only then I realize I’ve been caught staring instead of getting dressed like I should be. “Okay?” he questions in that deep voice that always manages to work its way right into my blood stream.
“Just thinking,” I reply, heading into the closet. I hear him shift on the bed, his footsteps nearing behind me.
“About?” Dante rarely wastes words. I find myself wishing he would go on and on just so I could hear him speak.
I’ve gotten better about always blushing, but I still feel a flush rise to my cheeks. “What I’m going to wear to school today.”
I feel him over my shoulder as he leans in close to whisper, “Liar.” His words hold no anger nor humor. “If you look at me like that when you’re thinking about clothes, I shouldn’t have anything to do with putting them on.” I spin around with my mouth open in surprise. Dante doesn’t even blink. He meets my stare and challenges me, raising a brow.
I snap my lips closed. I don’t even know how to respond to that. I wasn’t really going as far as thinking of him naked, but now that he’s put the thought in my head, I can’t get it out. Dante reaches out, his finger and thumb snatching a chunk of hair, letting it run through his fingers. “You should get dressed, unless you need help?”
I narrow my eyes, now he’s just trying to goad me. I turn away, my hair pulling from his fingers as I do. I jerk down the first pair of new jeans my hands land on. I’ve thanked them for all the clothes several times, and at first I was reluctant to take them, but it’s been so nice to have more than two or three jeans to wear all week, and, man, does it save me from having to do laundry so often. Thankfully, the clothing they bought is pretty similar to what I’ve always worn. They are a lot nicer and fit so much better, but they’re not trying to make me play dress up—well Ollie does, but that’s not the point. Peering over my shoulder to watch his reaction, I snag the black t-shirt hanging farther down the line, it’s Dante’s. He stands back, his arms crossing over his chest, but his face is a mask of indifference. Pushing past him, I take my finds into the bathroom and, using my butt, I push the door closed.
Dante’s shirt is too big, but I’ve already committed, so I’m going to make it work. I try tucking it in, but it’s so long that it makes my hips and stomach look lumpy—not attractive. I settle with tying a big knot in the back. It pulls the waist tighter than I’m used to, but the top is still extra big, so I don’t feel like it’s too much. Turning, I check out my handywork in the back and have second thoughts. You can see a small triangle of my lower back, but I’m afraid to retie the knot, it was hard enough the first time.
“Time to go,” Ollie yells as he bangs on the door.
“Damn this stupid idea,” I mutter, and with my head held high I step into the bedroom, finding all four of them waiting on me.
My brow furrows, is there something going on? Usually Ares is running interference with Mia while Dante or Ollie start the car. That leaves me with one or two, tops, to get out to the car and then to school. Why are they all here? I forget about my shirt altogether.
Dante slaps his hand over his eyes. “Bad idea.”
“What is?” My eyes skip from one to the other, while I wait for an answer.
“Nothing, Laura. Everything is perfect.” Ollie is trying to suppress a grin but failing. He wraps his arm over my shoulder and leads me from the room. I hear Dante groan out a long sigh as we leave.
“Where’s Mia?” I whisper, looking around like she might pop out from behind a corner.
“Ares said she wouldn’t be up for a few hours. She was up pretty late.”
My lips tighten in a thin line, and my muscles go rigid. “And what did Ares say they were doing up so late?” My voice is low, coming out pinched between clenched teeth.
Ollie stops and looks down at me. “Don’t spark up on me now,” he warns, his face serious. I pull away from him.
So far, I’ve only sparked up, as Ollie calls it, one other time