Stealing Harper

“So you sleep with women, then make them leave?”

Good girl, keep looking at me like you can’t stand to be near me. You need to run far away, so I can’t catch you. Because if I get you, I’m keeping you, and you deserve so much better. “No, I screw women . . . and then make them leave.”

She recoiled and shook her head at me as she turned toward the door. “You’re a pig.”

I laughed softly. Yeah . . . and for the first time in my life, hearing that come from a girl actually bothered me.

As soon as she shut the door, my smirk disappeared, and I continued to stare at where she’d just been. Whatever the f**k this is, it isn’t normal. I didn’t fall for girls like this . . . ever. Especially after only one innocent look and a bitchy comment. So why was she doing this to me? Why was I wanting to pull her close but having the ridiculous urge to push her as far from me as possible. And it wasn’t for me—not at all—I wanted to keep her away from me for her. God, why am I still thinking about her at all?

I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, hating that I loved hearing her voice as I crossed the hall. She’s just a girl, man, just a girl. And she’s not for you. I ground my teeth as I walked back into my room, resolving that I needed to continue disgusting her—which obviously I was already a pro at—and she’d run away screaming soon enough. I threw the door open roughly, and, to be honest, I’m not sure if I held back my groan or not. She was bent over in a pair of neon blue underwear, and I decided right then that was my new favorite color. Harper jerked up quickly, pulling the little skirt with her. Didn’t help. I’d already seen her without it. But my lips still fell into a slight frown.

“It’s really a shame you don’t let anyone see that sexy little body.” And by anyone, I meant me . . . again.

By the time she turned, her face was so red it looked like she’d just run a marathon. God this girl blushed a lot . . . but I freakin’ loved it. Her already wide eyes got even wider, just like they had when Bree had said spilled about her virginity. Shit, I’d embarrassed her—my stomach clenched, but I shook it off, knowing I had to keep going.

“Calm down, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before. Not saying I wouldn’t want to see yours.”

Her face was still red, but her eyes narrowed into tiny slits. Vicious Princess was still cute. “Bite me.”

“Is that an invitation?” Please God, let it be one.

“Not even close.” She was headed for the door and without my even thinking about it, my arm shot out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her into me.

Her body stiffened, and I couldn’t help but lean my head toward hers, skimming my nose along her jaw and subtly breathing in her sweet scent. “One of these days, Princess, I promise you.” Did she not see what she was doing to me? My body was practically humming, having her pressed up against me, and my breathing got rougher. I silently pleaded with her to run as I tightened my arm on her waist. Mine.

“I would never be desperate enough to want you.”

I might have believed that if her voice hadn’t gone all breathy on me, my lips stretched into a grin—oh yeah . . . she’ll be mine. “We’ll see.”

“ARE BREE AND Princess coming tonight?”

My hands curled into fists for the freaking fifth time today as I turned to look at Zach. “Probably, and stop calling her that.”

“Who’s Princess?”

The guys in the kitchen all broke out into cheers as I turned back around, a wide smile crossing both Brandon’s face and mine. “Glad you’re finally here, bro!”

“Tell me about it; that’s a long f**king drive.” He dropped a bag on the ground and stepped forward to man-hug Derek and me and shake the rest of the guys’ hands. I made sure he remembered Zach and Drew; just because they knew Brandon from his fights didn’t mean he knew them.

“I bet. All your stuff in your Jeep?”

He nodded. “It can wait. I just want to relax for a bit. So what’s going on? Obviously, I’m the last one here.”

“Missed a hell of a party last week, man,” Derek said as he took a seat on the island. “But there’s another one tonight.”

Brandon yawned and rubbed his hands down his face. “Is that what you were talking about when I came in? With Bree and Princess? Bree’s your sister, right?” He looked at me, and I nodded, “Then who is Princess?”

“Good God, Brandon, you have got to see this chick,” Zach began, and my hands instantly went back into fists.

“She hot?” Brandon asked

A mix of “Hell yeah,” “You have no idea,” and “Wait ’til you see her” came from the kitchen. I clenched my jaw.

When I didn’t say anything, Brandon looked at me curiously. “Is she not?”

I shrugged. “She’s just another girl.”

“Chase is just pissy because she didn’t put out for him,” Drew said.

Brandon raised an eyebrow at me and burst out laughing, “That had to be a first.”

“You’re all acting like I even tried to hit that.”

“Chase—man—you had her in your bed!” Brad said between laughs. “Another freakin’ first! You can’t act like you didn’t try to bang her.”

“Exactly, I had her in my bed, which shows you I didn’t want to touch her. If I want a girl, I’ll take her anywhere else but there.”