BRYCE
The rest of the day passed in a blur of anxiety.
I kept expecting Sloane to show up again in my next class, at the bookstore where I worked my afternoon shift, anywhere but she didn't. It was almost worse than if she had appeared, because I spent the entire day on edge, and waiting.
By the time I made it back to my dorm that evening, I was exhausted both physically and mentally.
My phone had been buzzing all day with texts from numbers I didn't recognize. I'd deleted them without reading after the first few, which had been variations of "Stay away from Sloane" and "You're going to regret rejecting her."
Apparently, word had spread about what happened at the party. Great, just great, my perfect plan of hiding without being noticed was down the drain.
I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Fenris was still agitated, pacing and whining. The logical part of my brain knew I'd done the right thing, keeping my distance from Sloane was the smart, and safe choice but my body disagreed. My body wanted her scent, her touch, and her presence.
My phone rang, and I grabbed it, expecting Mira. It was a video call from an unknown number. Against my better judgment, I answered.
Sloane's face filled my screen, and my breath caught. She was in what looked like a bedroom, her bedroom, probably..Expensive-looking furniture visible in the background, and soft lighting that made her skin glow.
"Did you really think I was done for the day?" she asked, amused.
"How did you get my number?" I demanded. "How did you know where my classes are? How—"
"I'm Sloane Pierce," she said, as if that explained everything which, unfortunately, it kind of did. "I can find out anything I want about anyone."
"That's creepy." I told her and she scoffed.
"That's power." She leaned closer to the camera, and I hated that I leaned closer too. "I've been thinking about you all day, Bryce."
"Don't please, don't do that." I said.
"Why not? You've certainly been thinking about me." She said and I shook my head.
"I have not—"
"Liar," she said again, and there was heat in her voice now. "I can see it in your eyes. You've been thinking about me just as much as I've been thinking about you."
I should hang up, I should block this number, and I should do anything except continue this conversation but I didn't.
"What do you want from me?" I asked instead, and she was quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful.
"Honestly? I'm not entirely sure yet but I know I want... something. You've woken something up in me, Bryce Carter. Something I thought was dead."
"And what's that?"
"Interest." She smiled that dangerous smile again. "Genuine interest in another person. It's been a very long time."
"I'm not interested in being your science experiment." I told her.
"Good because I'm not interested in experimenting. When I figure out what I want from you, I'm going to take it." Her eyes darkened. "The only question is whether you'll fight me the whole way or eventually admit you want it too."
"I'll fight you," I said immediately.
"Perfect." She looked delighted. "I love a challenge. Sweet dreams, beautiful. I'll be seeing you very soon."
She ended the call before I could respond.
I stared at my phone, my heart racing, and Fenris whimpering.
This was bad, this was so, so bad because as much as I wanted to deny it, as much as I wanted to believe I could stay away from her… part of me was already looking forward to seeing her again, and that terrified me more than anything.