Page 73 of Ink & Stardust

Imagine my surprise when he told me he wasn’t planning on leaving UVA after graduation but that he would be staying for two additional years to get his master’s degree. Not that I expect this will still be going on come that time, not that I even fully understand whatthisis.

It started as something so primal. I just knew I wanted him, and I didn’t care how or why. But it has since morphed into something I never would have expected—a real relationship. Though we have no commitment to each other, outside of not sleeping with other people, and he hasn’t even so much as told me he likes me, something I’m all too aware of, but weactlike a real couple.

We have dinner together. We hang out. We have mind-blowing sex. We sleep tangled in each other’s arms. He kisses me every time I leave. Holds my hand when we’re walking on campus together. Everything about the way he is with mefeelsreal, except deep down I know it isn’t. He told me as much in the beginning. Then again, in the beginning, this really did just feel like sex. But now... Now it feels like a hell of a lot more.

It terrifies me more than I can say, knowing he might end this at any moment, especially now that my heart is involved. I’ve always known I’m not the kind of girl who can have a sexual relationship with someone and not grow attached, but I was so desperate to numb the pain that I carried around like a boulder in my stomach that I didn’t care at the time.

I’m starting to realize what a mistake that was. But I also know there’s nothing I can do about it now. I can’t change the way I feel any more than I can make myself walk away from it, even knowing the heartache that faces me when this all comes to an end.

“I haven’t failed a class in my entire life. I hardly think I’m going to start failing them now.” His grin widens. “And for the record, it’s not my fault you’re so distracting. Maybe next time you should wear a big coat.” He shakes his head. “No, even in that you’d look edible.” His gaze turns wicked.

“We are in a library.” I needlessly point out, knowing that look very well at this point. The look that says I’m seconds away from taking you right here on this table.

It’s one of my favorite looks.

“And?” He cocks his head in question.

“It’s a public space,” I say like it should be so obvious.

“And?”

“There are people in here.”

“And?”

“It’s a quiet place.”

“And? I can be quiet.” He stands, stalking around the table like a lion closing in on his prey.

My stomach tightens.

“I’m not having sex with you in the library,” I whisper, even though I know no one can hear me, given that we’re tucked away in the far back corner.

He reaches down and snags my hand, tugging me to my feet.

“I only have you until Wednesday, so I’m going to fuck you in every way imaginable between now and then,” he rumbles in my ear, causing my skin to prickle. “Including in the library.”

I shudder out a breath.

“I’ll only be gone five days,” I remind him, having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that it’s already late November.

“Five days too fucking long.” He tilts and in one swift move, flops me over his shoulder.

“Kai,” I hiss.

“Relax, I know just the place.” He turns, heading for the far side hallway that leads to the bathrooms.

“Someone is going to see you carrying me into the bathroom,” I warn.

“Who said anything about the bathroom?”

I can hear the smile in his voice as he veers right, pushing his way inside a dimly lit room.

He closes the door, and I hear the distinct click of a lock before he lowers me to my feet. As soon as they meet the ground, I look around, my eyes going wide.

“This is someone’s office.”

“It is.” He backs me against the door.

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