Page 73 of Confusing Hearts

“And for panthers it’s the emotional connection that comes towards the end,” I said. “So, you can imagine that all this really had me freaked out. That first day of calculus I knew you were there. I could feel your presence and I shouldn’t have been able to do that.”

“I was looking all over for you. I knew you should have felt my presence and yet you didn’t react at all. I scanned that entire room waiting for you to turn around or show some sign of recognition and nothing. I mean I could hone in on your general location, but I didn’t understand why you wouldn’t react to the mating call.”

“I guess because I shouldn’t have felt it that way. The mating call for panthers, or so I’ve been told, starts with a physical connection. You usually have to be in close proximity and it’s described as feeling a brush across your skin. My mom always called it the shivers. Like when goosebumps break out on your skin for no reason. I do get that with you too, just the added emotional stuff had me weirded out at first, but I guess if we’re each experiencing both of our mating signs, that makes sense.”

He thought about it and nodded. “I know that feeling you’re talking about. I never really attributed it to the bond though. It’s kind of cool how our bond is merging both wolf and panther traits.”

The rest of the weekend seemed to fly by. I was grateful for every second I had alone with Chase. When it was just the two of us, life was perfect. Once again, going back to the real world Sunday evening was hard on the both of us. Chase dropped me off in the parking lot behind my sorority house and an hour later I met him in the library for our study group. Matt and Anita didn’t show up this time, and neither did Chad, which meant no actual studying occurred in the three hours we had the room reserved—and we made use of all three hours.

There was something about doing stuff in a semi-public place that you were not supposed to be doing that made it all the more exciting. After I left, I wasn’t sure I could ever set foot in that room again without blushing. It was like all the stress of the weekend finally came to a head and all we could do was hold on to each other for dear life. Even I could smell the scent of sex in the air as we left.

Two stacks away I heard a giggle so like my own it made me freeze to the spot. Tessa? It had to be her. No sooner had I thought it, than Tessa rounded the corner, pulling down her shirt as Jack stepped out from behind her.

Both their eyes widened, guilt written all over their faces. Looked like I wasn’t the only one getting a little action in the library that night. It never dawned on me that Chase’s arm was still around my waist until Tessa’s eyes turned from guilt to shock as she took in the scene before her.

“Jack,” Chase said, nodding.

“Chase,” he acknowledged in the same manner.

“You two know each other?” Tessa questioned, still looking back and forth between me and Chase. It was obvious she was trying to make sense of what she was seeing—bad boy Chase Westin with her perfect, do-no-wrong sister.

My heart started beating fast in my chest and I feared I might hyperventilate. Taking a deep breath, I turned towards Chase. “Well, thanks for the lesson, and I’ll see you in calculus tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s right. You have study group tonight,” Tessa said, as if suddenly that made far more sense.

Yet Chase hadn’t let go of me. I wanted to smack him for it, but I could feel his wolf on edge, probably responding to my own threatening panic attack.

I pivoted to walk away, but Chase moved at the same time and I crashed into the hard wall of his chest. His arms instinctively wrapped around me as he checked to make sure I was okay.

“Ow,” I said without thinking.

“Jenna, look at me.” His deep voice rumbled through my body. “Jenna,” he said again, this time a little more demanding.

I shook my head, still buried in his chest. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt, just a little embarrassed.”

To make matters worse, Tessa started laughing. Jack joined in and I could even feel, without looking, that Chase was grinning enough to pop out the dimples, even if he refrained from actually laughing. His arms wrapped around me as his hand rubbed my back. I started to hug him back and then froze.

No one was laughing when I flattened my hands against his stomach and pushed back, giving him a look to tell him to behave.

“Okay then,” I said, nervously worrying my bottom lip. “Tessa, see you later. Jack, good to see you again. And you,” I said, looking up at Chase, “see you tomorrow.”

I turned quickly and walked away.

I didn’t even make it to the stairwell before Tessa caught up to me.

“Wait, wait, wait,” she said. “Jenna, stop.”

I turned around slowly and tried to look as innocent as possible. Fortunately, that was a face I was used to hiding behind.

Hands on her hips, she asked, “How do you know Jack? I didn’t even introduce you.”

Crap. Of all the things for her to pick on, that was one I wasn’t expecting. “I, uh, I met him this weekend. He thought I was you,” I said simply. It wasn’t exactly a lie.

“Oh.” She seemed to ponder my answer. “But you weren’t around campus this weekend, and Jack was visiting his brother and just got back, so where did you meet?”

Jack walked up, then quickly turned and headed back towards Chase who laughed at his quick exit.

I looked back at my sister, still waiting on an answer. I knew I couldn’t lie to her. Not telling her was one thing, lying just wasn’t in my nature. I couldn’t do it.

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