Scared of Beautiful (Scared #1)(5)
“What are you up to?” I ask, as casually as I can muster.
“Just need to grab a few books,” she answers, chewing on her bottom lip nervously, though her eyes stay focused and determined. Her lips may be her only tell.
“Mind if I tag along? I have no idea where to look for what I need. Little help please?” I cringe inwardly, preparing for the shutdown that she’s about to hand me, and my face morphs into obvious shock when she answers with a casual shrug of her shoulders.
“Sure,” she replies.
We make our way past the eight librarians that occupy the enormous reference desk and situate ourselves at one of the study spaces towards the back. She lays her book bag down and looks towards me. “So, what do you need?”
An image flashes through my mind of Maia, laying flat on her back right here on this table, with me running my hands up her thighs. I shake the daydream away, pulling my face at how random it was. And I look like a real idiot because Maia is staring at me expectantly, waiting for my response. Thank heavens I chose to wear my straight leg jeans and Calvin Kleins instead of boxer shorts. Without those constraints, I wondered how the hell I would explain my instinctive physical reaction to her question. “Um, I, yeah I have to look up the list on library catalogue.”
“Okay.” She offers me a small smile and we walk over to the library’s PC station to get started.
Maia obviously spends way too much time in here. I can tell by the way she skillfully attacks the computer to get my book lists, and how she seems to know their exact locations in each aisle and section without reading the signs above the shelves. I am especially grateful when the books I need are lower, because when she bends, the top of her black G-string makes an appearance ever so slightly above the elastic of her yoga pants. Not to mention that her ass looks amazing in those pants in the first place. Calvin Klein, I really owe you for all your support.
The last book I need is Technology in Mechanical Engineering, and is on one of the higher shelves. I offer to reach for it, but she ignores me. “I need to make sure it’s the right one,” she responds, before using the wide library shelves as a ladder to climb up and locate the book.
“Be careful,” I warn, but my lips curl into a grin as I enjoy the view. Her tank rides up slightly to reveal the smooth skin of her lower back. Just as she is about to come down, book in hand, she loses her footing and teeters unsteadily on the shelf. Arms outstretched, I steady her just before she missteps enough for her ass to hit the deck. For the briefest of moments she leans back into me. Her hair smells like cinnamon and sandalwood, her skin like cocoa butter. Not even Calvin Klein can protect my honor when she’s this close to me.
And in no more than two seconds flat she’s out of my arms, off the shelf, and walking towards her book bag. I lean down to retrieve my stack of books and make my way to the table. As I arrive, she hurriedly packs up her shit, says goodbye and walks straight out the door. And I wonder two things. Firstly, what did I just say about women, and secondly, what the f-uck just happened?
Chapter 3
Maia
As I hightail it out of the library and get as far away as I can from Jackson, one thought keeps flying through my mind. What the hell just happened? As I’m absconding from the library back to my dorm room, my phone buzzes incessantly in my hand. I glance down in the middle of my purposeful strut to see the familiar flashing MOM across the screen. I can’t deal with her right now. Hell, I can’t deal with her anytime. But especially not now. My thoughts revert back to the library and Jackson. What the hell? I made the decision before coming here that I was emotionally unavailable. Who am I kidding? I’m an emotional hot mess. Well, at least I was until I came to Brown. But still, I found myself in the library, purposefully finding the editions of his books that were on the bottom rows, showing off what I consider to be my finer assets. I had to resist every urge to wrap my hands around his strong arms when he caught my fall. And then I made everything awkward by skating out of there like my ass was on fire.
I shove my dorm room door open, making a mental note to call my mother tomorrow, and fling my book bag onto the bed. Jade peeks her head over a monster of a textbook and raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Everything okay, princess?” She sounds bored saying it, but I know by that her indifference isn’t anything rude; it just is what it is.
“Fine.” I offer her my best plastic grin and grab my toiletries and robe.
“I’ll be out tonight, won’t be home till late,” she reports as I fumble for my flip flops in the walk in closet.
“Oh?” I reply. My curiosity piques, wondering whether she’s going out with Jackson.
“Yeah, I have a date. A hot one.” She shoots me a sinful grin, promising that her night is going to include much more than a friendly chat over dinner and a glass of wine.
“Anyone I know?” I am clearly fishing for an answer, and Jade can definitely tell because her bored expression rapidly changes.
“I don’t think so, probably because you refuse to interact with anyone except me. I can’t imagine how that’s possible. Unless you’re assuming you know who it is,” she deadpans.
“Funny,” I retort, throwing my loofah sponge at her head. “I thought you might be taking Jackson out to show him the nightlife?” And now I’m so obviously prying that I may as well just come out and say it.