Page 64 of Toxic

"And you’re flat here," I threw mercilessly, taking a quick look at Sean’s unimpressive chest. "I prefer Soren’s nipples. Very sexy, protruding."

Sean stopped twerking, gaped, and then giggled. "Aaa, gotcha. You saw his nipples! So you weren’t just hanging out innocently, huh?"

I blushed slightly and bit my lip, not knowing what to say.

But Soren just shrugged. "The point is, you’re not gonna fuck with Skye. You can stop showing off your mediocre assets. It won’t work."

Sean slumped into the chair, making a sour face. "It wasn’t meant to get him interested in me, just to show I’m not as bad as you both suggested."

"Fine. You’re not bad. Just don’t touch what’s mine, and we’re good."

Sean gasped, and I raised my eyebrows too.

"Mine? So you guys are together after all?"

"No, but he’s off-limits to you."

I blinked, staring at Soren’s face. This was a strange possessiveness. A dog in the manger, for sure. That unadulterated display of jealousy was so out of character for him.

Or… was it not that out of character after all?

"Gosh, Soren! I would never have made a move if you weren’t so adamant about not liking him before, you know that."

Soren shrugged. "I get that. But that wasn’t my main issue. You sent him texts warning him about me—betting I’d blow him. That was super unfair, especially since I clarified to you it wasn’t a bet for the sake of it. It was something I actually wanted to do… just because. No ulterior motives."

"I’m sorry again. As long as you’re not doing it on a whim or planning to kick his ass like he’s a plaything, I’m not gonna be a bitch."

Soren didn’t respond. He just stared at Sean with a tense expression, which caught my attention.

"So, are we finally good, or do you want this beef to never end?"

Soren swallowed and looked away, strange guilt written all over his face. "Yeah, we’re good," he murmured, and I felt relieved—I really didn’t want to be the reason for their skirmishes.

Sean quickly changed the topic to an upcoming mixer, but I couldn’t help noticing Soren’s sour mood.

We went to the next two classes together, then had separate ones. But I made it a point to be at the door of Soren's lecture hall when his class ended. I needed to make sure he wasn’t too exhausted. When he came out and saw me waiting, he rolled his eyes and said,

"What's with the worried face? I feel good, the worst is over."

"I'm glad. My classes are also over. Want to grab something to eat? My treat."

He made a grimace. "Nah, I just want to go back to my room and lie down."

He turned and headed toward his dorm, but I followed. He didn't shoo me away, which was another strange element of his new behavior.

We reached his dorm, went through the main entrance, and up to his door. Only then did he stop and look at me.

"Okay, you've walked me to my door. I can handle it from here."

"Maybe I could order a pizza for us, and we could eat it in your room?"

He hesitated, his eyes sweeping over my face, then slowly nodded. And again, that wave of strange happiness washed over me.

Why was I so hungry for Soren's presence ALL the time?

We entered the room, and Soren dropped his backpack by the table, then said, "Order the pizza, plain with mushrooms and cheese for me. I'm going to take a shower."

He took clothes from his wardrobe and headed to the bathroom without another word. I ordered the pizza and then looked at his bed, noticing the pad lying there. Since there were still some bloodstains on it, I rolled it up, revealing an old brown stain from the previous day underneath. I went to his wardrobe and saw a spare set of sheets on the bottom shelf, so I took them and replaced the old one. Just as I finished, Soren returned to the room, dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants.

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