Ceaseless (Existence Trilogy #3)(18)

I hadn’t been prepared for this question just yet. I’d wanted to ease her into coming to my practice with me, and letting Miranda come with Gee later.

“Would you be against riding with me to practice and staying the entire evening with me?”

She didn’t respond right away. I watched as a series of emotions crossed her face. “Um, well. What about Miranda and Gee? Would they be coming early too?”

I shook my head, “No, they’d come a little later.”

I wanted her without her posse.

“Oh,” she replied and bit her bottom lip several times before looking back up at me. “Would it be okay if I just came with them? Miranda is looking forward to this and Gee still makes her nervous. Plus while you’re warming up I’ll be all alone.”

I tried hard not to let the disappointment show on my face. “That’s fine, Pagan. Whatever makes you feel comfortable.” Reminding myself that this was going to take time was difficult. I wanted to get back what we had. But to Pagan I was still a guy she’d just met. One she wasn’t sure she trusted.

“Okay, thank you,” she replied and began pulling more papers out of her book bag. I’d forgotten we were here to catch me up on what I missed in class. “Like I said, I took notes but I probably took more than necessary. You can look over them and write down the highlights. I’m going to go find a copier and make you a copy of the syllabus. Oh, and I’ll look for the book too.” She stood up and headed for the stairs. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. One day, I’d have her back.

Chapter Nine

Pagan

Finding the copier was easier than I’d thought. Finding Ethan Frome was also a breeze. Seven minutes later I was headed back upstairs to the little secluded hideaway with Dank. I had used finding the copier and book as an excuse to get away from him so I could take a deep breath and gather my thoughts. He was definitely interested in me. I couldn’t deny that now. I was also more than positive he’d picked this area for more than study purposes and it excited me and scared me all at once.

Dank was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on the table and crossed at the ankles. Something about that pose was oddly familiar. This was the second time I’d felt like I had seen him doing something similar before. Was I dreaming about him? Was that it?

“That was fast,” Dank drawled as he turned his head and his blue eyes met mine.

I placed the book in front of him and walked back over to my empty chair. “Here you go,” I handed him the syllabus. “You are all set. Did you look over my notes?” I asked to make small talk.

Dank let his legs drop back down to the floor and he leaned forward on the table, “Yeah. I got what I needed. Thank you for helping me get caught up. I shouldn’t have missed this morning.”

When he dropped his voice like that I wanted to fan myself. He was already lethally sexy. He didn’t have to make his voice go all husky and deep. It made the sexy worse.

“I’m glad you’re coming Friday night,” he said leaning closer to me. I felt myself leaning toward him, unable to stop the pull.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I replied. My voice sounded breathless. Just great. I sounded as affected as I felt.

Dank pushed his chair back and stood up. I watched as he walked over toward me then held out his hand to me. I knew what he wanted and I wanted it too. If I was going to get a re-enactment of what happened yesterday by the tree, then I was very okay with this.

Dank pulled me up and wrapped my hand back behind his neck. I threaded my fingers through his hair and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I liked seeing how my touch affected him like that. Slipping my other hand up his arm and around his neck I watched his face, fascinated by the eagerness evident in the tight way he held his mouth and the gleam in his eyes.

I decided I wouldn’t wait for him this time. I pulled him to me and captured his mouth with mine, and took the liberty of licking his bottom lip. It was so full and soft looking that I’d wanted a taste of it since the first time I’d seen him.

Dank’s hands slid up my ribs until they rested just below the underside of my bra. As far as knowing about boys, I was pretty naive. Jay and I had done some kissing and rubbing but nothing that exciting. I was more than positive that if Dank touched my br**sts, I would burst into flames. There was no way he wouldn’t notice my rapid breathing. I was almost embarrassed by my reaction to his touch, but the soft appreciative growls coming from his chest as he tasted my lips and my skin, assured me he was enjoying this just as much as I was.

“Please ride with me Friday night,” Dank begged as he continued kissing down my neck and along my collarbone. This was an unfair request. He got me all hot and bothered then begged me. How was a girl supposed to think clearly?

“I can’t. Miranda needs me,” I replied my heart slamming against my chest. His mouth hovered over the low neckline of my shirt and his warm breath tickled the sensitive skin there. I was almost at the point of begging when his hands slid down and cupped my butt and picked me up and sat me on the table behind me. Dank stepped between my legs and put his hands back on my waistline.

“It’s probably for the best,” he finally said as his mouth lowered to cover mine again. I wanted to know what he meant by that but his tongue was inside my mouth doing things to me I’d never had done before. I pulled his body closer to mine and kissed him back with all the excitement and need he was provoking in me.