“Hell, Chase,” she said roughly, her breathing ragged.

“I’m sorry.” I took a deep breath in and released her before sliding out.

“Why are you apologizing—that was—just holy crap.”

I wanted to ask what else she expected. But I hadn’t even lasted four minutes and had been so lost in a gray-eyed princess that I don’t even remember it. “Get dressed, Natalie.”

After pulling on my own clothes and waiting for her to situate herself, I unlocked the door and led us back into the hall. Without another word, I let go of her and went toward my room in another part of the house. Once I was locked in, I groaned into my hands. What the hell just happened? Why had I pictured her in that way? Sex only, making love never. Those images had definitely been me making love to her, and how was I already getting hard again thinking about this? And about her, especially? That’s it, it’s official . . . there’s something wrong with my dick. She’s a challenge, yeah, but that’s all.

Shutting my eyes tightly, I tried to think about anything other than her and those fucking mesmerizing eyes, but nothing was helping. With a frustrated groan, I shot off the bed and dug around my desk until I found my latest sketchpad. I focused on some pieces I was working on for myself, as well as my buddy Brian at the shop, and tried to push that girl out of my mind. And no, the fact that I hid the word “princess” within the design I wanted to complete my right sleeve had nothing to do with her or the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about her. At all. Fuck. I slammed my sketchpad shut and shoved it into my desk.

I stretched my arms and back before leaving my room and locking the door behind me. I’d almost gotten to the end of the hallway when I heard Drew’s loud slur.

“YYYEEEAAAH, Bree and fresh meat are sleeping over tonight!”

I figured “fresh meat” was Bree’s new roommate and felt bad for once again forgetting to meet her. I needed to make sure my sister wasn’t going to be rooming with some crazy person. When I got into the living room, Bree was over taking shots with Drew and Zach, and there, standing near the doors to the backyard, was my gray-eyed princess. This better be a fucking mistake.

Plastering a smile on my face, I couldn’t help but embrace the images that were now burned into my mind, “Well, well. If it isn’t the princess.”

She froze when she heard me, and as she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowed, and the fakest smile I’ve ever seen crossed her face. “I almost didn’t recognize you without a tramp attached.”

Seriously, who the hell does she think she is? I leaned close and whispered harshly in her ear, “Would you like to change that? I’m not up to my limit tonight yet.”

The princess leaned away, and her eyes went wide, “Oh, I’m sorry, but I don’t have any STDs, I’m not your type.”

Bree started choking, and I knew I should make sure she was okay, but my jaw had dropped, and I couldn’t stop staring at his frustrating girl. “Chase, you better stay away from my roommate. I told the guys she’s off-limits.”

I cringed at Bree’s words. Not a mistake. This really was her roommate.

“You know him?” the princess asked, hardly trying to contain her revulsion.

“Well, I’d like to think so, he is my brother.”

The most beautiful blush I’ve ever seen instantly spread across her cheeks, and for a second I forgot why I didn’t want to be completely taken with this girl.

“Wait. Harper, is this the guy you said was a jerk?”

Harper. That’s right, her name is Harper. I don’t know why I didn’t like it earlier; I couldn’t think of anything more perfect for her. It fit her, and I wanted to say it myself, but then I remembered why she was pissing me off and decided to stick with what seemed to piss her off more. Her eyes flew to the ground, and my lips quirked up into a smile.

“You said I’m a jerk?” I laughed and walked over to my sister. “She’s the one that just practically called me a dirty man-whore.”

“Don’t be rude to my friends, Chase!” Bree punched my arm, and I tried not to roll my eyes at how pathetic her punches were.

Princess turned quickly and went outside, and I tried not to let it show that I watched her leave. “Great roommate, Bree,” I scoffed, and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

“She is, but she said you weren’t nice! So be nice. I told you, she’s pretty sheltered.”

I turned my back to Zach and Drew and leaned onto the island close to Bree. “Sheltered how?”

“She grew up with only her dad, and she said he’s been in the army or navy or whatever for her whole life.” Bree took two more shots, and I shook my head at her; at least she was staying here. “And get this! She’s never worn makeup or been to a mall!”

My face fell in mock horror. “Never been to a mall? Oh no.”

“Go be nice to her, you big jerk!”

I kissed Bree’s forehead and made my way outside. It was dark, but it didn’t take long to find her. Her face was in her hands, elbows on her knees. Is she crying? I usually hated when women cried, but I had to force myself not to rush up to her to make sure she was okay. God, get a grip. I sank into the seat next to her and waited until she peeked up at me. Not crying. Thank God.

“You hiding?”

“Is it that obvious?”

I looked at the empty backyard. “A little.” I took a deep breath in and got more comfortable. “Tell me, what’s a princess like you doing at my party?”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” she ground out, “but I was invited.”

I couldn’t care less if she was invited or not. I just didn’t want her around me. I didn’t want her in my house, and I didn’t want to be getting hard again thinking about her in my bed. Challenge or not, she was already getting under my damn skin too much for me to think clearly. She needed to go. I curled my lip and looked at her with the disgust she’d been serving me with all night. “You don’t have to be invited to come to the party, but in case you didn’t notice, you don’t exactly fit in here, Princess.”

She looked shocked and hurt. Good. Maybe now she’d stay the hell away.

“If the way we are disgusts you so much, feel free to stay at school next time.” I stood, and hated that I couldn’t help but look at her once more before walking away.

“Chase.”

My eyes shut, and I took a deep breath in. Would it have been weird to ask her to say my name again?

“I’m really sorry, I was out of line.”

Wait—she was apologizing? I turned and looked at her, confused. Oh God, it was a bad idea to turn around. If her sweet-as-hell voice hadn’t been bad enough, the way her eyes had gone back to completely wide and innocent was about to do me in.

“I was raised not to back down to people, but what I said was too much. So, I’m sorry. I don’t know you, I shouldn’t judge you.”

I huffed, and the corners of my mouth twitched. Snarky and sweet. Bad combination. Sexy combo—so damn sexy. But bad. I shook my head, and my brow rose when I realized I wanted to get to know this girl. Now that was a bad idea. I turned and took the long way around the house, giving my hard-on time to go down.

“. . . you kiss anyone tonight?” Bree’s voice reached me as I stepped through the front door, and I closed it quietly when I heard Princess murmur, “No.”

“I can help with that!” My hands formed into fists over Zach’s words, and I growled. Over my dead body.

“No, no, no. I told you guys, she’s off-limits!”

Thatta girl, Bree. I took the last few steps toward the living room when Zach spoke again.

“Come on, Bree, what’s your deal?”

“ ’Cause she’s pure. Completely. Pure.”

I froze. What the hell, Bree? Shit, from the way Harper’s cheeks went fire-engine red, Bree wasn’t lying. She was pure. I looked at Harper’s mortified expression, and the urge to take her in my arms and take her away from this overwhelmed me. I didn’t know where the protectiveness for her came from, but somehow I knew I’d do anything for this innocent girl, and I’d kill anyone who tried to take that innocence from her.

Bree’s index finger went to tap Harper’s lips, and Harper grabbed her wrist, pulling it back “Breanna!”

“Shh!” Bree covered her own lips with her index finger this time. “Harper, don’t tell them!”

Harper looked up, and her jaw clenched as she took in Brad, Drew, Derek, and Zach bursting out laughing. I wanted to punch every single one of them.

Derek was wiping tears from his eyes. “Oh my God! Princess, is she serious?”

I growled again. That was my name for her.

She swallowed roughly and disentangled herself from Bree before heading straight toward me. My heart started pounding until I realized she hadn’t seen me yet, and I was standing in the way of the front door.

Jolting back slightly when she realized I was in her way, her eyes looked everywhere but at me. “Please. Move.”

And let her leave? Hell no. I grabbed her shoulders and turned her around at the same time I started walking us toward my room.

“Don’t touch me!”

“Just trust me,” I growled, and walked her through the living room, where everyone was still laughing.

“Looks like Chase is gonna take care of that problem for you, Princess!” Brad yelled, and I’ve never wanted to punch my friend more than I did then. I paused and cursed, but knew I’d rather take care of her right then than let all of them know how much they were pissing me off.

I unlocked my door and pushed her in; as soon as the light was on, she gasped and started bucking against me. I held her by pushing her elbows into her side so her jerking arms couldn’t hit me.

“No! Get off me!”

“Not until you stop trying to hit me!”

Instantly, Harper stopped moving, but her body was practically vibrating with tension. I waited almost a minute before releasing her and feigning indifference.