Page 69 of Lunar Crest University

“Too late.”

Her head lifts as she looks over at me. “You don’t feel good either?”

I shake my head.

It’s a lie, but she doesn’t have to know that. She’d just push it even more if I told her the truth, and I refuse to have her ride a bus home feeling the way she does. Plus, I know she’ll make it home safely if I take her. The probability of someone creeping in her windows again is, unfortunately, higher than I’d like.

Finley goes quiet again as I pull out of the parking lot, and she remains that way for the entire ride to her apartment. The only sound is the heat filtering through the vent and the rain splattering against the windshield. She bundles up in my coat as she relaxes down in the seat, and I fight the urge to reach over and touch her. Comfort her.

Get a fucking grip.

I white-knuckle the steering wheel the whole way, but my muscles loosen as we park in front of her house and I see there’s no one stalking around outside. I haven’t gotten a chance tolook inside the apartment yet for any signs of someone snooping around, but it can wait. Right now, she needs me.

Finley unlocks her door as I haul the luggage from the trunk to the steps, going as fast as I can, since the rain has shifted into a steady downpour. By the time we’re inside the warmth of her apartment, we’re soaked, and I’m practically panting as I drop all the bags on the wooden floor. With a deep breath, I take off my wet glasses and set them on the island in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry,” Finley squeaks.

I look over at her, and the dam cracks. She bursts into tears, her face falling into her palms as her body looks like it’s going to cave in on itself. My heart squeezes at the sight, and I take two long strides toward her as I pull her against my chest. She collapses into me as she buries her face into my sweater, her hat falling off and onto the floor.

“Don’t cry,amor.” I cradle her head softly in my hands. “It’s okay. It’s been a long day, and you just need to rest. I’ll run you a bath.”

“I’m being a brat,” she whines. “I’m s-sorry, Luca.”

With a swift kiss on her forehead, I say, “And you can be a brat all you want. It’s not going to scare me off. I’m staying here tonight, and I’m going to run you a hot bath with bubbles. Help clear up that nose.”

She lifts her head to look up at me, her eyebrows scrunching together as a few more tears spill from her eyes. I quickly swipe them away as I leave her standing there in the kitchen, walking into her bedroom as I make my way toward the adjacent bathroom. Sifting through the cabinet under the sink, I grab the almost empty bottle of bubble bath before twisting the faucet knob and pouring the remnants of the bottle in with the running water.

“Did you mean what you said?”

I look over to see Finley standing in the doorway, rubbing her arm as she frowns down at my crouched figure, my hand underneath the water to test the temperature.

“About not scaring you off,” she continues. “Did you mean that?”

Her eyes are starting to swell from crying, and she sniffles as she looks down at her shoes. Her dark hair is falling out of her bun, a few strands around her face. Even while sick, while being a crying mess, she’s so beautiful.

“Come here,” I tell her, extending my hand out for her to take.

She wastes no time hurrying toward me, placing her palm into mine as she stares down at our intertwined fingers. Pressing a kiss to her knuckles, I pull her closer as I simultaneously stand. Her head follows the movement as her neck cranes to look up at me. There’s a desperation that flits in her irises, or maybe it’s fear.

“Yes, I meant it.”

I reach for the hem of her sweater as I lift it up, tugging it over her head and arms before discarding it on the bathroom floor. A white lace bra rests underneath, and my eyes take in the swell of her breasts and her smooth, porcelain skin. She instinctively brings her hands up to her chest, as if she needs to hide herself, and I reach up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear as I cock my head at her.

“Don’t hide,” I say lowly. “Not from me.”

Her hands drop to her sides as she chews at her bottom lip, observing me closely as I help her take the rest of her clothes off. Her skin erupts in goosebumps as she stands in front of me, fully exposed, and she shivers slightly. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on—dusty rose cheeks, wild, curly hair in a messy bun, and supple curves that I want to sink my teeth into. Scooping her up in my armsgently, I lower her down into the bath water, watching as her body immediately relaxes as the bubbles shroud her.

I shed my own clothes, and she gapes up at me as I climb into the tub behind her. Pulling her back flush against my chest, I wrap my arms around her as I rest my chin on her shoulder.

“She’s into the football coach.”

I hum in confusion.

“Genevieve,” she clarifies. “She’s into the football coach, and she isn’t going to say anything because she’s doing the same thing. We have something on each other, so we’re even.”

What the fuck?

What thefuck.

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