A strange heaviness takes root in the center of my chest. Something aches within, lessened only when she pulls away to look in my eyes.
She pushes hair off my forehead and smiles, and the ache intensifies. It turns into something bold and bright and completely alarming.
I swallow, clearing my throat in an attempt to shove it away. Now isn’t the goddamn time.
“Do you feel it leaking out of me?” she asks, glancing at where we’re still connected. My mostly soft cock stirs at the sensation, and she giggles.
“Want me to clean you up?”
Her eyes widen. “I don’t think I can withstand another orgasm already.”
I frown, confusion lacing my brow, and then realize what she thinks I mean. Snorting, I shake my head, scooping her into my arms and off the bed toward the bathroom. “No, silly, I meant with soap and water. You have class in the morning, so we should get you fixed up and back in the bed.”
She’s oddly quiet and compliant as I ensure we’re squeaky clean before tucking her back under my covers. I get a glass of ice water and wait for her to drink, watching for any signs of her mind wandering while keeping an eye on my own mental well-being.
Not even my earlier nightmare feels like it’s trying to make itself known anymore, as if displaced completely by her mere existence.
Sighing, Elle rolls onto her side, folding her hands beneath her head on the pillow. She watches me with soft eyes as I slip back in beside her, yanking her to me.
“So how many languages do you speak?”
“Fluently? Just English and French. Un pequeño español. Oh, and Latin, but that one’s mostly just to impress my students.”
“Does it work?”
“Not yet it hasn’t.” I arch an eyebrow at her. “Unless…”
She shakes her head.
Blowing out a breath, I shrug. “Ah, well, I suppose I’ll have to find something else that gets you going. I can bake a little. Am pretty good at finding star patterns with my naked eye. An excellent director.”
“You had me at baking.”
We fall into silence again, this time slightly more tense than the last. I stroke my thumb over her shoulder absently, wondering what she’s thinking about—if she has regrets or worries about how our relationship might affect her schooling.
For some reason, it’s never really occurred to me to ask. I just assumed she didn’t mind either way, since she was initially the aggressor anyway, but maybe?—
“I’ve never done that with anyone else,” she says after a while. “Not used a condom, I mean.”
“I figured.”
Indignant, she pokes at my chest, scoffing. “Hey, don’t act like I’m so predictable.”
Smirking, I shake my head. “It’s not about predictability. I just feel like I see you.” Lifting her chin with my thumb, I cock an eyebrow. “You know? Whatever this connection is?—”
She nods, snuggling against me. “Yeah. I feel it too.”
It doesn’t take long for her to fall asleep, her breathing growing deep as it brushes across my abs. Leaning over, I blow out the few remaining candles, sliding lower in the bed and hooking my chin over the top of her head.
Quincy’s words haunt me the longer I stare into the dark room. If this connection between Elle and I is what I think it is, maybe her sister is right.
44
ELLE
When my alarmgoes off in the morning, I slap my hand onto the nightstand, pressing my fingers against my phone screen until the irritating beeping ceases. Rolling over, I stretch my arms and legs, expecting to feel Sutton still in the bed with me but instead finding only cool sheets.
This was the first full night we’ve spent together without me returning to my dorm, so I can’t say I’m not a little disappointed to be waking up without him. Still, it’s not like we set any expectations when we decided to cross boundaries, so I suppose the tiny pinprick of jealousy I feel over him not waiting for me is unwarranted.
