“Why not?” I whisper, digging my fingers into his back, trying to get myself as close to his body as I can.
“I can’t do that to him,” he grits out. “I fucking can’t. I need to talk to him first. I need to tell him.”
I groan in frustration and lay my forehead against his chest. Suddenly he lays me back on the bed and starts lifting up my maxi skirt.
“Arrow?”
“Shhh,” he soothes, running his hands up my thighs and pulling down my white lace panties. I gulp in air as he spreads my legs wide, making a sound of masculine appreciation deep in his throat.
“Beautiful,” he says in a soft, husky tone, then his mouth is on me, licking gently. I arch off the bed as he pays attention to my clit, gripping the sheets and slamming my head back into the pillow.
“Arrow, holy shit,” I whisper, looking down to see his head between my thighs, the sight so erotic that a whimper escapes my lips. His large hands are on my thighs, spreading me to him, his head slightly bobbing as he worships me with his talented mouth. The orgasm creeps up on me, hitting me with full force. I take the pillow next to me and cover my face so no one can hear me scream. Arrow keeps at it, sucking my clit until he wrings every possible cry from me, each wave of pleasure making my thighs tremble and my eyes roll back into my head. I move the pillow away from my face and squirm silently, letting him know I’ve had enough. It’s too much; it’s too sensitive. He raises his head and looks at me with a smug, satisfied look.
“That tongue should come with a warning,” I pant out.
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, then kisses the inside of my thigh, once. I hear Rake call out my name, and I quickly jump out of bed on shaky legs. Arrow stands and grimaces, adjusting himself, his arousal straining through his jeans. I lick my lips, wishing nothing more than I could take care of that big problem for him.
“Later,” he says, staring at me, promise in his eyes.
I pick up my bag from the floor, then realize that I’m not wearing any panties. “Where are my panties?”
He looks to the ground, picks them up and lifts them in front of him. Grinning, he hands them over to me, but not before smelling them first.
“Weirdo,” I say as I take them from his hands, then slide them on. “When will I see you next?”
He rubs the back of his neck, considering. “I’ll talk with Rake tomorrow, then come and see you afterward.”
I swallow hard. “Okay.”
I close the space between us and press a sweet kiss to his lips, unable to stop myself from running my hand over the bulge in his jeans. “You better not use anyone else to relieve this.”
His eyes darken. “I’m going for a cold shower as soon as you leave.”
“Is that your promise to not screw around with anyone else until we sort out whatever this is between us?” I ask boldly, my eyes not leaving his.
He tilts his head slightly, which I take as agreement. Another quick kiss and I walk out of the room, where Rake is waiting for me in front of his bike.
“You know,” I tell my brother, “maybe it’s time I got my own bike.”
His smile is so wide that I can’t help but smile with him.
“I’ll teach you how to ride, then I’ll happily buy you a bike,” he says, handing me a helmet.
“A hot-pink bike?”
He laughs at that. “If that’s what you want.”
I get on the back of his bike, still smiling.
Life is looking up.
* * *
I was having the worst day ever.
After a long and tiring day of observations at the zoo, I wait at the bus stop. I finished classes early and didn’t bother to message Rake because it was just easier to take the bus than hassle someone for a ride.
“Hey, Anna,” Damien calls out, coming up to stand next to me.
“Hey, Damien,” I say, smiling. “How was your day? I saw you talking with some of the students and didn’t want to interrupt.”
He grins. “That would have been a welcome interruption considering I was on babysitting duty all day.”
“Got stuck showing around the freshmen, huh?” I tease.
He puts his hands in his pockets. “Something like that. Do you need a ride home? I’m parked just over there,” he says, nodding his head to the student parking lot to the right.
I look to his car and consider it. “Thanks, but it’s all right. I live close by.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, frowning. “I honestly don’t mind.”
He is sweet, Damien. We talk in class sometimes, usually about the work we were doing, nothing personal. But like I said, he is sweet, and I didn’t need Rake or Arrow scaring the shit out of him.
“I’m good,” I say as the bus arrives. “I’ll see you around.”
I get on the bus before he can protest.
Ten minutes later, as soon as I step off, it starts pouring.
Just my luck.
Dripping wet and moody, I walk from the stop to my apartment, which takes a couple of minutes. As I walk to my front door, dying for a hot shower, I notice something that makes me stop in my tracks.
The door is open.
What the hell?
Taking two steps backward, I pull out my phone and walk to the parking lot, where there would be people around. I dial Rake.
“Anna?”
“Hey, Rake, can you come to my apartment, please?”
He’s silent for a second. “Talk to me, Anna.”