the lock. It was the sound I called ‘the Drunk

companied by ‘the

the hallway. “We gotta be

here

led out. “You don’

ashed open, and Shanna stumbled

to work a push-up bra. And she was very outgoing. I’d had a lot of practice in fending off guys – most of them as

wake you u

N

focused, her body weaving slightly. “I hav

e ‘one night a week’ arr

I si

t the guy would have heard if he were standing at the o

d at somebody standing outside in the h

an’ meet m

s, no bra, no makeup. Just how I wanted

oked like when I met a drunk douchebag, sinc

my cell ph

ly night

udy lounge. How abo

she’d pass out in half that time – but I

but that should be enough,” a de

me: sexy. Masculine. Golden brown wit

ttered, which was not a reactio

t a reaction I ever

the hottest guy I’ve

a day or two’s worth of unshaven scruffiness. He had a grey t-shirt with ‘Led Zeppelin’ on the front in faded black letters, like it had been washed a thousand times and given up the fight to stay legible. The

und one wrist and a couple of rings on his fingers – rings that looked like he’d bought them from a street vendor who made her own stuff. One was po

rtist carving them from a block of rare wood. They were large and masculine, a

highs to make my mouth water. He had on clunky black work boots, scuffed and worn on the toe

. They were the single most arresting thing about him. Beautiful green, a few shades lighter than emeralds. I had never seen anybody with eyes that gorgeous. I wondered if

k. Coupled with his dark, brooding eyebrows, he seemed to be thinking, Come over here and kiss me – and

visible current that flowed through the air. A spark that jumped from him

se I’d never experienced

si

in my cheeks –

econds of silence… but it felt like a

retty damn sure

took it a

ping forward and offering m

y hand in his. His skin was warm, his

buzzing in the air between us

my hand – but firm. Fir

might feel like, and then guiltily pushed

r than he should have. Only when it was obvious th

some serious chemistr

oked back and forth between us

he whined with a wor

ze and turning around to get my litera

d his arms. His very powerful, very musc

ulous. “That wasn’t what you were

t were you saying before yo

didn’t leave, we’d have to fu

O

ight to my gut –

er. A slight wave of disappointm

ew feet away from my bed… and my disgust quickly di

ce suddenly drifted o

tracted to an

inc

had to get ou

n as deadpan a voice as I

action I would have expected. Instead, he threw Shanna an icy look before returning h

dropped open li

e, unsure

ay; I would totally b

f bad, bad thoughts. Thoughts that would have

o stay around this sexy, mysterious str

eady feel annoyance

uld D

ed it li

s, like, close to finals, isn’t it? What if she fails her e

(Awwww, poor little nerdling) and concern

fail her exams,

world. “We’ll have plenty of tim

of time,’ Shanna both brightened

’s not gonna fail her exams”

nals, right? Which meant he either wasn’t a student, o

’t look lik

go here?” I

op

do y

in a

rse yo

w York) and of R.E.M. (who stayed). Every half-assed musician who couldn’t afford a

sness, my attraction started

yly, and my hear

had a se

thens, you’ll hit three musicians,

lf-aware, self-deprecating,

. “I’m not really a mu

of a person a

ned. “Why are you

now your friend. Aren’t

“The best,” she giggled, then whispered way too loudly, “Wh

es away from my face. She smelled like a brewery

hisper started up again: “Pl

e that. The guy’s ego was probably already

ld have been grinning himself silly seei

reepy way, but in a curious What

aked, with only a tiny bit of lamplight

hiv

t a hold

anna’s arm.

ed, releasing her beer-

ld brook no dissent. “We’re not interrupt

embarrassin

ested in sleeping

ntereste

y thrilled me an

ied me because