Page 15 of Kings of the Campus

Our bodies tangle together, tongues twisting around and around as our lips slide over each other. Her hands are under my cotton shirt, tracing my sides as my hands work under her ass to lift her, pinning her in place as we continue to kiss. Her hips rock against mine, clothed pussy rubbing against my aching erection.

Footsteps echo around the corner and the two of us break apart hastily, rearranging our clothes as someone approaches the stacks.

I’m panting, trying to catch my breath as I realize what I’ve done. I take off, needing space to sort out my head.

What the hell have I done?

9

TESSA

Itouch my fingers to my lips, still feeling the lingering buzz of Jace’s lips on mine. I’m not entirely sure what happened. One minute we’re agreeing to a truce, the next we’re furiously making out in the library stacks. I leave, feeling like I’m in a daze.

But as a few days go by, I start to feel like maybe the boys are serious about the truce. Things have shifted between us. I see them around campus more often now—sometimes by accident and sometimes we start to seek each other out. Against my better judgment, I’ve even started spending time with them.

Alec and I keep going to the café in the mornings at the same time. At first, I was hesitant to approach him but when I saw him sitting in the corner, poring over some notes, I felt a magnetic pull. He caught my eye and waved me over like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Studying?” I ask, sliding into the seat across from him.

His eyes flicked to mine briefly before returning to his notes.

“Something like that,” he mutters, giving me a tight-lipped smile.

It should feel awkward. Alec Montgomery isn’t the kind of guy to share a latte with, but instead, I find myself intrigued as he pushes the paperwork toward me. “Can you tell me what I’m missing here,” he says, a frown on his face. “I’m trying to figure out how I can fit a group study session into my schedule, but I can’t seem to find the time.”

I smile and glance over it, impressed with how meticulously organized he is. Running a finger along the page of his planner, “You have a martial arts class twice on Wednesday here,” I say, pointing to it. “I don’t think you meant to write it twice.”

Alec’s lips quirk up into a smile and I feel my heart flutter at the sight. “Thanks, I was wondering why my schedule seemed so jam-packed this week.”

We continue talking quietly and I wonder if maybe we don’t always have to be at each other’s throats.

Later that day, Jace shows up at the library again. I’m at my usual spot, a table tucked away in a quiet corner near the back when he slides into the chair next to me with his trademark grin.

“Fancy seeing you here,” he teases, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that blossoms at the sight of him. “I come here all the time, Jace. Unlike some people, I need to study.”

He laughs, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe I just came here for the company.”

Something tingles in my body at his words. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and get back to working. He’s mostly silent, letting me study but every so often we exchange a heated glance, or I catch him giving me a tiny smirk and my cheeks feel flush with heat. It’s almost enough to drive me to distraction, but I find myself not minding either. It’s like he truly does just enjoy my company. Butterflies erupt in my stomach when he gets upto leave, stroking his hand across mine with a soft brush and a lingering glance.

When I’m heading back to my dorm, I almost run into Devin. He’s balancing a tray of food while trying to walk backward as he explains a ridiculous story about goats in a supply closet to some Sigma pledges. Laughter bubbles up inside me at the sight and he turns to see me, giving me an exaggerated wink and a bow.

“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, feeling warmth wash over me when he gives me a soft smile in return.

“I am the most ridiculous,” he agrees, starting to juggle the tray. I laugh harder, wondering if he’s going to drop the tray, but he executes the juggling move perfectly and then takes another bow, to a polite smattering of applause. If I’m one of them, no one needs to know.

I leave, almost wishing I could have stayed to talk to Devin more, but I have a class soon.

I don’t have to miss him too much though because that afternoon, when I’m in the student center working on a calc assignment, Devin shows up almost out of nowhere.

“Need help?” he asks, leaning over the table with that familiar cocky grin.

I raise an eyebrow. “You know calc?”

He shrugs. “Maybe a little.”

To my surprise, he jumps in and solves the equation with ease, as though calculus comes naturally to him.

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