The entire population of Midnight Hall lingered outside, beneath the blinding red lights of the fire engine. The shrill alarm still blared inside the old building, but it was easy to ignore all the way out here. My anxious gaze scanned for that familiar head of curls…there. My bond and her roommate stood huddled together at the back of the crowd, close to the wall of the neighboring dorm.
Ez moved before me, eager to check over the redhead whose eyes narrowed at his approach. It was a glare of displeasure, and one I mirrored as I watched Eryn standing there in a little pair of sleep shorts, some slippers, and my fucking hoodie. What had we just discussed? I stalked over to her, my anger only growing as realization dawned on her face. She was caught.
“I told you to put something else on.” I stopped in front of her, stepping so close she had to crane her neck to look at me. “Your fucking lips are blue.”
I shrugged off my own jacket and threw it around her shoulders. Grabbing one hand, I directed it through a sleeve. Her other hand, however, was covering her eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked when I couldn’t pry her fingers off her face.
“I’m avoiding eye contact.”
“I can see that.” I tried again, but I didn’t want to hurt her and gave up. “Why?”
“Because you’re yelling at me, and I’m tired of seeing it.”
Ezra’s laugh turned into a subtle cough beside me. I glared at him. He had his arms tightly wrapped around Rani, his hands vigorously rubbing warmth into her back over the blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders. The scowl on his face told me he was just as upset at the redhead’s lack of survival instincts. Instincts she shared with my bond.
I turned back to my own little spitfire. “You can still hear me.”
She shrugged, not moving that hand. “Next time, I’ll wear headphones.”
Smart-ass. There wasn’t going to be a next time. “I wouldn’t yell if you took better care of yourself.” Did she not realize the restraint it took to see her make the same unhealthy choices andnot lock her away in my room until she learned how to properly take care of herself? “I’m sorry,” I whispered, gently tugging on her hand again. “Please open your eyes. I’ll try to do better if you promise to stop pretending you’re immune to the elements.”
Her answering laugh was followed by the reveal of the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen. It was a punch to the gut, one I welcomed.
“Hi,” she whispered shyly.
I shot her a gentle grin and helped her now free arm through the other sleeve just in time for the students to start making their way back inside. We still needed to figure out what had triggered the alarm, both the one to the dorm and the general one that caused the evacuation. But first, I needed to escort my bond back to her room.
“Lending me your body heat during a mild campus emergency does not mean you now get to tuck me into bed, you ass!”
Rani tried to speed walk ahead of my cousin, but he easily kept up with her.
“That part isn’t up for discussion, babe. Would you prefer your arms inside or out of the blanket?”
My body shook with suppressed laughter as Eryn and I watched from a safe distance. Rani spun around, righteous fury fueling her every move. She shoved Ez and screeched when he trapped her hands, pulled her close, and dipped down to throw her over his shoulder—blanket and all.
“Put me down, you weird fetish bastard!” Another shriek. “You’re not going within five feet of my bed!”
“These delusions of yours worry me,” Ez tsked, unbothered by her violent squirming. “We can discuss them once I’m sure this ass is nice and toasty and tucked in the bed that I’m now considering climbing into with you.”
Their bickering carried on across the courtyard. We followed but stayed moving at a casual pace so they could work things outbefore we arrived at the room. We were the only ones left in the lobby besides the last group of students waiting for the elevators. Eryn slid my jacket off and handed it to me with a quiet “thanks.”
She moved to join the last stragglers of students, and I caved, not ready to let her go. I tossed the jacket on a random couch and ushered my confused bond into the stairwell. Crowding her against the far wall, we were tucked to the side of the stairs, invisible from the door. I listened anyway. When no footsteps sounded from above, I looked down and was greeted with an adorable frown.
“What are you doing?”
“We didn’t finish our conversation,” I told her. “When I see you next time, do you promise to wear something heavier than my hoodie?” I plucked at the offending item of clothing in question.
She huffed, but it was paired with a shy smile. “I guess I should probably return it to you anyway.”
That would solve the problem, but when she reached for the bottom of the cotton and started lifting, I shook my head and pressed her further into the wall. Not even an inch separated us as I pinned her arms to her sides with my palms flat against the concrete.
“Keep it. It looks better on you.”
That fucking blush.
I licked my lips at the arousal I saw in her gaze before she ducked her head. I couldn’t take it. I promised myself I’d wait for her to instigate anything, but if I didn’t taste her right now, I wouldn’t make it through the night. I used a finger to gently lift her chin. Her eyes flicked back and forth, taking in the scowl I knew I wore. I didn’t like losing control.
