Page 56 of Top Shelf

She stares at me, eyes searching mine. That’s fine. I’ve nothing to hide, including exactly how I feel about her, so I let her look. Let her see it all.

“I don’t—” She shakes her head, composing herself in those split few seconds. When she meets my face again, her expression has hardened. “Leave me alone, Lucian. I mean it. This is the last time I’m asking.”

My laugh is borderline cruel-sounding.

Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen.

“I’ll leave you alonefor now, but that’s the best I can offer. You and I are far from over, Little Moth.”

I move back toward the door, but before I step out of the closet, I turn back to face her. “Stop ignoring my texts. We have a project to complete, unless you want us to fail.”

It seems to take her a moment to wrap her head around the change in conversation. “If you’re so worried about your grade, why don’t you go running back to Professor Cartwright and ask for youroriginalpartner back?”

I smirk. Fuck, I love her fire. Love that it’s even more precious because it glows despite the world trying to smother it.

“Nah. I’d far rather chase you down in supply closets and convince you to work with me.” I smirk at her ire. “So how about tonight? Eight o’clock, my place.”

“Absolutely not.” She’s shaking her head, lips pressed into a flat line. She knows she can’t keep putting off this project. Not if she wants to pass Professor Cartwright’s class. After a moment of consideration, she huffs out a breath. “The library,” she counters. “We’ll meet at the library.Tomorrow.”

I tilt my head, studying her.

Her pulse hammers at the base of her throat—quick, loud, alive.

She’s scared.

And still pushing back.

Good.

“Scared to be alone with me?” I wag my eyebrows suggestively.

“No,” she scoffs, but there’s just the slightest hitch to her breath that gives away the lie. It makes my chest swell with pride.

“It’s cute that you think neutral ground exists between us.” I smirk at her before placing a hand over my heart. “But I am always happy to compromise when it comes to you, so the library tomorrow, it is.”

“Great,” she drolls. “Can I get back to work now?” Her nose scrunches as her gaze runs over my practice gear. “And youreallyneed a shower.”

“Have you been sniffing me, Wren Winslow?” I tease, amusement glinting in my eyes. “How incredibly filthy and inappropriate of you.”

Her face blanches in shock, eyes going wide.

“I wasn’t—I didn’t…that’s not…”

While she’s still sputtering out a response, I wink at her and back toward the door.

“Tomorrow, at the library. Don’t make me chase you down, Little Moth.”

I could spend the rest of the day tucked away with her in that supply closet, but I force myself to turn away. To walk out the door.

And as it clicks shut behind me, I realize the fury is gone. Replaced by something colder. Something sharper.

The quiet certainty that I’ll ruin anyone who tries to take her from me.

14

WREN

Lucian Caulfield kissed me.