Temporarily Mine

4

JOSEPHINE

All morning I told myself I'd walk into class today with my head held high.

I'm not embarrassed, and it's no big deal and who knows, maybe I overreacted and he was zoned out. Didn't know I was their willing audience.

I repeat this mantra the entire drive to school, and by the time I'm turning the engine off, I'm feeling good.

Lipstick in hand, I flip down the overhead mirror and take my time applying before stepping out. I shove the door closed, and turn, a gasp leaving me when an unexpected body blocks me in.

Hero.

My hand flies to my chest, attempting to settle my pulse. "You scared the shit out of me," I tell him.

But Hero doesn't speak, instead sliding his feet closer, leaving only inches between us, so I push back against the car.

His stare is unwavering, giving me no insight as to what's on his mind and causing me to grow restless.

I fidget but don't look away as he cocks his head.

"You a fan of porn, J?"

"I--" Shit.

Hero plants his hands at the curve of my hood, his arms flexing so damn close to my face my mind transports back to last night, to the tight grip he had on the rock edge of the spa, to the vision of his muscles flexing as he slid--

A raspy chuckle leaves him, and he pushes off.

"You know, I'd have invited you over, VIP seats had I known. Bet Sandra would have been all right with it, she's first string material and she knows it."

That rouses me, and I shove off the car with a glare. "I thought you said Andrew was the one sleeping with Sandra?"

He only licks his lips.

"Weird, right?" I keep going. "Since it was you I saw--"

"Watched," he cuts me off, leaning closer. "You watched me fuck her."

Oh, screw it!

"You know what, yeah, I did. Until the final bow, in fact," I sass. "If you knew I was watching you guys, why'd you keep going?"

Very slowly, a single, dark eyebrow raises, his tone is even more patronizing than the move. "You'd expect me to stop?"

Right.

As if he could have stopped amid that.

They were so lost in each other they didn't even - or couldn't even - realize how loud they were being.

He had Sandra in tunnel vision, a tunnel that leads straight down his shaft.

I mean, he was enjoying her just as much, his groans... deep and exhilarated as he chased his release.

The way his--

"Your skin's growing warm, J." Hero pulls me out of my thoughts. "Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?" he whispers, the teasing edge in his heady voice not missed.

The way he studies me with such piercing scrutiny has my toes curling in my shoes to keep focus, and it makes me wonder...

How 'lost in her' was he really, if the entire time he was aware of my prying eyes?

"Am I interrupting something?"

My head flies right to find Felix standing near the hood of my car, some sort of drinks in his hands.

Eyes wide in shock, and a stupid grin on his lips, he gawks at his best friend and me.

Hero, though, he doesn't bother to acknowledge Felix's presence.