Dirty Desires

Chapter 7

I can barely walk in the heels Clara insisted I wear. If I trip and humiliate myself, I'm totally blaming her. Next to me, Jenna can hardly contain her laughter, and I shoot her an annoyed glare. She's part of the problem; if it weren't for her, Clara wouldn't have found me yesterday and dragged me to the mall. But knowing Clara, she would have found another way to get me there eventually since we live under the same roof.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing, Scarlett?" Jenna asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I’d been too focused on the precarious heels to notice anything else.

"What are you talking about?" I reply, confused.

"Look up," she whispers.

I follow her advice, and that’s when I realize all eyes are on me. A wave of nervousness washes over me as the stares hit me like a spotlight. I suddenly miss my usual oversize clothes that cover me from the waist up.

The guys around us seem genuinely interested in talking to me. But honestly, I have no desire to engage with any of them. I’ve never been interested in finding love, and that hasn’t changed.

"I can’t believe so many people are looking at you," she whispers, her eyes wide. "You look stunning, as always, but it feels like it's the first time everyone in school is actually noticing."

I’m about to respond when I catch sight of Carter some distance away. He isn’t looking at me, as usual; he’s with some other girl, completely absorbed in her. We all know she’ll hold his attention for maybe an hour before he moves on. I can't fathom why girls would lower themselves to chasing after him. But who am I to judge? After what I’m putting myself through for Clara, I probably look just as desperate.

If things ever escalated with Carter, those girls would see me no differently.

"We need him to notice you," Jenna insists.

Well, of course, I already know that, but I have no clue how to get his attention right now.

Suddenly, she grabs my book and drops it beside him, making my eyes widen in panic. I shoot her a warning glare.

"Just bend down and pick it up," she urges in a hushed tone.

Now we definitely have his attention—he’s looking at the book on the floor.

Before I can second-guess myself, I lean down, hoping for a strategic view. I absolutely hate doing this, but the thought of him staring makes my stomach churn. I take my time lifting the book, longer than necessary, and when I stand back up, I find him… well, eye-f*****g me. I didn’t even know that was a thing until I saw that look in his eyes, as if he were undressing me with his gaze.

The girl at his side is saying something, but he’s still focused on me. It’s like he doesn’t care that I’m dressed this way. Does he even recognize me, or does he think I’m some new girl?

Jenna pulls my hand, reminding me that it’s time to move again. I think I got lost in the moment, but there was something about Carter’s gaze that made it hard to look away.

I can’t believe I just thought that.

Clear your head, Scarlett!

"Scarlett!"

I stop dead in my tracks when I realize he’s just called my name. This is the first time he’s ever said it out loud to me, even when he dated Clara. Hearing my name on his lips feels strange.

I turn around, surprised to see concern etched across his face.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"I'm heading to class," I reply.

He leans in closer so I can hear him, his tone dropping: "No, I meant what the hell are you thinking dressing like that for school?"

My jaw drops. Did he really just say that to me?

I’m so confused right now. Clara told me he’d love this outfit; apparently, it’s his favorite color—light blue. So why does he seem angrier than ever?

"I think I can choose to wear whatever I wish to," I tell him.

He shakes his head and leans closer to me, pressing both hands on the side of the wall behind me. I'm forced to push against the wall to put as much distance between us as possible. "I can tell how uncomfortable you are in those things." He growls. "And I just saw your f*****g panties."

My cheeks are red, "y-you're lying."

Damn it. I don't believe that I just stuttered.

"Blue. Blue thongs that match your blue dress. Either something's wrong with you, or you want to show me your panties, Scarlett. So tell me, do you want me to see your blue panties?" He asks. "Do you want me to dream of them at night? To picture myself pulling them off your body with my mouth?"

All this time while he was speaking dirty things to me, I had been staring at the ground, but I found myself unable to hold back as my gaze shot up to meet his. What was his problem? How could he have the audacity to ask me something like that?And why do I suddenly feel myself wet down there?

He doesn’t seem to be joking at all. The look in his eyes shows me he’s completely serious.

"You dated my sister," I snap. "Have some self-respect."