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ribbling my address on it as well as my phone number. I shoved it into Neal's hand, knowing how pushy I was being, but I couldn't seem to stop myself. I had a sudden flash of blood dropping from his wrists and I quickly looked up from his hand. "Call me if you get lost but it's right off campus."
Neal looked down at the piece of paper, looked back up at me and then glanced at Simon. I didn't want to follow his gaze, because the last thing I wanted to do was see Simon's expression. I was sure he didn't approve.
Neal turned back to me, a hesitant smile on his face. "Okay, seven o'clock. Can I bring anything?"
"Oh no, don't worry about it. We'll see you then!" I grabbed Simon's arm, dragging him with me as I made my escape. My cheeks were burning with embarrassment. I had never been so forward in my whole life, practically demanding that Neal come over to my place for dinner.
Simon let me drag him for a few yards, and then came to a halt, jerking me back. I turned around to object to his lack of forward movement, but just gulped when I got a look at his face. His eyes were stormy and his jaw was hard.
"What the hell was that all about?"
"You know I have to keep an eye on him so that I can be there when his vardoger tries to overtake him. The easiest way to do that is for him to become a friend."
A muscle was twitching in Simon's jaw and his eyes narrowed. "Oh, he wants to become a friend, alright. You were being very friendly with him and he got the message loud and clear."
My mouth dropped open at Simon's insinuation. "He doesn't think that! He saw me standing there with you. Obviously we're together."
"It's not so obvious when you're fawning all over him. Regardless of what he thinks we are, he thinks he has a chance with you. And that's not okay."
I took a deep breath before answering. There was a chance that Simon was right. I had been pretty forward with Neal and he could've gotten the wrong message. I would deal with that later. The most important thing had been to get him to come over.
"I'm sorry if it seemed that way. I just had to get him to come over. Simon, this isn't about me hitting on some guy. It's a matter of life and death."
Simon stared at me as a dozen emotions passed across his face. He finally sighed, wrapping his arm around me as we started walking again. "Make it clear to him that you're not interested when he comes over tonight."
I bristled at Simon's autocratic tone. "I was going to do that anyway, but you don't have to order me around."
Simon looked down at me, his face deadly serious. "Make it clear. You belong to me."
I stopped in my tracks. "Can you not be so ridiculous? This isn't the Victorian age and I'm not some piece of chattel!"
Simon lifted my chin so that I was staring straight into his eyes. He spoke in a low, forceful voice. "Caitlin, I never said you were an object, but you do belong to me. I'm not going to have some sniveling surfer dude thinking he has a chance with you. Make it clear."
I opened my mouth to object, but Simon's mouth came crashing down on mine before I could utter a word. I tried to protest, pushing against his shoulders, but Simon was undeterred, increasing the pressure until I felt my traitorous body giving in. He plunged his tongue into my mouth, gripping my scalp so that I was held captive for his onslaught, but at that point I had no thoughts of going anywhere. Simon groaned when I slipped my tongue into his mouth, our kiss growing frenzied.
I was panting when we broke apart, aroused and confused at the same time. Simon cradled my head between his hands, his eyes piercing into me.
"Make it clear."
Chapter Eighteen
I was silent the rest of the way home, dumbstruck by Simon's attitude. I had seen this forceful side of him before, but never to this extent. An insidious thought started to grow, a seedling of doubt as to whether his vardoger was really gone. I pushed the thought away before it was able to grow any roots. Simon's vardoger wouldn't make him bossy and possessive. It would make him evil.
Sarah was still out shopping with Kendra when we got back to my apartment and, for once, Simon didn't make himself at home. He left abruptly, saying he would be back later for dinner, leaving me standing in my living room gaping.
As much as I wanted to mull over Simon's behavior, I called Grant and Marcus instead to invite them over for dinner. Grant was the only one home but he immediately agreed to come over.
I called Jenny next, hoping that she would be able to make it. I wanted Neal to believe that I already had this dinner planned and he was just a late addition.
"Hi, Caitlin!" Jenny's greeting was cheerful as usual.
"Hi, Jenny. What are you up to tonight?"
"Uh, I have dinner plans." Jenny sounded uncharacteristically nervous and I immediately got suspicious.
"Dinner with who?"
Jenny laughed, although it sounded a little forced. "Well..."
