Page 38 of Confusing Hearts

She looked confused. I was, too, if I were being honest.

“Why would you care if people knew you were smart?” Anita asked.

“Not a match with his reputation around campus. Nerds don’t get laid,” Matt said.

I had to bite back a hiss. My panther did not like hearing about Chase’s reputation with the ladies. Neither did I.

I was still stewing about it an hour later when we took a break. Matt and Anita disappeared quickly, leaving Chase and me alone in the room.

“Hey, are you okay?” Chase asked me.

I nodded and pretended to study the question we had just gone over. I hated feeling jealous of the girls he’d been with before me. I knew it wasn’t rational, but that didn’t stop the hurt and disappointment every time it was mentioned.

He reached over and took my pencil, and I looked up at him. He relaxed and smiled. “Better.”

“Give me back my pencil, Chase,” I said sternly. “I’m still trying to work out the last of this problem.”

His smile faltered and I saw uncertainty for the first time. Chase was always larger than life and so sure of himself, always in control. Worry consumed me. What was wrong? I couldn’t stop my hand from reaching out to him. I stroked his arm reassuringly.

“Are you okay?” I asked him.

He shrugged. “You feel . . . off today. I don’t know how to describe it.” He toyed with the ends of my hair. “Are we okay, Jenna? Did I do or say something to upset you?”

My heart cracked a little more. “No, no, I’m fine,” I rambled. “It’s stupid, but yeah, we’re fine. It’s not your concern, I promise.”

He stared deep into my eyes. “You’re my mate—everything that concerns you is my problem, too.”

I smiled and let go of my frustration. “Sometimes, I just get a little jealous. I can’t even seem to help it, no matter how stupid it is. My panther”—I blushed furiously at my admittance—"doesn’t like seeing you with other females, or talking to other females, or mentioning anything between you and other females even before we came into the picture. I’m sorry. I’m trying to keep it in check.”

“Matt,” he cursed under his breath.

I laughed. “It’s not his fault. It really is me.”

“Listen to me, beautiful. While I can say a million times a day that you have nothing to be jealous of, I am one hundred percent yours, I do get it.” His cocky grin was back. “I won’t lie, I love knowing you’re jealous.”

I smacked him. “Chase,” I scolded.

He laughed. “I’m serious. It lets me know you really do care. I feel so damn much it’s overwhelming at times. I struggle even having Matt in the same room with you, and he’s one of my best friends.”

He was so open and honest. I made a point to remember that in the future and talk to him instead of letting things fester. I wasn’t used to having someone I could trust with all my thoughts, or my heart.

My heart pounded as he leaned in and kissed me, deepening it quickly. My breath hitched and I pulled back, looking around. We were alone in the room, but one wall was entirely open to the main library.

“People will see. We can’t,” I reminded him.

When his dimples flashed at me, I knew he was either up to no good, or knew something I didn’t know. In this case, I suppose it turned out to be a little of both.

“Never noticed how they’re mirrored on the other side? We can see out, but others can’t see in. It’s why I reserved this particular level for us.”

He wrapped one arm around my waist and the other under my legs and lifted me easily out of my chair and settled me into his lap. I yelped in surprise.

“Matt and Anita could still return at any time,” I reminded him.

“Then stop talking and let me kiss you before they do.”

I liked his logic and we were soon lost in our own world. My chest was heaving and my body was tingling all over when he again surprised me, by dumping me back into my chair and walking to the other side of the table.

Hurt and confused, I looked at him in disbelief, but he just winked and blew me a kiss. He started talking aloud and pointing out the problem I had been focusing on earlier, seconds before the door opened and Matt and Anita returned.

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