Playful teasing

Kian/Mallory

Kian

English was the longest class of the day. Not because I hated it—if anything, it was one of the few classes I didn't mind. But because I spent the whole hour sitting next to Mallory Lynch, and I swear she was trying to kill me.

She sat next to me, twirling her pen between her fingers, pretending to listen to whatever the teacher was droning on about. Her hair was pulled up today, exposing the curve of her neck, and I was supposed to be focusing on Shakespeare or some shite.

Impossible.

"You're staring," she whispered, eyes flicking toward me with a knowing smirk.

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "Can't help it, Lynch."

She rolled her eyes, but I saw the corner of her mouth twitch like she was trying not to smile.

Miss Reid's voice cut through my thoughts. "Kian, do you have something to share with the class?"

Mallory pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a laugh.

I stretched back in my chair, feigning innocence. "Nah, Miss, just enjoying the lesson."

A few people snickered. Miss Reid sighed like she was too tired to deal with me, which was fair. She just turned back to the board, probably hoping I'd shut up.

Mallory, on the other hand, wasn't done.

She tapped her pen against her notebook. "Enjoying the lesson, huh?" she murmured.

"Yeah," I muttered back. "Something about forbidden love, sounds familiar."

She shot me a look, but I caught the way her cheeks flushed slightly before she turned her attention back to her notes.

For the rest of the class, I kept my leg pressed against hers under the table, just to see if she'd move away.

She didn't.

Mallory

I knew exactly what I was doing.

Kian thought he was slick, pressing his leg against mine under the table like I wouldn't notice. Like I wouldn't take that as a challenge.

Idiot.

Miss Reid had given up on keeping us quiet ages ago, focusing instead on making sure no one set the classroom on fire. So, I took my chance.

Leaning in, I let my voice drop, all sweet and teasing. "You sure you're enjoying the lesson, Ki? Thought you weren't into romance."

His gaze flicked to me, sharp and amused. "Depends on the type of romance."

I twirled my pen between my fingers, pretending to think. "Shakespearean love stories are a bit tragic, though. People dying and all that. Not really our style, is it?"

His lips curved slightly. "You saying we've got a style, Lynch?"

I tilted my head. "I dunno. Maybe." I let my knee press into his just a little more, acting like I didn't notice. "You tell me."

His eyes darkened just slightly, and I knew I had him.

"You like winding me up, don't you?" His voice was low, just for me.

I grinned. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah?" He leaned in, just enough that I could feel his breath on my skin. "Maybe I should start winding you up instead."

Heat crept up my neck, but I wasn't about to let him win that easy. I turned back to my notes, casually flipping a page like I wasn't affected at all.

"Maybe," I murmured, smirking. "But you'd have to catch me first."

His breath hitched just slightly, and I knew I had him exactly where I wanted him.