Free Dissolve by L.V. Hunter Page B

nice.”
    He laughs. “As you wish.”
    The room is eerily quiet while he’s gone, but it gives me more breathing space. Just act natural, Eve. He doesn’t have his eye on you - you’re not his type. You’ve got the shortest hair imaginable and your ass is flatter than a zombie’s pulse. You don’t carry enough perfume in your purse or have intimate knowledge of how to use condoms. Not that you need to be thinking about condoms, right now, because nothing is going to happen. Absolutely nothing.
    I muss my hair up and growl in frustration. What the hell is this guy doing to me? I can’t get that kiss out of my head, and being so close to him isn’t exactly helping. Somewhere between all my angst I manage to change into my pajamas I brought - an oversized shirt and pants with googly-eyed cartoon puppies on them.
    A knock comes at the door, and Kai’s voice filters through. “You decent?”
    “Sure.”
    He opens the door, closing it against the sudden rush of December air. His cheeks and nose are red as he stomps his boots free of slush and deposits the four filled-to-the-brim plastic bags he’s carrying on my bed. He looks up at me, then down at my pants. I’m suddenly hyper-aware of how immature and stupid my pajamas are.
    “Cute pants.” He drawls sarcastically.
    “I’m sorry it’s not Victoria’s Secret,” I snipe.
    “I’ll let you in on a regular secret. But just this once. My seduction real talk doesn’t come without a price, normally.”
    He picks out a can of potato chips from the bag and flops on the opposite side of the bed.
    “Lingerie is actually pretty boring.”
    I quirk an eyebrow. “You’re joking, right?”
    He chuckles. “Not right now, no.”
    “I thought that was, like,” I munch on an M&M from the bag. “All dudes like seeing women in scanty underwear. That’s supposed to be a thing. And for you? Especially so.”
    “It turns out what’s underneath is a lot more fun than some pieces of silk with ruffles on them.”
    “Be honest - you just prefer naked women to everything. Ever.”
    “Guilty as charged!” He clutches his heart like he’s been shot and falls back on the bed, ladling chips into his mouth. “What about you? Naked women your thing, too?”
    “Ugh. I am not discussing this with you.”
    “Aw, c’mon. Just when things were getting interesting.”
    “It’s so typical of you to think sex is the only thing interesting to talk about.”
    “What?” It’s his turn to quirk a brow. “No, sex is really boring to talk about. I just like seeing you blush. And the topic makes you blush a lot.”
    “It makes most people blush!” I snap, scooting away from him.
    “You’d be surprised,” He makes his voice singsong. “The girls I know don’t even bat an eyelash at the dirtiest thing. But you? You light up like a bonfire in August if I even insinuate it. It’s fun to watch.”
    “So that’s what I am? Fun to watch.”
    He rolls over on his elbows, watching me from under his slightly-damp, impossible-messy-yet-perfect-looking bangs. “Yup.”
    I must look upset, because he reaches out and ruffles my hair.
    “Hey now, don’t go assuming the wrong thing.”
    “I feel like I’m a pet, or a child.”
    “To be fair, you are kind of adorable.”
    “What?” I nearly choke on an M&M. I keep coughing, and motion for him to give me the water bottle he’s holding.
    “Uh, you might not wanna -”
    I grab it from him, chugging it immediately. The sting in my throat clears up the M&M and the mystery of what exactly I just drank.
    “Alcohol!” I gasp. “You son of a -”
    “I tried to tell you!” He grabs the bottle back. The familiar buzzing sensation down my limbs alerts me to the booze in my blood.
    “Why the hell would you put it in a water bottle?” I ask.
    “I didn’t want to bring a whole bottle back and make it look like I was trying to get you drunk,” he sighs. “So I just brought a water bottle in for me.”
    I stand, and instantly wobble.