Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
He grinned. “I like this. I want more of it. You unfiltered, saying shit you don’t even realize wrecks me in the best way.”
I smiled back at him. “We’re okay then?”
“We’ll always be okay, Sass. Even with the growing pains. We’ve been each other’s everything our whole lives. This is an adjustment, but it won’t be hard. Not for us.” He leaned in one last time and pressed a kiss to my forehead, my favorite kind. Then he stepped back and held out his hand. “Now give me your hand and stop stressing that beautiful brain of yours.”
I didn’t hesitate.
I slid my fingers through his, holding his hand like I had a million times before, and cradled my book with the other. We walked in silence down the aisle of towering books, the weight of what just happened lingering between us. In a few hours, we’d be homebound. Crowsfell and all the people that came with it were out of the way this weekend, and I had a sinking suspicion he planned to take full advantage of that fact.
“What do you have to do next?”
“Heading to the gym with the guys before conditioning,” he answered, his thumb brushing lazy circles over my knuckles like he didn’t even realize he was doing it.
“Just don’t overwork yourself.”
He smirked, cocky and unbothered. “You know me. I can handle anything.”
“God, you’re such a guy.”
He leaned closer as we descended the stairs, all heat and arrogance. “Gotta stay in shape for football… and so I can toss my girl around a room. Maybe press her against a wall or two.”
“Stop it.” I nudged him with my shoulder, unable to stop the flush that bloomed up my neck, or the way my fingers tightened around his.
He glanced down, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “I’m guessing that books for your paper due next Thursday?”
I looked up at him, amused. For as long as I could remember, he memorized my class schedules before I did and always knew what assignments I had coming up.
“That’s exactly what it’s for.” I lifted the book to give him a better look at it.
“You could have avoided all this if you had told me what you were looking for. I would have gotten you the digital version.”
“I like physical books better. Besides, I doubt there's an eBook of something this old.”
Ryder chuckled softly. “You'd be surprised at the things I can find online.”
“Now you sound like you're about to trade crypto for a PDF on some sketchy corner of the dark web.”
“I mean, if it gets you the book…”
I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. “Wouldn’t that be illegal?”
“Do you think I'm above breaking the law for you?”
“I don't need you catching a case because I procrastinated on an assignment.”
“That implies I’d get caught.”
I laughed, then bit the inside of my cheek, debating on how I should broach this next subject. “So, that guy I didn’t know you knew until today, Vincent, do you think he’s in on The Hunt?”
“He’s not someone you need to worry about.”
“I’m not worried,” I replied evenly. “I’m curious.”
“Don’t be.”
“You realize telling me not to be curious is only going to make me want to know more.”
His thumb stilled on my knuckles. “Exactly why I’m telling you now not to dig where you don’t need to. Vincent’s not your problem. I’ll deal with him.”
There was no bravado in his tone, just a quiet certainty that sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to ask how he even knew the guy, but Ryder had triple the number of acquaintances I did. He led me back toward the alcove I’d left Cloe, and as we approached, I heard Xander’s voice, followed by barely stifled laughter from an outside table where three students were struggling to keep it down.
We rounded the last corner, and I spotted everyone who must have come with Ryder.
Nick was seated at a round table like a smug king, Ari’s iPad propped up in front of him like a podium. Flanking him like disciples were Xander, Rook, and Dougie, all of them grinning like they’d just discovered the secrets of the universe. Cloe’s things were neatly set beside her laptop, and she was nowhere in sight. I was so focused on trying to see if I could spot her elsewhere that I didn’t immediately catch on to what was happening until I heard Cade react to what Nick was saying.
“Damn, she just fucked the two other dudes like an hour ago.”
Dougie laughed. “I know that cat is hurting.”
“Listen, listen.” Nick held up his hand and leaned forward, voice smooth and theatrical, totally in his element.
“She gasped when his mouth found her thigh, heat curling up her spine like a match striking. He dragged his tongue higher, tasting her with a reverence that made her bones ache. You’re mine, he growled, and she—.’”