Co-Ed(21)

“It is now,” he said gruffly, moving his massive hands along my tight muscles as if he was studying how to be a massage therapist and not… Wait. What was his major? I frowned.

“What’s your major?”

“Business Marketing and Management with a double minor in Human Anatomy and Psychology.

I groaned. “Show off.”

His laugh was deep, rich. It felt real, a comforting blanket you wrap around yourself on a cold fall day. “Yeah well, I like to understand how both the mind and body work, and I know business is just a smart major to have.”

I nodded. “That’s… great.”

His hands moved slower this time. I looked around the library. The lights were lower than before, the sun gone, and only a handful of students scattered about. I had finally relaxed a little when the rain started pouring outside.

Ugh! I’ll have to walk in that.

Thunder sounded.

And just like that…

The electricity flickered and went off.

I gripped the table with my hands while Knox stopped massaging and trailed his hand down my arm then faced me. “Hey, you okay?”

“Uh, yes,” I said in a shaky voice. “I’m just not a huge fan of the dark.”

“And here you seem so fearless to me,” he whispered, closer than before. I could almost feel his lips on mine.

What was happening?

I could barely see the outline of his face.

He traced a finger down my jaw and whispered, “Good job today.”

“Thanks.”

Talk about crossing a line.

“We can meet a few times a week to keep you fresh, all right?”

Wait, was he leaving me?

I quickly grabbed him by the forearm.

He covered my hand with his. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh!” Suddenly embarrassed, I tried to pull back. “I, um, thought you were leaving me.”

“Is that really how you see me? The guy who abandons innocent girls in the dark?”

“What makes you think I’m innocent?” I fired back stupidly.

He ran a knuckle down the side of my cheek then very casually drifted lower to my chest near my breast.

I shivered.

“That. Right there.”

“Maybe I’m cold.”

“Or innocent.”

I gritted my teeth. “Let’s just go with cold and a bit terrified of dark shapes attacking me and dragging me into the creepy basement.”

“Not so creepy when you’re down there making out,” he said with a chuckle.

I shivered and wrapped my arms around my middle. “How long do you think the lights will be out?”

“Who knows?” I could feel him standing next to me then the flashlight of his cell was on as he packed both of us up and held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

“Go?” I repeated slowly. “Go where?”

“Back to the dorm. I’ll drive.”

“That’s okay. I can—”

“Shawn, you live in the exact, same suite as me. Do you really think I’m that much of a jackass that I’d watch you walk in the cold rain while I speed past you?”

I didn’t answer. Because I wasn’t sure what type of guy he was. I still couldn’t figure it out. He was both tender and aggressive, dangerous and deep. I was completely out of my element, and it was starting to mess with my logic.

Because logically speaking, he was bad news.

But did a guy who was bad news tutor someone out of the goodness of his heart?

“Okay.” I put on my hoodie, grabbed my bag, and followed him out of the library.

He ran ahead of me. Lights flickered from a beautiful silver Mercedes coupe that probably cost more than my entire college education.

Of course he couldn’t be normal and just own a bike.

Or an old Toyota.

No, he had to have a Mercedes.

Naturally.

He opened the door for me.

I slid across light brown leather and tried not to be the crazy person who feels all the soft edges just to see if the stitching’s hand sewn.

He got in, turned on my seat warmer, and the engine roared to life.

The car even felt expensive.

It smelled like him.

My posture was stiff as he peeled out of the parking lot and made a turn in the opposite direction of our dorm.

“Um…” I pointed. “…weren’t you supposed to take a left?”

“Yes, backseat driver, I was. But I’m starving.”

“And now I’m your prisoner?”

He just grinned and said, “I’ll give you fries.”

My stomach chose that exact moment to growl with determination, since I clearly wasn’t speaking up about my favorite food group.

“Athletes need to carb up. Think of it as a way to take your mind off the dark, stormy night and keep it on more important things.”

“Like high-calorie foods with ketchup?”

“Like…” He licked his lips and pulled into Wendy’s. “…maybe not hating your suite-mates as much as you could or should.”

“Ha.” I suppressed a laugh. “Easier said than done since my suite-mates like to kiss anything with a pulse.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know Edna tips very well.”