Dirty Desire (3 page)

“Here,” I say, holding out my hand to help her step over a puddle. She narrows her eyes at me, but silently takes my hand as she steps over it. We keep walking and she slowly takes her hand back, making me grin as the redness flushes over her cheeks. I love how easy it is to get to her. She’s going to be perfect.

“Here we are.” Her voice sounds relieved as she opens the door to the small Italian eatery.

She walks to a table in the back and slides into the booth, smiling at the waitress as she brings us water.

“So, you hungry?” She says, not looking at me yet. Come to think of it, she hasn’t really, truly looked at me since we left the apartment. I take my time answering, making her look up from her menu, and when she does I make sure to make eye contact.

“Not really for Italian.” The low growl to my voice is meant to get to her, and it goes perfectly. I grin as I watch the redness flush over her cheeks for the second time tonight. Getting her to put her trust in me is going to be way easier than I expected.

“Well,” she sighs. “I’m starving.” Her eyes move back to the menu and I watch as she peruses her choices. I’m sure she has the entire menu memorized and is just staring at the menu at this point so she doesn’t have to look at me. She seems pretty comfortable here.

After the waitress takes her order she smiles at me and I feel myself getting hard for her. She’s so fucking sexy even when she isn’t trying. The way my body reacts to her this early in the game should set off warning bells but all it does is make me that much more driven to get to the next step of my task.

“So, Knox, tell me a bit about yourself.”

“Well…” I trail off. I’ve always hated talking about myself. It comes across as bragging and I don’t like to brag. Just because I had a privileged upbringing doesn’t make me any better than anyone else. “I have my business degree from Stanford.” Not a lie. “I own a company in Springfield, but I’m currently opening one here in the metro area, hence the short stay,” I say, grinning at her, happy at myself for not lying yet. If there’s one thing I am, it’s honest… ish. To a certain extent. I used to be at least. This task is taking a lot out of me morally though. She’s locked onto every word I’m saying. The faster we can get these niceties out of the way, the faster I’ll be able to get her where I want her.

Underneath me.

“Impressive,” she says with her eyebrows raised. “I feel very insignificant right now.” She chuckles lightly. Nervously.

“Why?” I know my face looks tense right now, but if she’s insinuating what I think she is, we’re going to have problems.

“I’m a waitress and my roommate owns companies, and is opening more. How old are you anyway?”

Bingo.

“Does that matter?”

“I guess not.” The sarcastic tone in her voice angers me. She needs to lose that attitude, and quickly, or else she’s going to meet a part of me she doesn’t want to meet.

“No, really…why would it matter?” I push.

“It doesn’t,” she says, shrugging her shoulders and smiling at me. “Not at all.”

“If you’re asking because you’re curious that’s one thing. If you’re asking because you’re about to put your life against my accomplishments I’m not going to tell you.” I fucking hate pity parties. I don’t know what she’s done in her life, but I do know she’s not a failure and that’s exactly what she’s making herself out to be.

“I wasn’t comparing us.” She mumbles.

“Great.” I sit up and smile a cocky smile at her. “Then I’m thirty.”

She nods silently for a while, watching me closely. Her eyes a bright shade of blue, her hair on top of her head in one of those messy buns girls her age love so well. She didn’t try hard tonight to impress me, but dammit she is.

“So, other than working at a bar, what else do you do, Harper?”

“Sleep,” she deadpans, making me smile.

“That’s it?”

“No,” she sighs. “I like to paint. Art has always been a huge release for me.”

Interesting.

“Are you an artist, then?”

“It’s a hobby. Of sorts. My dad always said I was good at it, but I never really took it anywhere.” She shrugs and stirs her water with her straw.

“Why not? Why not turn your hobby into something you love?” I don’t know why I’m pushing her like this but the more we talk the more she opens up to me.

“I’m not that good,” she says, grinning at me. “It’s like a three year old got a hold of a paint brush.”

“Some of the most famous artists look like a two year old spit up on the canvas. You’ve got something on them.”

“Oh yeah?” She grins. “What’s that?”

“An entire year.”

She barks out a laugh and I smile the most genuine smile I’ve had in a long time. She’s easy to be around, that’s for certain.

“So why this neighborhood? You go to college at the University?” I know the majority of these answers, but if I come across as uncaring I’m never going to get on her good side.

“Uh…no. I’m taking a little bit off.” She tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looks at the waitress as she brings her the burger and fries she ordered. “Thank you,” she says, smiling at the girl. “God, I’m so hungry.”

She doesn’t waste any time digging into her food. Thank god. I hate girls that are picky eaters when guys are around. What’s the good in that, we all know they eat!

By the time her dinner is over I’ve successfully gotten her to smile a genuine smile at me about ten times and had plenty of laughter thrown in there. I think she’s getting used to me, because when we leave the restaurant and she sees a rowdy group of kids nearby, her arm immediately links in mine. I grin but don’t acknowledge it, knowing the minute I do she’s going to back away.

We stop at a corner, and waiting for traffic I take a quick glance down at her. She must have been thinking the same thing as I and the minute our eyes connect we get the identical goofy smile on our faces.

Oh she’s going to be easier than I thought.

I take her hand and we walk in silence back to the apartment. Past the nightclubs, bars, and locals using the sidewalk as a gathering place. The entire time she doesn’t take her hand from mine.

When we make it back to the apartment she pulls away for the key and lets us inside. I watch her set her purse on the counter, a million things probably running through her mind, and pause before moving.

“I’m heading to bed,” I say, giving her a slight smile and nod as I pass by her and on to my room.

“Oh.… Ok.”

I stop, almost to my room, and grin before turning to look at her from across the apartment.

“You ok?” A smirk comes across my mouth as her large, beautifully bright eyes find mine.

“Oh yeah. I um…I was gonna watch a movie. I hope it doesn’t bother you. I’m kind of a night owl.” She shrugs and slips her shoes off before heading to the couch. I watch her silently, enjoying the show of her ass while she looks around the room for the remote. It’s sitting on the table right next to me, but I like watching her bend and reach, looking in all the wrong places. It gives me a fan-fucking-tastic view of that ass in those shorts.

“Not at all,” I mutter as she bends to look under the couch. A low growl escapes me and I’m glad she’s all the way across the room. Good god the things I want to do to her.

“Great,” she huffs as she stands and looks at me. “Have you seen the remote?”

I grin and reach to grab it, holding it up while I smirk at her expression.

“I was enjoying watching you way too much,” I say, tossing her the remote and winking. “Night, Harper.”

She catches the remote with a stunned look on her face. Right before I close the bedroom door, I hear her behind me.

“You don’t want to stay up and watch one with me?”

I’m not certain why I’m acting so clingy around him. Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t like being alone at times, or that he’s just that good of company. It’s definitely
not
the fact that he’s beautiful and I can’t stop thinking what he looks like sans clothing.

Not at all.

Whatever the case, I’m standing here in the living room, pointing the remote at the TV but looking down the hall as he stops in his doorway. With his hand still on his bedroom handle, he turns his head and smiles at me.

Goddamn he’s sexy.

Each time he’s smirked, smiled, or winked at me tonight my panties have gotten just a little bit wetter for him. Right now, with the grin on his face, it’s like he can read my fucking mind.

I’m not even certain how, though, because I’m not entirely certain what I’m thinking at this very moment. I want to be thinking about jumping him and fucking him senseless…but he’s my roommate.

I shouldn’t do that.

But I really fucking want to.

No. Right now I’m supposed to be thinking about what movie I’m going to be watching while he sleeps two rooms over.

That is, until I invited him to watch it with me.

“What are you watching?” He asks, his handle still on the doorknob.

Fuck.

“Um, I haven’t decided yet.” I start flipping through Netflix to find something worth my while. “You can pick if you want to.” I shrug and stop scrolling, holding out the remote to him. He looks at it then looks back at me.

His eyes are so dark, his expression so tense. He’s so damn beautiful. After a moment of contemplation, he nods.

“Yeah, sure. Let me get changed.” He smiles and walks into his room, clicking the door shut behind him.

He comes back out after a short five minutes, changed into sweats and a t-shirt. This shirt is much looser than the one he had on before and I notice what looks like a tattoo on his back shoulder when he sits down.

Way too close to me. Holy hell he smells delicious.

“Here,” I say, shoving the remote at him.

He chuckles and takes it, comfortably starting to look at what Netflix has to offer.

“Close your eyes,” he says, and when I look over at him he’s grinning from ear to ear. “Come on, do it.” He nudges me.

“But why?” I can’t help but smile back at him. It’s damn infectious.

“I’m a dude. I don’t pick chick flicks; I pick damn good movies. So close your eyes so you don’t have any pre-conceived notions about the type of movie I’m going to pick.” He stares at me until I finally cave and close my eyes.

“Hands too. I don’t trust you.”

“What?” I snap open my eyes and see his grinning face and instinctively squeeze my thighs together to try to calm the pulsing between my legs.

“See,” he smiles, nodding at me. “You opened them way too soon.”

I huff and close my eyes, then cover them with my hands, before sitting back on the couch, cross legged, and wait. I feel like I should be upset about this, but I’m not. I’m kind of excited, for once, about something as small as a surprise movie.

I hear the clicks of the remote over and over until finally I hear the TV start to play.

“Ok. Open.”

I open my eyes and re-adjust to the room lighting, looking towards the screen to see what he picked.

“What is it?” I whisper as the beginning titles start rolling.

“SH!” He eyes me with wide eyes and pauses the movie. “We don’t talk during movies, Harper,” he chides. “Do you have popcorn?” He stands, leaving me stunned that he’s taken it upon himself to make himself this at home here.

Already!

I mean, I guess it’s better than being creepy and awkward.

“Um, yeah,” I say. “Bottom cupboard.”

He starts whistling while I’m left alone in the living room, staring at the screen.

“You picked a movie I’ve already seen,” I lie, grinning.

“False,” he says, popping a piece of freshly popped popcorn in his mouth as he sits back on the couch. “This movie just came out. You wouldn’t have seen it yet.”

Looking closer, I see the title and furrow my brows.

“How are we watching this? This legit just came out in theatres last weekend.”

“I have my ways.” He grins at me as he tosses a piece of popcorn in his mouth then presses play.

We sit and watch the movie in silence, partly because I’m afraid to talk after being shushed earlier, and partly because it’s a really good movie. A war vet returns home without one of his limbs and has to learn to love himself before he’s able to move on with his life. I’ve never known anyone that’s been overseas in the war, but I also know I’m in the minority.

Half way through the movie our popcorn is gone and I’m tired as hell. It’s one a.m. and I’m running on fumes.

I glance over at Knox and he looks so perfect. I hate that about him already! In any situation he’s comfortable and perfect.

And here I sit with messy hair and dirty gym shorts, probably smelling like yesterday’s garbage.

I sigh and lean back on the couch, settling in for the rest of the movie.

“What the shit?” Tossing in my bed, I roll over to find my clock. It takes forever for my eyes to focus and when they finally do I realize it’s dark as hell outside.

Eleven a.m.

And still dark?

Groaning, I lay there and stare out my window, realizing it’s pouring down rain, hence the dark room still.

I barely remember him bringing me to bed last night. I don’t remember how the movie ended, I don’t remember how he smelled when he cradled me to his chest, nor do I remember walking down the hall and being laid in bed. I remember feeling safe and that’s it.

He fucking carried me to bed last night.

Like a child.

I should be mad, again, that he’s so comfortable with me already but I’m not.

Fuck! In one day he’s managed to completely get under my skin and make me second-guess everything. He’s a damn stranger. I don’t know him, and much as Leigh trusts him, I have zero reason to trust him yet. I guess I have zero reason not to trust him, too.

“Harper?” His voice comes from the other side of my closed door and my first instinct is to make sure I’m covered but I realize then that I’m still clothed from the night before. Chuckling to myself, I stand up and tell him he can come on in.

“Hey, I’m going to head out for a bit.” I hear his voice but I’m not looking at him. I’m too busy leaning over my bed, fixing the pillows and blankets. I’m not dense, I know men find me attractive. I’m simply using that to my advantage right now. I hear him clear his throat and smile to myself before standing and looking at him.

“Yeah,” I huff, putting my hands on my hips. “That’s good. I’ll see ya later.” I grin as I watch his eyes peruse me. I know my hair’s a hot mess and clothes wrinkled from sleeping in them, but the way he’s looking at me right now tells me he’s looking past the clothes. It’s like he’s trying his hardest to gain x-ray vision or something, and I love the power it gives me. I make sure the ladies are being supported nicely and cock my hip to the side while we stare each other down, both obviously thinking the same exact thing.

Eventually, after what feels like a lifetime of silence between us, he nods and grins.

“Later, Harp.” He spins on his heel and leaves, leaving me completely stunned that he used the one nickname I haven’t heard since I was a child.

“Dad, Stella’s mom and dad call her princess. Why don’t you call me princess?”
“Well…” he pauses to think. “Harper, you’re ten years old. Do you really want your dad going around calling you princess?” He grins at me and nudges me as I make a ‘gross’ face at him.

“No, I guess not.” I shrug. I don’t really like Stella anyway…maybe it’s the whole ‘princess’ thing that’s made her into a bully, but she’s not really that nice to be around.

“Harp,” my dad says. “A harp…not many people have mastered the harp. It doesn’t let anyone just walk up to it and play it, you have to be gentle and loving in your approach to a harp. Just like you, Harper. You don’t let people walk all over you and you never will. You live by your own rules, and that’s what I love so much about you. So I think Harp works much better than princess.” He winks at my huge grin and brings me in for a hug.

I’ll never forget that moment of my life. That was the day before we found out about my dad’s cancer that would eventually take his life. I was his Harp, and I’ve never let people walk all over me. He was right in that sense. I’m not easily played…but I feel like things are shifting now with Knox living here.

I’m trying my best not to fall for him, but every time I see him I melt a little more for the man.

Glancing at the clock, I hear my phone go off in the living room. Rushing for it, hoping it’s the job I applied for last week, I’m immensely let down when I see Leigh’s face grace the screen.

“Hey,” I answer.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I can tell by the tone in his voice that he’s rolling his eyes at me and I grin. I love getting on his nerves.

God, I miss him.

“Are we still having lunch today?” I ask, popping a handful of cereal into my mouth.

“Are you eating?”

“No,” I say with a mouth full of dry cheerios. These are way better when wet.

“Stop eating before our lunch date! I need the scoop on your first night! You can’t be too full for lunch with me!”