Page 110 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

“I might need a few minutes.” Her eyes drifted closed. She ran her hands up and over his shoulders, clinging to him for support. “Then I’m all good for round two—three, whatever number we’re on.”

“I’m pleased you’re eager for more,” he hummed. “I have an idea for our intermission.”

“Oh?” His ideas were always the best.

Then she was being scooped up. After a short walk, a soft cloth was pressed between her legs, and Adrian wiped her clean. He paused. “Fantasy? Rom-com? Thriller?”

She cracked open her eyes and was met with a bookshelf lined with books. As he listed the options, she skimmed over the row of spines.

“Take your pick,” he said. “I checked out a few from the library a week ago but never got past opening the cover.”

She hummed. A black book stood out, the title embellished in gold. She picked it up to inspect the front and opened to the last page.

“You read backwards?” he asked, amused.

“No.” She shut the book with satisfaction. “Just making sure I like the end. I choose this one.”

He shook his head. “Hold on, grab this, too.” He motioned to the blanket on his bed, and once she had it bundled in her arms, he brought them into the living room and sat down in the recliner. “Sometimes the end is better when you read the beginning, you know.”

She tucked the blanket around their shoulders and settled into his lap. “And sometimes, knowing the end makes the beginning more exciting.”

“Touché.”

As he began reading, she rested her head on his chest and, unable to resist, drifted off to the smooth tenor of his voice.

FIFTY-FOUR

Somehow, the Earth spun faster when she was wrapped in Adrian’s arms.

By the time she woke Sunday night, it had already gotten late, and after making sure she was fed and otherwise cared for, he brought her back to the dorms. Stars lit up the sky as their magical weekend came to a close.

At first, she’d been upset about wasting what time they had left, but when the grind of classes kicked in, that extra rest made a huge difference. That, and the memories replaying in her mind like a corrupted fairytale.

Unfortunately, between work and school, they didn’t get to see each other nearly as often as they had hoped. It would’ve all felt like a dream if not for their frequent messages and late-night calls. Which, more often than not, ended in her falling asleep, worn out from studying. Sometimes, she kept a video call open as she did homework just to look over and see his handsome face.

If only she could spend every weekend being thoroughly fucked and cuddled by her black knight. Life would be complete.

Maybe it could be. Maybe things could be simple between them, just like Adrian said. After all, the only obstacle in their way was other people.

Other people who still were the reason she looked over her shoulder when walking to and from class.

Adrian seemed sure Jace and Jun would be taken care of, but that in itself worried her more. He never explained what Raptor meant at the club, and she hadn’t found the right moment to ask. But the decision was already made, and for once, no one seemed to be on edge. Riley solidified plans for dinner on Friday, and she figured that’d be the best time to get answers. Until then, she had to keep herself together.

Even though apprehension about running into Jace still haunted her behind a veil of hopeful thoughts.

Ivory scanned the sidewalk and crossed through a crowd of students, weaving towards the library. The last piles of snow had melted, and flowers poked out of the fresh grass, but that didn’t stop her from feeling a rush of cold every time she passed a set of Beta Rho letters. She’d been careful to stick to the longer route and didn’t cut any corners, avoiding the last place Jace saw her.

Adrian would escort her if she asked, but he had classes of his own, plus shifts at the salon. She couldn’t monopolize his time, and if she did, she didn’t want it to be because of Jace. She tried to tell herself she was overreacting, that surely Jace only lashed out because he’d been provoked.

Surely, he wouldn’t try anything again.

Then her mind wandered to Serena and the forlorn look in her eyes the last time they talked. Jace’s temperament affected more than one person, and by the looks of it, he wasn’t getting any better.

Taking shelter inside the library, she located their study group’s usual table and settled in. Right now, she needed to focus on her chemistry test, not people and events outside her control. She took out her textbook and a pack of notecards, then set about making flashcards. Maybe Adrian could quiz her later.

Avril and a few of her friends arrived, chatting as they sat down. Ivory listened as they caught her up on the school’s latest sports matches and then launched into plans they’d made to go on a trip over spring break.

“Spring break?” Ivory cut in, pausing to look up and register what that meant. “Is it coming up?”

---