Page 7 of Take You

“What? Why the hell would you think I’d be called Countess Vladimira Von Peckenhammer?”

“Well, not necessarily specifically that. It was just an example of a possible outlandish name that sprang to mind. But I thought it must be something crazy, otherwise why the hesitation? Or is it that you suspect I might be some kind of stalker, and immediately leave here and get your name tattooed on my bicep, or something?” Her face dropped. Shit.

“Kidding. I’m totally kidding.” I put my hands up in mock surrender, and her smile returned, but not as strong this time. “So, are you okay? You seemed kind of flustered when you ran out of that lecture hall. What class was it, anyway?”

She looked hesitant, but it was a brief waver this time. “Bioengineering III, with Prof. Richards.”

“Oh, well, that would explain why you were in such a hurry to get out of there.”

“Huh...?”

“Well I hear his classes are so boring, people have been known to stab themselves in the eye just to get a hall pass.” Her smile was wider this time.

“I mean, it’s not the most fun, but I’ve had worse, I guess.”

“Really? I thought he was pretty much the worst we had to offer. Who else is there?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean here. I just transferred from Hillsborough, and honestly, some of the lecturers there make him seem like a stand-up comedian. He’s truly not that bad.”

“You’re from Hillsborough? What brings you our way mid-degree?”

“Oh, I guess I was doing so well there that I saw an opportunity to up my game here, and I took it. Plus, I needed a change of scene.”

“Oh, I hear you. So, if as you say, Richards’s classes aren’t all that bad, what had you fleeing this one?”

She fiddled with her coffee cup. “I wasn’t fleeing—”

“My shins would definitely beg to differ, given the force with which you slammed into them. You know you nearly took me out like a skittle, right? I mean, if I was a smaller guy, I’d have gone flying into the air and probably squashed you on landing.

“My God! Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry. I felt a little nauseated, that’s all. I just needed a little fresh air.”

“Oh, well, I guess I should consider myself lucky that it’s just a fractured femur, then, and I didn’t get puked on, as well.” She seemed to lose all color in her cheeks. I laughed a little, to try to put her at ease. “Ignore me. I’m just yanking your chain. My leg is absolutely fine, but I’m worried about you. Do you still feel nauseous? Can I get you something else to make you feel better?” I motioned to the drinks in on the table. Neither of us had drunk much.

“Hmm...?” She looked momentarily confused. I quirked a questioning eyebrow. “Oh, right! Umm... no thank you, the feeling seems to have passed.”

“Well, that’s something, I guess. Do you think you ate something bad?”

“No! Uh... I mean, I don’t think so. I skipped breakfast this morning, as I was in a hurry, so it can’t have been that. And if it was something I ate at dinner last night, surely I’d have felt unwell before now?”

“Hmm... well, maybe it’s because you skipped breakfast. Low blood sugar can do funny things. The milk in your coffee should help though, so drink up.”

She smiled an altogether different smile to the one she’d given me before, and my dick sat up and took notice. I watched her sip daintily at her coffee, and couldn’t help but imagine her lips wrapped around me.

This was going to be like taking candy from a baby.

Chapter 5

Rose

“So tell me about Hillsborough. Did you grow up there, or just go there for college?”

The question caught me off guard, which was stupid. It was the most basic and normal of things to ask someone on first meeting them. I gave myself a quick internal pep-talk, reminding me not to second guess everything, all the time. I took a deep breath and looked into his smiling brown eyes. I needed to chill the fuck out, and go with the flow.

“No, I didn’t grow up there. I moved there for school.”

“Oh, cool. I’ve never been. What’s it like? Do you like it there?”

“I don’t know if ‘like’ is quite the right word. I guess there’s nothing bad about it, as such, but there’s not a whole lot of good, either. It’s not really famous for anything, because it doesn’t have many distinct things about it, or distinguishing features. It’s boring. The epitome of middle America, you know?” He looked like he had no idea what I was talking about.

---