Page 3 of Bad Boy Billionaire Protector

I cleared my throat and tried to gather my thoughts.Get it together, Amber!

“I’m terribly sorry I crashed into you like that. I feel like I should make it up to you. Um, can I take you out for some coffee for a study break?”

His smile widened into a full beam. I almost melted. “I would love to, Amber.”

We packed up my books and bag. I wasn’t sure if I would get much studying done tonight, so I checked out my books.

We talked all the way across the campus from the library to the local coffee shop. I ordered us both drinks and we sat and continued to talk about anything and everything. He was so easy to talk to. I found out that he grew up in San Diego, living in a house on the beach, which sounded wonderful. He loved to surf. He was twenty-four and had a younger sister starting law school. I could tell they were close. It sounded like he didn’t get along all that well with his parents. But he kept those details to himself and I didn’t pry. He seemed well-traveled and mentioned that his family visited Greece regularly. I told him I had an older brother who was married and that I was originally from Boston.

“What are you studying, Christos?”

“I’m doing my post grad in Classical Studies”.

“Oh wow! That’s what my…um, I knew someone who was studying that.”

“Really? That’s cool. What about you?”

“Me? I’m repeating my junior year. English Literature.”

“I see. If you don’t mind me asking, why are you repeating?”

“I had a pretty tough year last year. Someone really close to me died.”

He nodded empathetically. “I’m sorry you lost someone you obviously cared for very much.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Do you want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.”

“Uh, no, not really. But thanks anyway.”

He put his hand over mine and smiled at me. I looked down at our two hands on the table. His were tanned and strong looking against my smaller, more delicate one. I liked the way he had covered mine so confidently but with a gentle touch. Then I looked up into his eyes. They had an intensity about them that hadn’t been there before. They were smoldering. His lips had gone a deep red and he looked as though he wanted to kiss me. His tongue darted out and licked his bottom lip.

My eyes trailed between his eyes and his lips. The atmosphere had changed around us, and it was as though there was no one else in the world but us. It was the strangest feeling ever.

Breaking the spell, he moved his hand away. My heart was beating hard in my chest. I didn’t know what was going on but something was happening between us.

We finished our coffees and he offered to walk me to my dorm. We talked all the way there, learning about each other as we went. We swapped phone numbers on the way.

“Well, this is me. My dorm is up there.” I pointed to the third room along on the second floor.

“Will you manage up the stairs with all these books?”

“I might need some help.”

We walked up the stairs and arrived outside my door. I opened my door and invited him in.

“No, I’d better head back. But I’m so glad I bumped into you, Miss Valentine.”

We both chuckled. It had been a lovely evening. I checked my watch. It was past two in the morning. I’d completely lost track of time.

“Thank you for helping me back here with all these books.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, handing them to me. I put them inside the room and came back out to say goodnight.

We made eye contact and something in the way he looked at me prevented me from looking away. We just stared at each other in suspended time. Then he blinked and slowly moved closer to me. I inhaled sharply and held my breath. My eyes darted to his lips and back to his eyes. He licked his bottom lip and I couldn’t help but copy him. My tongue darted out, wetting my lip in anticipation. Of being closer to him. Of tasting him.

This time I moved closer to him and between us we closed the gap. Time was still suspended, blood rushing in my ears as he took both hands to gently brushed my hair away from my face and cradle my head. His hands were so large, I felt surrounded by his touch. I leaned into his fingers, briefly closing my eyes as I melted into his touch. Then slowly opening my eyes, I kept my gaze on his beautiful blue eyes, which were boring deep inside me, full of desire. His hand felt hot on my face.

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