Page 37 of Speak

And just like that, with a last glance over his shoulder, I’m left in an empty stairwell with bruised lips, a needy pussy and my heartstill pounding for a man with chestnut hair, brown-green hazel eyes with golden specks that kisses like his life depends on it.

I’m so fucked for Jonas Anderson and I don’t care.

_____

Friday morning I’m woken up by a chill coming though my open window. I get up to close the it but looking at the clock, it would be best if I just started getting ready, head to the library and made headway on my research, both on Ed Kemper for Harrington’s class and the names on the ledger.

When I leave the dorms, I find Chase out by the Koffee Kart, which is more like a kiosk than a cart. I keep my head down, wanting nothing more than to never interact with him ever again. But then… but then the idea of seeing him bleeding all over me makes me stop and stand behind him, pull out my phone, and order from the little kiosk. He glances down at me over his shoulder and huffs out an annoyed sigh. “How are you supposed to order if you can’t talk?”

I show him the order I’m waiting for on my phone; a large vanilla macchiato with an extra shot, made with oat milk so it’s not overtly sweet with my frosted blueberry scone. I downloaded the app as soon as I learned there was one available.

“I suppose you’re wanting me to apologize for yesterday?”

I scrunch up my nose just as the woman behind the kiosk counter yells out, “Raven!”

Not really. The last thing I expect from Chase is a fucking apology for assaulting me inbroad daylightin a fucking gym. I grab my order, and turn away, shaking my head to myself. How does one covertly seduce a man? Especially a man like Chase? I’m sure I could just flash him my pussy and he’d salivate. But he thinks I’m fucking with Jonas. Which I’m not. I doubt it would be that easy. Slowly seducing Chase could take weeks and I have nothing but time. IwantChase at my mercy. Which I won’t give.

When I’m heading to the library, I hear footsteps behind me. The hairs on the nape of my neck stand and I feel a chill. I pick up my pace, wishing I could’ve just waited for Jonas but this can’t wait.

“Relax, it’s just me, Spooks.” Chase says from behind me right before I start running. I let out my breath and turn to face him. “I’m not stalking you. I have a paper due Monday. I’m going to the same place you are. Thestudentlibrary?”

I don’t wait for him to open the door to the building. I open it myself and go straight up to the third floor, the philosophy and psychology section, then down to the biographies, grab the titles I need and go back down to the lobby where all the tables are, setting my stuff down at the first table by the large windows that shows off the ancient weeping willows by the quad. I hug the cup containing my macchiato and just stare, for a little, watching the sun rise behind the expansive tree line when I feel eyes on me.

I search around the empty building, finding no one and nothing but empty tables and chairs… until Chase decidesmytable works for him. And then he sits down in the chair across from me with a brow quirked and that stupid fucking permanent smirk on his face.

Okay. I’ll play his game.

I scoot my things over so he can set his things down by mine. I put in my ear buds and let Erik Satie's Gnossienne No. 1 settle over my brain like a gentle caress, smoothing out the grey wrinkles and open up the FBI agent that interviewed Ed Kemper's biography, pulling out my notebook with my notes from Harrington’s class and another to make more annotations as I go along.

I scrunch my nose reading about Kemper’s childhood, a piece of me, empathetic and sad at his sorry excuse of a mother. I shake my head when thoughts of my own start invading my mind. I close my eyes and let out a shaky sigh. I could almost hear Harrington’s snarky comments.

“Oh… poor little rich girl, daddy died… mommy didn’t hug you enough… you were tossed into a little locker and had your little leg broken. Is that why you’re a such a little slut for me? Hmm? Is that why you liked spreading yourself for your older professor on his desk? You’re no better than the rest of the slutty girls dying for a taste of my dick. Is that what you want? To taste your professors thick cock? You loved the thrill of feeling me shoot my cum in your ass, didn’t you? Because mommy doesn’t love you enough? All the money in the world and you still want to be fucked like a filthy, filthy bitch in heat.”

I groan inwardly when heat settles in my belly and down to my sex. Fuck me. Where didthatcome from? I’m sure Damon would have a field day if I told him about that.

Chase taps my shin with his shoe and I take out an earbud. “You okay? You look sick.”

I feel like I’m going to be. I want to say. I reach over and tap his hand twice with my fingers to let him know I’m okay.

He nods once and I keep writing my paper. If I turn it in to Harrington on Wednesday after class, I won’t have to see him Thursday. The less I see him, the better.

I just need to focus and forget the feeling of his strong fingers on me. Forget the feel of his callouses as they guided my panties down the soft skin of my outer thighs…

Focus, Ray.

Chapter Eleven

Raven.

I kept my head down when Jonas and I entered Professor Harrington’s class. We signed in, sat together, Jonas kept his arm on the back of my chair and he’d play with my hair, twirling the silver strand in his fingers, and he’d lightly pull sometimes, sending little prickles of pain on my scalp that both hurt and felt good. Everything this man does to me feels right.

I looked up at him once only to catch Maverick watching us during his lecture, green eyes piercing mine, a heat in them so hot I felt a blush crawl up my cheeks. The memory of what we did in his office was so fresh, still crisp like the leaves that were now beginning to turn and fall outside of the window I would peer out of every now and then. It was when Jonas leaned over and pressed a kiss against that particular spot under my jaw and I squirmed while we were reading over a specific paragraph in my textbook because he so conveniently “forgot” his, my shoulder went up, unable to control my smile I peered up at Jonas.

Maverick was in my periphery over his shoulder, watching us with a scowl. He cleared his throat and Jonas pulled away. I was able to see him clearly but Jonas pulled my focus back to him. “Will you be watching the game on the student portal?”

I blinked at him, smile still on my face.Like I’d miss it, I wanted to say. I took my pen he stole from me on Wednesday and wrote #19 on the back of my hand.

Jonas grinned from ear to ear, eyes sparkling. It was the first time I’d seen him smile so broadly, every tooth showing. I could tell he had dental work done, but his smile wasn’t freakishly perfect like the twins. His incisors were a little large and pointy, giving him a predator-like look. I decided then and there I love his smile and I’d do anything to make it happen again.

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