Free Enamor (Hearts of Stone #3) by Veronica Larsen

complaining, though, I like that she's intent on holding on to that anger. I like her best when she's all fired up.
    "Find a way to get it out of your perverted head."
    "There's only one way."  
    "What's that?"
    "I have to take you for a ride."
    Her draw drops. "You're unbelievable."
    "Seriously. We need to just screw and get it over with. Ava doesn't have to know. It's the only way I can get the image of you naked out of my head."  
      Julia's got the type of body I could easily whip around and bend into a dozen different positions. Those long legs would look great pulled over my shoulders, or wrapped around my back, or…
    Her finger appears in front of my face like a knife. "Cut it out. I'm not going to live with someone who looks at me like I'm something on a menu and—" She cuts off and for a moment, looking too angry to think of what else to say. She crosses her arms and turns from me like she's about to storm off, yet stands there, visibly ruminating her next words.  
    From the other side of me, a small hand lays on the side of my cheek, nudging my face until my eyes connect with the blue-eyed girl standing there, the one I've been talking to on and off all night.
    "Hey you," she says, her words carrying a lot more than just a simple greeting.
    I take her hand in mine and set it back down beside her. I've never liked women touching my face. It's always felt off to me, motherly and too sentimental.
    "My friends are leaving. But I was wondering if I should stay?" she asks, slipping her fingers through a belt loop of my pants and bringing her small frame closer to mine.
    Earlier in the night, I had all but decided I was going to fuck this girl. And she's making it blatantly obvious she wants nothing more. The problem is, I'm suddenly not tempted enough. I'm almost bored by the thought of it.
    I open my mouth to speak, but catch a glimpse of Julia as the last traces of irritation on her face yield to an almost mischievous glint in her eyes. She shoots the blonde an apologetic smile, then looks to me and in a low, embarrassed way, says, "Hey, could you stop leaving your genital wart cream laying around the bathroom? It got all over the sink and it's a bitch to clean up. That stuff reeks."
    She could win an Oscar for this performance. Perfect delivery, flawless expression. Her grave concern weighing on her face like a mask.  
    Beside me, the girl's eyebrows tug closer and her mouth twists downward into a mortified expression that she's trying but failing to keep back. It's all too perfect. I bring a hand up to the space between my eyes and laugh. A long, low chuckle.
    " Um ." The girl shifts in place, turning her body away from mine, "Okay. This is weird."
    Takes me a few seconds for my shoulders to stop shaking and during that time I watch the girl walk across the room to join her waiting group of friends. Julia remains on the other side of me, radiating triumph.
    "Is that what you wanted?" I ask, finally locking eyes with her. "Are you happy now?"
    She smiles and I'm sure she's aware of how mocking she appears. Mocking enough to send a spark of irritation shooting through me. Julia's the one having fun at my expense tonight. I don't like when the tables turn like this.  
    Noticing my souring expression, Julia pats my chest and says, "Cool your tits, bro," and just in case I didn't get the reference, she adds, "payback's a bitch."
    I watch her stroll past me and down the hall with such an air of defiance that it's almost a swagger. I can't deny it's a good look on her.
    Just before she disappears into the bathroom, I call out, "I don't think you're ready to play this game, Julia."  
    Her hand lifts in a lazy wave, dismissing my ominous threat.
    A few hours later, after almost everyone has gone home, I head to my room, alone. It's not until I'm already in bed that something on my nightstand catches my attention. There's an ornate, white picture frame that I've never seen before, propped up where someone obviously