"Just my luck." Tawny breathes, only she doesn't mean it facetiously, she's completely serious. Lady Luck has been on her side, working overdrive since she started encountering Jagger more frequently.
The more she sees him, the more he seems like a rockstar on top of his surfer boy persona, something about his demeanor screams "I don't care, but I know that you do."
He doesn't paint his nails or wear eyeliner, or leather; he doesn't have to. It's that mischievous glint in his eye that she never noticed before. Her eyes trail his height so tall and so lean like everyday he stretches a few inches until he's larger than life.
"Are you my tutor?" He asks, with mirth in his eyes and a slanted grin. "I thought you were a hallucination." It's distracting, really, the fact that when he walks up to the table her face is parallel to his lap. She can't help but notice his gray sweatpants and the intimidating silhouette poking against them. Sheesh. Quickly she snaps her eyes back up, already knowing that she's been caught. When he winks, one of his eyebrows lifts and it makes her palms sweat how attractive he is. "Hey again."
"Hi," she wants to kick herself for how small she sounds; she's already craning her neck to look up at him, there's no need to have the voice of a shrimp. Her fingers start to drum on the many textbooks set up on the table. He doesn't sit right away like he's daring her to look down again. Her cheeks heat up with embarrassment.
Jagger props his chin up on his index finger after he finally takes a seat across from her, a new spider tattoo from his wrist to his middle finger on full display. "I might actually pass trig this time..." he trails off before continuing. "You're dating Nav, right?"
"Absolutely not! We hang out occasionally."
"Yeah but Nav and I hang out all the time so it seems like you just popped up out of nowhere. Do you plan on dating him?"
"If you two are such good friends, why don't you ask him yourself."
"The thing is, I know him. Just asking would get me nowhere fast because the conversation would go a little bit like 'Hey do you like that angel face girl? The stunning one?' He'd lie and say, 'Nah, do your thing. I'm all good.' But be pissed every time I made the effort to talk to you."
"This has happened before, I take it?" She wipes her palms on her jeans, attempting to ignore his compliments.
"Never, actually. Some people you just know inside and out. And I don't mean it in the way that that sounded." He runs a hand through his wild curls and leans forward with a lazy smile. "So, Tawny, I want to hear it from you. What exactly is going on between you and Nav?"
"We're somewhat moving passed the acquaintance stage." A part of her feels butterflies that he's said her name like that.
He shakes his head. "Well he likes you a lot."
"He's a nuisance." She rolls her eyes.
"Hey, I won't tolerate any badmouthing. That's my brother."
"Different mothers, I'm sure."
"And fathers but the statement still stands. Some bonds are stronger than blood."
She narrows her eyes. "You seem so invested all of the sudden. Did he put you up to this?"
"Nah, I just look out for him no matter what."
Tawny opens the first textbook with an audible thump, signaling that she's had enough of the interrogation. He holds his hands up in defense.
"You're right. Let's focus." He chimes.
She lets out a yelp that sends glances her way when he drags her next to him by the leg of her chair.
"How can I learn anything if you're so far away?" He lowers his gaze to her lips before turning the abandoned textbook to face them.
She used to obsess over how she would meet Jagger, how they would interact, if he'd even like her, and here he is now with his unabashed flirting, legs spread wide to encase her, and like any girl who's used to being on the borders of a world she's only dreamt of, Tawny feels nervous. Scared, even. Her air isn't her own anymore, it's theirs since he's fixed her to be as close as their two chairs will allow. That woody, citrusy scent of his she can practically taste, his eyes still carrying a teasing flash. She wonders how powerful he must feel.
Tawny looks towards his lap again, for a quick peak and concludes that he must feel very fucking powerful. Her eyes turn glossy.
Normally she is the one in control. With most guys, they fall at her feet, keep their flirting timid and wait for her to make the first move. Like fanboys. But the roles are reversed. She is in uncharted territory, and it's really uncomfortable but she can't deny that warm, tacky feeling of desire that makes her press her legs together discreetly.
When Tawny speaks to him about trigonometry, he hangs on to every word, probably because her voice is raspier than usual and probably because he knows it's his fault.
He rests his head against his fist staring at her with bedroom eyes. With half a smile he speaks almost to himself. "Who knew studying could be so...exciting." Then he stretches deep enough that the hem of his t-shirt rises, exposing taut skin and tan lines.
He is too much.
They work for a little over an hour undisturbed, save for the few girls who pass through sporadically, ogling Jagger like they're waiting for an autograph. He doesn't say it explicitly but she can observe his body language and come to the conclusion that having people drool over him publicly is a normal occurrence.
She gathers her things before departing but he holds her wrist loosely to halt her.
"I never got to thank you for the other night." His tone is sincere, never once allowing his eye contact to waver. Easily, she gets lost in brown and gold and green. She floats in flecks of orange."Thank you for taking care of me."
To her surprise, Jagger wraps her up in an embrace warmer than candle wax.
Against his chest, she mumbles, "you're welcome."
Inside, she's melting.
YOU ARE READING
GOLDEN MOUTH
Romance"what would you do if a mermaid washed onshore?" his dad would ask. "let her take me away."
