“That depends on you.”
 
 EIGHTEEN
 
 STAR
 
 Being with Kellan makes me feel better, but I honestly don’t know what comes next. I’m sick to my stomach with worry. What if everyone blames me for bringing this psycho to our door.Literally.That’s why I’d asked Kellan to distract me earlier. I’m at the point where I know what needs to be done, but I’m scared to death to actually reveal everything.
 
 “What do you think? Ready to head back to the dorm? I can paint all day, but it feels like you’re running away from this. And that makes me worry for you.”
 
 My eyes flick to Kellan’s. The entire art class has abandoned their paintings. The class has been over for well over thirty minutes. “Um.”
 
 Kellan shakes his head and gives me a few more minutes by taking his paintbrushes over to the sink. Once he’s done cleaning them and his hands, he comes back to where I’ve been leaning against the wall watching him. He rests one forearm above my head and clasps my chin with a few fingers. He tips my face up to his, and stares steadily into my eyes. “No one is going to blame you. And I think we need to get to our friends so you can explain the situation with your stepbrother before it blows up. Am I wrong to think this is going to get bad?”
 
 Slowly, I shake my head, my lips curving downward.
 
 Kellan dips his head closer, and for several seconds, we’re still. Simply breathing each other’s breath. He skims the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip, and my gaze drops to his mouth. I want it on mine again.
 
 I need to know that my huge mess isn’t making him second-guess this thing between us. It’s kind of funny to think like that because I’m unsure what we’re doing. Kellan doesn’t tell me how he feels with words. But his actions—that’s something else altogether. His body tells me everything he doesn’t—or can’t—with words.
 
 Kellan’s mouth lowers to mine, and he catches my lip in his mouth and sucks gently before his tongue swipes over it once, then plunges into my mouth. He devours me, moaning as he slides his hand to my nape and readjusts the angle. On a ragged breath, he comes up for air, and pins his gaze on mine, our noses touching. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I swear it.”
 
 His solemn vow hits me right in the chest, warmth cascading throughout my body. Our green eyes connect. I know he means it. And if I ever had a question about his feelings for me, it’s gone in that instant. His lips crash over mine and with me pinned to the wall by his greedy kisses, his hands wander. He teases my nipples, then his fingers glide over my ribs and down to my waist before he grasps a butt cheek in each hand and firmly squeezes my ass. He groans, lifting me in his arms. My legs lock around his waist, but I suck in a nervous breath, having a moment’s panic when I don’t know what to do with my hands. “Kellan?”
 
 Between nips and licks, he growls, “My hair. Put them in my hair.”
 
 So I do, desire crashing over me as I thread my fingers through his wavy locks and tug his mouth back to mine. My heart beats so damn fast, I’m afraid it’s going to erupt from my chest.
 
 I suck in a breath as his erection nudges me between my legs. We’ve done a lot of fooling around, but this is the first time this kind of contact has happened, and I’m dying for it. I fervently wish that there wasn’t so much clothing between us. We grind together like two addicts chasing their high. I wouldn’t stop if an entire classroom of students walked in on us right now. I’d keep going and going because a rush of pleasurable feelings shoots and pulses through me. My swollen pussy throbs with every brush of his hard cock, and I can’t help but think what it would be like to feel Kellan moving inside me.
 
 I whimper, quickly losing control. I can’t remember ever feeling like this before. I want to tear our clothes off and crawl inside him. I want to be so deeply connected no one could ever tear us apart. At that thought, my chest shudders against his on my next breath.
 
 Kellan presses me hard to the wall so his hands can move. He’s got them all over my ass, and his fingertips brush along the seam of my jeans between my cheeks. His lips ghost over my jaw, then find my neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses where my pulse flutters like mad. He rocks against me, over and over until I know if he keeps it up, I’m going to come. I gasp out, my voice rough, “Don’t stop. Whatever you do, don’t stop doing exactly what you’re doing.” I moan as each thrust of his hips drives me higher.
 
 He nuzzles his lips at the side of my neck just below my ear, then sucks the lobe into his mouth. His breath in my ear sends a jolt straight down to my clit. Continuing to rub his dick on me, he whispers, “Like this?”
 
 My mouth falls slack as waves of heat slide through me. “Oh, God. Y-yes. Kel-Kellan.” It’s so intense, my eyes practically roll back in my head. “Kiss me.”
 
 He sucks my lip into his mouth before growling against my lips. “You’re so fuckin’ beautiful when you fall apart.” It makes my heart give a little jump when he pauses to look into my orgasm-dazed eyes.
 
 “Is someone still here?”
 
 “Shit.” Kellan clears his throat. “I’m here, Professor Zara. Just finishing up.”
 
 Her footfalls come closer. I was kinda hoping she’d leave without checking on Kellan, but that’s not what’s happening.
 
 He presses a firm kiss to my lips before we unwind our entangled limbs while he sets me down. He blows out a hard breath, giving me a look that can only be described ascrazy eyesas he pushes a hand to his hard-on. “Fuck.”
 
 I stifle a giggle, and motion that he should grab his messenger bag that’s sitting on the floor. He grabs it and slings it over his head, the bag landing in front of the monster dick trying to escape from his pants just as his prof makes her way past Ryleigh’s paintings and comes into view.
 
 “Sorry, I didn’t know you had anyone with you.”
 
 I give her a little wave. “I finally made Kellan show me what’s been keeping him so busy. I’m his friend, Star.”
 
 “Ah.” She nods. “The muse.” She gives a little wink and pivots on her heel. “Carry on, Kellan. And turn off the lights when you’re done.”
 
 We wait until we hear the slam of the door as it closes, then promptly burst into laughter.
 
 “That was hysterical. Is she always this laid back?” I wrinkle my nose, laughing some more as I wipe tears from my eyes.