“Winter. You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve seen in a very long time.” He spoke into my ear, his voice clear over the pounding beat of the music. “My evening is certainly looking up, now that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you.” He spun me around. “Dance with me?”
We alternated between dancing and small talk, Kinslee never straying far from my side, which I really appreciated. Although, in actuality, we barely knew each other, I’d confided in her about how out of depth I felt, starting over in a completely new place and being the new girl when everyone else knew each other. She’d promised to look out for me, and with her by my side, I felt less alone. She seemed to be in her element, flirting and laughing with James’ friends, dancing up a storm, her curvy body swaying to the music.
All the while, I could feel the stares of the Four burning into me, and although I tried my hardest to ignore it, I grew increasingly uncomfortable. James noticed, his sharp gaze flicking from me to the sofa, and he leaned closer, pulling my body into his. “You wanna get out of here?”
Did I? I wasn’t in the habit of one-night stands, but…fuck, yes.
“What do you propose?” I stared at him, one eyebrow raised.
“My apartment is just around the corner. Why don’t you come with me?”
I glanced towards Kinslee, and she mouthed go to me. Her okay gave me the reassurance I needed, and I smiled up at him.
“Okay.”
“Good. Meet me outside the front door.”
He nodded and was slipping away through the crowds before I had a chance to say anything else. After confirming with Kinslee that James was trustworthy and where I was going, and receiving an enthusiastic response of “he’s hot and popular, go and fuck his brains out,” I headed in the opposite direction to find the bathroom before I left.
I needed someone, and James wanted me. I needed to feel something for one night, to fill the void inside me that had been there ever since the accident had happened. My dad was gone, I was in a new place, completely out of my depth, and I wanted to have fun and just forget. Pretend I was a normal university student, with a normal life.
Mind made up, I exited the bathroom, only to bump into a hard body.
Awareness trickled up my spine.
Goosebumps broke out all over me.
I suddenly found it hard to breathe.
Caiden.
Was.
Here.
Have you ever been so aware of someone that your whole being reacts to them? Like you can’t even control it?
His presence surrounded me as his body pressed against mine. “What are you doing…” I whispered, or I might have only thought the words, because he didn’t respond. He roughly grasped my chin in his hand, and his touch sent shock waves ricocheting through me.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
His voice.
Angry, raspy, and oh-so-sexy.
My body arched towards his, unknowing, uncaring that he was basically telling me to leave. Helpless, I let out a small whimper as his thumb caressed my chin, the touch at odds with his hostile posture.
“Fuck,” he gritted out, and I felt his lips hover over mine, his hot breath skating over my skin, before he tore himself away, gone, as if he’d never been there.
Dazed, I staggered back against the hallway wall, my legs weak, my breath coming in shuddering gasps. What was that? And why did I have such an extreme reaction to someone I’d never met before? Someone who hated me on sight?
Concentrating on breathing slowly in and out, I willed my racing heart to slow. What could I have done to offend him? And how could I have offended someone I’d never laid eyes on in person, before tonight?
So many questions, and no answers.
Straightening up, I hardened my resolve. Fuck him, whoever he thought he was. Nothing was going to detract me from my reason for being here. If I made a few enemies along the way, it would be worth the price. I needed answers, and I wasn’t about to let anyone get in the way of that.
I strode through the house and out of the door before I could change my mind. James was there, leaning against the wall, his dimples popping out as he caught sight of me and smiled.
“Ready?”
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
He took my hand, and we began walking across the grass and out onto the quiet street. As we walked, he peppered me with questions.
“I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you a first year?”
“No. I just transferred here; I’m going into my second year.”
He grinned, steering me down a pathway towards a large mansion house, Regency style with white columns and large windows. “Same as me. What’s your degree in? I’m doing Accounting and Business Management.”
“Business and Marketing Management.”
“We’ll probably have some lectures together. If you need a study partner, I’m your man.” He gave me another huge grin, and I couldn’t help smiling back.
“Somehow I don’t think there would be much studying involved.”
“True.” He laughed, leading me up the mansion steps and inserting a key into the lock. “This way. I’m on the next floor. Where are you living?”
I trailed behind him up the wide staircase to a landing area, where he stopped in front of a door and inserted another key. “I’m in the apartments next to the campus. Hardwicke House?”
“Oh, yeah. Great location. I was in Hawling House last year. Decent apartments, if a bit small.”
We entered his apartment, all high ceilings and classic, clearly expensive furnishings. Kinslee had been right. This college really was exclusive—from everything I’d seen so far, the whole place practically dripped money.
I tugged my hand out of James’ grip and reached down to slip my shoes off. When I straightened up, he was staring at me hungrily.
He leaned forwards and pressed his lips to mine. I wound my arms around his neck, kissing him back. His kisses didn’t set me alight, but it felt good. Good to be wrapped in someone’s arms, forgetting everything, filling the emptiness inside me.
He broke the kiss but kept hold of me, walking us backwards into his bedroom. “Is this okay for you?”
“Yes.” I shut off my brain, allowing myself only to think about now, this moment, and how good it felt. I’d become an expert in compartmentalising my thoughts and feelings since my dad had passed away, and I locked everything away to be dealt with another time.
We fell onto the bed, losing our clothes along the way. He kissed me with more urgency, until we were both breathless and he was rolling a condom over his hardness, then thrusting inside me.
All too soon, it was over.
“Was that good for you?” He rolled off me, panting.
“Yeah.” I wasn’t lying—well…not really. I hadn’t orgasmed, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t had fun.
“Stay as long as you like, babe.” He swung himself out of the bed and disappeared out of the door.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’d slept with him, it had filled the void for a short time, but I had no interest in taking things any further. I climbed out of the bed and gathered up my discarded clothes, pulling them back on as quickly as I could.
He re-entered the room, bare-chested, a pair of pyjama bottoms slung low on his hips. “Leaving already?”