Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Does he want to have sex today? Now?? Here??? It sounds illicit and raunchy, but nerves prick my neck in slight alarm. We’re on campus. What if a librarian finds us screwing against the shelves? I can’t risk my education after I worked so hard for it.
I try not to jump to conclusions and play it cool. “You about to fuck me, Cobalt boy?” I ask, a little raspy, because I do want him to fuck me.
Just not here.
Ben has an elbow on the shelf, his hand to his mouth as he contemplates the situation, as he studies my body. “I’m not taking you in the library, Fisher.”
That was hot. Especially when his lips edge upward, like he knows lust is coursing through me. A rejection shouldn’t even sound that fucking sexy. After I mentally detour around the attraction, relief comes in soothing waves again. Ben and I are on the same page. Thank God.
“It’s too public for you?” I’m guessing.
“We get caught, you get kicked out of school, so yeah.” He is worried about what would happen to me. My lungs keep swelling.
Breathing in this heady feeling, I rotate to the books.
“Shit,” I say, my shoulders falling.
“What?” He follows my gaze to the literal highest shelf. Where Metamorphoses is situated.
“It had to be a thousand feet above me,” I mutter, about to search for a stepstool when Ben snags the book without any trouble. He barely even had to reach. He places the hardback in my hands, and I wish this small act of kindness wouldn’t crush me like I’m being bulldozed by a love truck. It’s one thing to openly acknowledge that we want to fuck each other, another to openly have feelings for someone who made it clear he won’t be around for long.
I look away.
He hunches over, his hands on his thighs, so we’re eye-level. I’m avoiding him.
“Fisher.”
“Do you hear that?” I swallow, peering behind me, acting interested in a dusty corner.
“Petit oiseau.”
I chew on the irrepressible smile. What has this guy done to me?
“Friend.”
I turn back to Ben.
He takes the absolute deepest breath, then he pushes my bangs up with his warm hand. Staring at what I’m sure is a grimace. His lips inch up and up. “Bel oiseau.” He translates, “Beautiful bird.”
My heart enlarges. “I think that’s you.” I’m lost within the light of his eyes for a moment. “Not a black sheep.”
“No?”
“No. Sadly we aren’t the same breed after all, Friend.” My mouth pinches in a smile though, totally okay with this realization. “You’re the bluebird in the lion’s den. That’s likely what you’ve always been.”
He seems overwhelmed with how I view him.
Don’t leave me. “I want you to stay,” I say through the lump rising in my throat.
“I want to stay,” he says so deeply, as if the yearning is even more torturous for him than for me. I don’t understand how it could be. He’s choosing to ditch New York for the woods.
“Then stay.”
He shakes his head once, pain all over his face. “I can’t.”
“What’d you buy—real estate you can’t sell?” I ask.
“I just can’t, Harriet.” It is physically hurting him to talk about this, so I stop prodding. He never poked me until I bled, and I recoil at the notion of doing that to Ben.
He stands, bringing me into his chest in a strong, affectionate hug. I hug him back just as tightly, and I press my cheek to his body, hearing the pounding thump, thump, thump of his heartbeat. It begins to slow. He begins to calm, and he says, “I’m going to be here for your birthday. I promise you that.”
TEXT MESSAGES
Harriet
MVU Campus
Ben
The End of the World
Harriet
My apartment
Harriet
Finding a place to fuck should not be this hard wtf.
Ben
I’d suggest my couch, but I think we took a big risk last time.
Harriet
What would you have done if your brothers walked in on us last time?
Ben
Thrown something at them. Memory wiped their brains. Judged myself.
Harriet
Glad we avoided memory wiping and self-judgment.
Ben
Me too. But removing my couch from contention kind of limits the options here.
Harriet
Too bad you don’t have a treehouse we could use, nature boy.
Ben
My uncle has one.
Harriet
Treehouse
Ben
Ben
We’ll figure it out.
Harriet
Idk your coat closet didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Ben
*I* can barely fit in there.
Harriet
Motel? I could put in $50.
Ben
Save your money, Fisher. I have much higher standards for our first time.
Harriet
In the back of Harold?
Ben
I said HIGH standards.
Harriet
Oof with the Harold slander.
Ben
No offense to Harold the Honda, but he ranks below the motel. I’ll likely pull a muscle trying to maneuver you in there.
Harriet
So there will be a lot maneuvering on your end?
Ben
…yeah, what kind of sex have you had?
Harriet
The kind where *I* was doing the maneuvering.
Ben
Thank you for the visual and the urge to wring your past hookups’ necks.
Harriet
You’re welcome
Ben
I need some space to work with you. Our best bet is going to be my place. Just give me some time and I can figure out logistics. Maybe we can risk it if only one of my brothers is home…and asleep.