting his backpack drop with a thump and grabbing my notebook to see what I wrote.

“What’s up, man?” he whispers loud enough for the professor to shoot us a glare. “You won’t believe the chick I met last night. You should come with me tonight. I’ll score you a threesome. Pretty girls, big tits, nice tight p—”

“I don’t pay for sex, Elliot,” I say absently, still staring across the classroom. “I’ve told you that.”

He snorts. “Very funny.” He elbows me hard enough to bruise. “Who are you staring at like that?”

I clear my throat and look down. “Nobody.”

“A girl? A girl caught your eye? Thank you, Lord.”

I shush him, snatch my notes back and pretend to pay attention to the lecture, even as my attention is firmly on the pretty brunette who hasn’t looked my way once.

Pathetic. Jesus, I’ve never had a girl get under my skin like that. This hot and cold business is doing my head in. I’m not that kind of guy. I’m all in, in whatever I do. I fucking care about people

. Pretending and playing games isn’t my thing.

By the end of the class, I look for her, but she’s already left.

Hell.

Slipping my headphones on, I play “Drained” and “Like Sand” by In Flames on repeat, letting all the rage of the song pass through me. I need to go for a run, let out some of that anger and pressure that’s settled on my chest.

Plenty more girls to choose from, I tell myself. Matt said that, too. Maybe I should finally follow his advice. God knows I waited long enough for Sophie to notice me, talk to me, only to have her kick me in the nuts again.

I’m marching out of the classroom when a tall blonde chick steps into my path. I can’t remember seeing her around, but she seems happy to see me.

I push back my earphones and give her a once-over. “Yeah?”

“Hey, Merc… can you help me with today’s exercises?” She twirls a strand of blond hair between two fingers and crosses her legs. She’s wearing really high heels, I realize. And a really fucking short skirt. “I missed a class and can’t figure out the problems so well. Can we grab a coffee so I can ask you a couple of questions?”

Coming on the heels of my previous thoughts, with all the anger and strange sadness surging through me like a dark wave, it’s a no-brainer.

“Sure.”

Chapter Six

Cosima

In my dream, his fingers tangle in my hair, his eyes meet mine and then his mouth descends, warm and soft, his tongue pushing between my lips, setting me on fire.

Merc, I think. Kiss me harder. Touch me.

He pushes me down on the mattress and keeps kissing me, shoves a leg between my thighs, pressing where I need him most, drowning me in pleasure.

Oh yeah, Merc… Please.