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“See you later, sticky fingers.”
Blair stiffens, plastering her hand against her buttoned up shirt as I lift my bag to my shoulder and stroll from the room.
* * *
Stepping out into the courtyard, my grin flashes before I can tame it. She’s there, waiting for me by the stone bench. The leaves on the aspen tree stretching above the bench haven't turned gold yet, though a few on the spindly branches have faded to a yellow-green.
It makes Blair stand out starkly, next to the thin white bark of the trunk with her inky black hair.
Blair turns around. “What do you want?”
I tuck my hands in my pockets. “Eager to get to your steamed broccoli and mystery meat? I hear it’s very nutritional.”
“Please, you don’t even get the regular menu.” Blair rolls her eyes. “Why did you call me out here?”
She’s not as careful now, though her sharp gaze flicks to the exits every few seconds. I cock my head and enter her personal space. Blair matches me step for step until the back of her knees hit the bench. My mouth curves.
“Now you’re trapped.”
Blair huffs indignantly. “Hardly.”
She goes to sidestep me, but I catch her around the waist.
“We’re not finished yet.”
Blair’s eyes narrow. “So get on with it. You’re wasting my time.”
“Is that any way to talk to the person who pays you?”
“Pays me to humiliate myself,” she mutters.
The collar peeks between the buttons done all the way up to the stiff top of her shirt. In a nimble move, I undo the top two buttons before Blair’s eyes go wide. She smacks at my hands and covers her neck, scrambling to move out of reach with stone pressed into the back of her bare legs.
“What are you doing, you psycho? We’re in the middle of the school!”
Her gaze flies around, checking the windows. With a lazy glance, I check with her.
“No, you’re alone with me in the courtyard. Only I get to see this.” I cover her hand with mine and tug. “Now show me.”
Blair’s throat bobs. She resists my pull, pressing her hand harder to cover the collar.
I hood my eyes. “Show me. I want to see the proof you’re my little pet.”
Blair struggles for another beat, flustered. With a rough scoff, her hand drops to her side. She cuts her gaze away, dark lashes outlining her brown eyes.
Smirking, my attention falls to the leather collar on her neck. The silver nameplate looks perfect. I hook my finger in the collar and pull her closer, near enough that my lips could brush hers if I leaned in. Blair avoids looking at me, color bleeding into her cheeks. This close, I can inhale imitation vanilla and count the galaxy of freckles speckling her cheeks.
Those pouty, full lips slide together. My heart thuds and an excited tingle spreads over my skin.
“Good girl,” I rumble. “Look at you. No one would know you’re a mangy stray.”
Blair squirms against me, making a strangled sound. I chuckle and graze the back of my knuckle over her cheek. It’s warm and soft beneath my touch. Blair blinks quickly.
A giddiness bubbles up inside me, fizzing like top shelf champagne along my nerve endings. This feels fucking good. I want more of the expression on Blair’s face, this crack in her insolent confidence and years of silent indifference. I’m finally getting under her skin as much as she digs under mine. The thrill of it sings in my veins.
Whenever I’m around her, I feel alive. For a short while, I can forget about my demons.
My finger curls tighter, tugging her a fraction closer. Her breath fans across my neck with her tense exhale. I’m fascinated by the micro-expressions twitching in her features, filled with wonder as I watch her struggle to control herself to keep me from knowing exactly what this is doing to her. But I can see it all.
