Page 82 of White Hot Kiss
I lifted my head, feeling off-kilter when our eyes met. His gaze traveled over me. I looked pretty frumpy today, wearing loose jeans and a hoodie that had seen better days. A slight frown appeared on his full lips.
“You two missed my face that much?” Roth teased, his eyes fixed on me.
“Where have you been?” The words came out before I could stop them and, God, did I feel like a tool.
Roth shrugged. “I had some things to take care of. Speaking of which—” he turned to Stacey “—I’d like to steal her away from you if you don’t mind.”
“I try to tell my mom all the time I have stuff to do, but I still have to go to school.” Stacey slid her arm from mine, pursing her lips. “I wish I had your parents. Just let me come to school when I feel like it. But anyway, you’re not planning on showing for bio?”
“No.” He winked as he lowered his voice. “I’m going to be a rebel and skip class again.”
“Ooh,” Stacey cooed. “And you want to corrupt my wholesome, pure friend?”
Arms dangling at my sides, I sighed.
His golden gaze heated. “Corruption is my middle name.”
“Well, you can only steal and corrupt my friend if she wants to be stolen and corrupted.”
Enough was enough. “Hey, guys, I’m right here, remember? Shouldn’t I get a say in this decision?”
He arched a brow at me. “Do you want to be stolen and corrupted?”
I had a feeling I was already corrupted just by his mere presence. “Why not.”
“Great!” Stacey chirped, backing off and gesturing wildly behind Roth. She was doing something with her hand and mouth that I knew Roth would be oh so down for. I tried to ignore her. “But promise to return her, okay?”
“I don’t know.” Roth stepped around, dropping his arm over my shoulders. “I may steal her away from you permanently.”
I couldn’t stop the shiver that went through me. The way Roth’s hand tightened on my shoulders told me he hadn’t missed it, either.
“Whatever.” Stacey gave us a short wave and flounced off toward bio.
Roth’s hand slid off my shoulder, grasping my hand. “You look terrible.”
I couldn’t tell if my cheeks were burning. I already felt unnaturally hot for a whole slew of wrong reasons. “Thanks. Everyone keeps telling me that.”
He tugged on my messy ponytail with his free hand. “Did you even shower this morning?”
“Yes. Jeez. Where have you been, Roth?”
“Why are you sick?” he asked instead. “You look like you haven’t slept since I last saw you. You couldn’t have missed me that much.”
“Man, you’re self-centered. It has nothing to do with you. I get like this after...”
“After what?” He leaned in, waiting.
I looked away, lowering my voice. “If I taste a soul, it makes me sick afterward. Only for like a day or so, but taking a soul seems to last longer.”
Roth let go of my hand. “Why?”
“It’s like withdrawal or something,” I said. Roth was unnaturally quiet as he watched me, expression pensive. “What?”
He blinked. “Nothing. I’m really not planning on going to bio.”
“I figured as much.” Taking a breath, I decided to corrupt myself. “Where are you planning on going?”
He flashed a quick grin, which made me think he was about to say something perverted, but he surprised me. “Come find out. What I’ve been doing the last couple of days has to do with you.”