Page 35 of Lunar Crest University

I should. Fuck, Ido.

I think.

If I’m being wholly honest with myself, there isn’t a single trace of regret inside me, as much as I should feel it. This could cost me the job that’s paying off Javier, everything I’m working toward. But whether I give in to my urges with her or not, she’s still on Javier’s radar. I’m the only one who can protect her from that. The rest is inevitable.

I avert my eyes toward the door before my gaze falls on her once more. I can see the turmoil written all over her face, and before I can second guess it, I’m reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. My fingertips lightly caress her cheekbone before I drop my hand. Her cheeks flush deeper in response to my touch, like she can feel the heat emanating where our skin connects. It only makes me want to touch her everywhere and see that same shade of pink across every surface of her body.

“Ah.” I sigh deeply. “It’s because I don’t regret it,Princesa, that Ihaveto stay away from you.”

Her shaky exhale is so quiet, I almost miss it, her shoulders relaxing faintly as the wrinkle between her brows disappears. Her doe eyes blink softly up at me.

“I don’t want you to stay away.”

I’m a grown fucking man with goosebumps.

“Finley—”

“Come over. Tomorrow,” she urges, swallowing. I can hear the anxiety in her tone, can see the way she steps a centimeter closer to me. “Help me with my response paper?”

I immediately shake my head, stepping backward as I lick my dry lips. If I don’t create some distance now, it’ll be a replay all over again. “That’s a horrible idea. I can’t.Wecan’t.”

“Luca,” she pleads, and the sound of my name on her lips again makes me want to crumble. “Please.”

Fuck me.

I’m pacing nervously back and forth as I rub a palm down my clammy face, fighting the urge to get down on my knees in front of the girl begging me right now. I’d probably do anything she asked me to.Fuuuck. Fuck.

“Just for my response paper,” she whispers.

“Your response paper, hmm?”

I raise a brow at her, and she nods tentatively.

“You…are dangerous,” I groan. “Do you know that?”

“Is that a yes?” she asks, staring at me expectantly.

“Sí,” I say, taking my glasses from my collar and sliding them back on the bridge of my nose. “I’ll come by.”

Humming sweetly, she smiles feebly as she bounces on her heels. The happiness that emits from her aura nearly takes my breath away—I want to kick myself for not going out of my way to make her feel this way sooner. She makes happy look beautiful. Her face is already soft and angelic, but it triples tenfold with a smile on her full lips. The smile that had never been given to me before. I want to frame it and keep it forever.

I’m fucked.

“For the response paper,” she clarifies once more.

I nod. “Of course. The response paper.”

“Okay,” she says.

“Okay.”

Her pallid skin reddens deeper every time I speak. She’s so beautiful when she blushes, it’s almost painful. My chest seizes each time she flushes, and I fight the urge to reach out and trace the pink as it cascades along her cheekbones.

“See you tomorrow, then,” Finley murmurs as she peeks up at me.

“Hasta mañana, Princesa.”

Chapter Fifteen

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