Dust Read Online Free PDF

hand. "You don't strike me as the in-trouble type."
    "Tell that to the counselor. Maybe he'll let me stop going to my university-ordered sessions a month early."
    We'd enjoyed a little back-and-forth banter, but I knew immediately he wasn't kidding. I looked over at him again. His left hand fisted on his thigh. I didn't know why I was letting this guy be a distraction to my boring art class, but he fascinated me. Now that he seemed tense, I should want to take the opportunity to shut him out and focus on my assignment. I usually relished the moments in life when talking could cease.
    But I didn't want our conversation to end on a bad note. I could console him somehow, but I wasn't one do to that. I wasn't one to lift someone's spirits at all actually, but at least I could follow his lead and maybe lighten the situation. Maybe ease his tension. Hell, now seemed like a good time to tease him about his diarrhea of the mouth problem.
    "Uh-oh. Did you talk someone into a coma with all that rambling you do?"
    He twisted in his seat and looked at me. I watched his eyes as the storm brewing shifted and humor twinkle within them. They really were a gorgeous gray-blue color—not that I was paying attention to that or anything.
    "No, smarty pants. I threw a desk. At someone's face."
    Oh really. I quirked an eyebrow. "Remind me not to piss you off."
    "Don't piss me off." He said, chuckling as he went back to his artwork. "Why do you think that was the smartest thing that's come out of my mouth?" he asked as if the face-bashing had never been brought up.
    "About the dating? I don't date either."
    "I guess we're a lot alike, Liv," he murmured, and I wasn't sure if he sounded happy about that. If he were as messed up as me, he'd have reason to not like that.
    "Who knows, er..." I leaned back and looked at him. I couldn't believe we sat next to each other in class and had spoken on two occasions now, but I didn't even know his name. Normally, I wouldn't care enough to ask. People tended to push themselves onto me with introductions and all that crap. I couldn't remember the last time I was the one who initiated introductions. "What's your name, by the way?"
    He stilled. I couldn't see him behind his canvas, but no tell-tale sign of motion was evident. Then he moved, scooting his stool, and stood. He stepped over to me and stuck out his hand.
    "I'm a dick."
    "Nice to meet you, Dick." I shook his hand without thinking first and surprised myself further when I didn't cringe away at his touch.
    He chuckled. "I should've introduced myself before. You're the new one here. And I'm not being a very gracious host-slash-student. Killian," he said a little softer. "Killian Ashley. Some people call me Kill."
    "Olivia Musgrave. Everybody calls me Liv." I pulled my hand away before any sudden reflexes to yank it out of his grasp would embarrass me. He put his hands in his pockets.
    "Well, Olivia 'Liv' Musgrave. Can I make up my thoughtlessness by giving you a ride to the fundraiser tomorrow?"
    I felt the blood fall out of my face, but I forced myself not to flee. Is that what he was after? I was so inexperienced around guys because I avoided them. It was hard to learn what was considering flirting when I refused to do it or even acknowledge it. "I don't date." I freaking told him that already.
    "Good. Then there will be no misunderstanding, because, as I told you, I don't either."
    I glared at him. "I'm not sleeping with you." I didn't do that. Wouldn't do it ever again. My one experience with it resulted in enough therapy sessions to last me a lifetime. But I wasn't telling him all that. He just needed to know the basics, which in this case was that he was not getting into my panties. Period.
    "That's good." He chuckled but then suddenly paled. "Oh shit, that came out wrong." He put his hand on my shoulder. "You're sweet, Liv. I like talking to you, but I don't date or hang out with girls I fuum...I mean I don't do relationships. I was serious when I