“Calm down, Princess, I’m not going to do anything to you.”
“I really wish you would stop calling me that.”
I rolled my eyes. Why else did she think I still called her that? I opened up one of my drawers and pulled out a pair of mesh workout shorts before throwing them at her and walking toward my door. “Put those on, I’ll be back.”
“Why?”
“Did you want to sleep in that skirt?” I raked my teeth over my bottom lip as I thought about her sleeping in nothing at all. “I swear I wouldn’t mind it, but I figured you’d be uncomfortable, though.”
“Breanna said I would be in a room with her tonight, and if that’s not happening, I’d rather just go back to the dorm.”
“I can assure you she’ll be sleeping in the bathroom. I’ll give you a minute to change; I’ll be right back.”
“I am not sleeping with you in here.”
“Look, you’re seriously hot; that alone is going to have them chasing after you. But top that off with the few words you’ve even said that shows me just how snarky and sweet as hell you are, that is one hell of a tempting combination. Trust me when I say they’re going to want to change what they just found out about you. So if you don’t mind, I’d rather make sure that doesn’t happen.” I’d already vowed to make it my mission in life to make sure that didn’t happen.
I slammed the door with more force than necessary and stalked out to the living room, “What the hell is wrong with all of you?”
“She putting up much of a fight, Chase?” Drew sneered, and put more bottles of liquor away.
My hands balled into fists again, “You’re all assholes, and you just embarrassed the shit out of her.” I turned to look at Bree, who looked like she was five minutes from passing out. “You’re on your own tonight, sis. Or ask one of the other guys to take care of you.”
“Chase,” Brad said with a confused look, “seriously? She’s your sister, that”—he jerked his head toward one of the hallways—“is just some chick that ain’t gonna put out for you.”
Don’t punch him. Don’t freaking punch him. “She’s your problem tonight,” I said through clenched teeth and went back to my room.
“That was rude, she’s your sister. She should be in here, too.”
Harper, too? Did no one else realize how much of a bitch Bree just was? “Are you serious? You’re gonna defend her after she just spilled that?”
“She’s drunk. I’m sure she didn’t realize it.”
“That’s not an excuse.” I almost groaned; there she goes being sweet as sin again. “Come on, Harper, get in.”
I watched her crawl onto my bed, and my heart started hammering. Bree slept alone in my room when we had parties, but other than that, no girl had ever been in any of my bedrooms, and definitely not in my bed. And I was about to get in it with her. I could easily go crash on the couch or Brad’s floor, but the thought of waking up next to Harper was too tempting. When she was under the covers, I switched off the lights and crawled in beside her; she immediately flew up into a sitting position.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t get in here with me!”
So innocent. I laughed softly, but inside I was terrified she would actually ask me to leave, “It’s my bed, I’m sure I can do what I want.”
Without another word, her half of the covers were flipped onto me, and the weight left her side of the bed. Her side? No . . . the side she was on. She doesn’t have a side. This is just for tonight, right?
“Get back in the bed, Princess.”
She scoffed, and I sighed. Snarky, sweet, and stubborn as shit. God, I wanted her. I rolled off the bed and picked her up off the ground.
“Oh my word! Put me down!”
With pleasure, Princess. I dropped her onto the bed and crawled over her body, trying to stifle my groan when I felt her body press against mine.
“Chase! No!”
“Calm down, I’ll stay on my side. We can even put a pillow between us if it’ll make you feel better.” I was serious. With the hard-on I was sporting again, I needed a brick wall between us.
She scooted as far from me as the bed would allow, and I forced myself not to pull her back to me. “I swear, if you touch me, I’ll go Lorena Bobbitt on you.”
Lorena Bobbitt? Why does that sound—oh my God, the lady that chopped off her husband’s dick? I busted out laughing and put my pillow over my face. “Oh my God! Princess! You’re my new favorite!” That’s it, that comment right there, and it was sealed. I would do anything to have this beautiful gray-eyed princess lying next to me, as mine.
“That wasn’t a joke.”
I moved closer and let the tips of my fingers trail up her slender arm. Could she hear how hard my heart started pounding at just being able to touch her? “One of these days, you’ll be begging for me to touch you.”
“I’m serious, Chase. I’m not like all those girls I saw you with tonight.”
“That’s an understatement.” God, I wish she hadn’t seen any of that, and she didn’t even know the half of it. “Get some sleep, Princess, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Chapter Two
I VAGUELY REGISTERED a subtle vanilla scent and a small, warm body curled up in mine. That was seconds before I felt it shoot out from under my arms, and I swear I stopped breathing. Did I forget to lock my door? Did I get that wasted last night that I let a girl in here?
“Son of a bitch, what the fuck are you—” Oh good God. Harper. Was she this beautiful last night? “Jesus, Princess! You almost gave me a heart attack. I thought I had a girl in here.” I fell back onto my pillow and ran my hands over my face. I wish I had remembered I’d had her in here; I would’ve made sure she stayed in my arms.
“Chase?”
“Hmm?”
“Sorry you didn’t seem to notice, but I am a girl.”
Thank God for that, or I’d have had to question my manhood. “I noticed last night, trust me.” She just kept staring at me with those wide eyes, clearly confused. Damn she was cute. “I meant, I thought I let a girl stay the night with me.”
“Uh . . . ?”
“Someone I’d been with, Princess. I thought I banged a girl and let her stay here.”
“Oh.” Her face twisted, and a hint of that disgust from last night was there again.
“Sorry. Is that too much for your PG ears?”
“No, I just don’t understand why that would be a bad thing.”
Of course you don’t because you’re innocent . . . and perfect. I sighed; she was perfect. Which meant I didn’t have a chance in hell with her. Princesses need a Prince Charming, not a nightmare of a guy. “Girls I screw around with aren’t allowed to come in my room, let alone stay the night. This is the only place that is mine, and I’m not about to share it with them.”
“So you sleep with women, then make them leave?”
Good girl, keep looking at me like you can’t stand to be near me. You need to run far away, so I can’t catch you. Because if I get you, I’m keeping you, and you deserve so much better. “No, I screw women . . . and then make them leave.”
She recoiled and shook her head at me as she turned toward the door. “You’re a pig.”
I laughed softly. Yeah . . . and for the first time in my life, hearing that come from a girl actually bothered me.
As soon as she shut the door, my smirk disappeared, and I continued to stare at where she’d just been. Whatever the fuck this is, it isn’t normal. I didn’t fall for girls like this . . . ever. Especially after only one innocent look and a bitchy comment. So why was she doing this to me? Why was I wanting to pull her close but having the ridiculous urge to push her as far from me as possible. And it wasn’t for me—not at all—I wanted to keep her away from me for her. God, why am I still thinking about her at all?
I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, hating that I loved hearing her voice as I crossed the hall. She’s just a girl, man, just a girl. And she’s not for you. I ground my teeth as I walked back into my room, resolving that I needed to continue disgusting her—which obviously I was already a pro at—and she’d run away screaming soon enough. I threw the door open roughly, and, to be honest, I’m not sure if I held back my groan or not. She was bent over in a pair of neon blue underwear, and I decided right then that was my new favorite color. Harper jerked up quickly, pulling the little skirt with her. Didn’t help. I’d already seen her without it. But my lips still fell into a slight frown.
“It’s really a shame you don’t let anyone see that sexy little body.” And by anyone, I meant me . . . again.
By the time she turned, her face was so red it looked like she’d just run a marathon. God this girl blushed a lot . . . but I freakin’ loved it. Her already wide eyes got even wider, just like they had when Bree had said spilled about her virginity. Shit, I’d embarrassed her—my stomach clenched, but I shook it off, knowing I had to keep going.
“Calm down, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before. Not saying I wouldn’t want to see yours.”
Her face was still red, but her eyes narrowed into tiny slits. Vicious Princess was still cute. “Bite me.”
“Is that an invitation?” Please God, let it be one.
“Not even close.” She was headed for the door and without my even thinking about it, my arm shot out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her into me.
Her body stiffened, and I couldn’t help but lean my head toward hers, skimming my nose along her jaw and subtly breathing in her sweet scent. “One of these days, Princess, I promise you.” Did she not see what she was doing to me? My body was practically humming, having her pressed up against me, and my breathing got rougher. I silently pleaded with her to run as I tightened my arm on her waist. Mine.