toward my new desk, I asked, “Will I see you later?”
I wasn’t sure what possessed me to ask the question. Probably the churning in my stomach that had nothing to do with Susan’s delicious scone. Tristin’s presence was putting me on edge as much as it brought relief. I didn’t know what to expect from him. If he would continue being cordial or return to that cold, metal-like statue I’d drawn. Or if he would disappear again without a word.
The uncertainty was already killing me. I needed to be able to prepare myself, one way or the other. Because the Tristin who’d—sort of—admitted to having trouble staying away from me was as dangerous to my emotions as the one who walked right past me on the sidewalk, ignoring my very existence.
One beat, two beats passed before he said, “You’ll see me later.”
I walked out of French, my last class of the day, more than ready for the upcoming four-day weekend. Between worrying about getting drop-kicked back to Kansas, studying, discovering the threatening letters, and the Sharpe brothers, I was exhausted. Emotionally and physically.
A four-day nap sounded pretty good right now, though it was impossible. Maybe I would give myself the rest of the day off and then jump into preparations for my remaining midterms tomorrow morning. That seemed like a decent enough compromise.
Pausing at the sidewalk to let a large group pass, a sensual voice spoke from behind me. “Hey, beautiful.”
A sliver of pleasure rippled through me as warm breath caressed the back of my neck. I tipped my head up to look at Leo. “Hey.”
Amused eyes met mine. “Hey? That’s all I get. No, ‘hey, sexy beast’? Or ‘hey, man of my dreams’?”
I twisted so I could throw my arms around his neck. “I’ll call you anything you want after you convinced Tristin to come home. How’d you manage it?”
The tightening around his eyes was almost imperceptible, but I caught it. “I take it he showed up at the house this morning?”
“Yes. He even drove me to Western Civ.”
“Was he...nice?”
I half-smiled. “He wasn’t rude, if that counts.”
“Good enough.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked. We hadn’t made any plans to meet up today.
“No practice this afternoon, so I thought you might want a ride home.”
“That would be great.” I’d planned to go to The Grind until Petra’s shift was over so she could drive me. This was better.
He dipped his head to give me what I thought would be a peck, but it was nothing of the sort. He caressed my lips with his, his touch gentle but urgent. I tightened my hold on his neck, sinking into all of him. Into his body and his kiss and his declaration of need.
It wasn’t until the whistles and catcalls around us sank into my consciousness that I pulled back. I felt my cheeks heat, but Leo showed no signs of embarrassment or even smugness. In fact, I wasn’t sure that he saw or heard anyone but me.
“What was that for?” I breathed.
“To remind you how much I like you, in case you forgot.”
Hoping to break through his somberness, I teased, “Oh, you like me, do you?”
But he didn’t grin or tease me back. Instead, his voice sounded too serious for the moment when he replied, “More than you know.” Moving back so I was forced to drop my arms from his neck, he took my hand. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.”
His expression finally lightening, he tugged on the strap of my backpack. “Allow me to carry your books, fair lady?”
I laughed. “I think I can handle it.”
He pouted. “It’s like you don’t want people to know I’m your man.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure about a hundred people just witnessed us making out on the sidewalk.”
That smug grin I’d expected earlier appeared. “Good. Now all the guys on campus will think twice before drooling all over you.”
I rolled my eyes. “No one drools over me.”
“Oh, innocent little Thea. You couldn’t be more wrong.”
“Innocent?” I bit down on my bottom lip as I peered up at him. “Is that how you think of me?”
Leo groaned and began walking faster toward his SUV. “You’re killing me.”
I smiled to myself. Mission accomplished.
“How did your exam go?” he asked once we were in the Range Rover and heading toward the house.
“Good, I think. I felt pretty confident on the short answer questions. It’s the essay I’m not sure about.”
“I’m sure you did great.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen my report cards from