"Where do you want this?" Rasheed asks, not even huffing as he and Winston carry my tiny sofa in.

A slew of big beefy hockey players ripple in and out of my old dorm, carrying my stuff into my new one. Heather, who had the luxury of living alone since she was the RA, pulled a few strings and I am now moving in with her. Tracy will be given a new roommate who had been put on the waiting list to get into the dorms.

Good riddance.

Every single girl is out of their rooms, watching with hungry eyes and slacked jaws. It's almost laughable, and I'm weirdly glad Tariq was unable to help out thanks to his PT appointment. It didn't stop him from forcing half the hockey team to show up this morning to lend a hand.

What I had assumed would take Heather and me hours to accomplish the guys had finished within forty-five minutes.

Hot dang.

"Over there." Heather points to the space we had prepared for it. I feel bad to put her in this position but the way she's jumping up and down, bossing the guys around with glee tells me she's very happy with this arrangement.

I hang up the last of my clothes and realize it's not even ten, which makes me breathe out a sigh of relief. I have a huge paper due and need to go to the library to finish it up and Tariq plans on meeting me there.

After setting down my mini sofa, Rasheed barrels over to me and starts scanning through my clothing. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Finding you a dress to make my brother go mad for," Rasheed says with an evil glint in his eye.

"Why?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Well, Special Agent Mitchell, I have a surprise for you and I am cashing in on my favor. Hold on one second." He disappears and I look at Heather with a raised brow and she shrugs her shoulders.

Winston chuckles. "Tariq may have ratted him out to coach about skipping a conditioning practice to go on a date. He's thirsty for vengeance."

When Rasheed comes back in, he holds a manilla envelope. "Mission File."

Now, yes, I know I am in love with Tariq but...

My fingers snatch that envelope from Rasheed so fast I give him a papercut.

"Ouch, Special Agent Mitchell!" His smile is wide though as he holds his sliced finger, "But I like the tenacity."

"What are we doing?" I rip the top clean off and pull out his typed-up objective that is almost a carbon copy of mine. "Couldn't be a little original?"

Rasheed looks appalled. "Why rework something that's already been perfected? That's like trying to make croissants instead of buying the Pillsbury Doughboy ones. Or cooking your own Chinese food when you can order takeout that's authentic and delicious perfection."

I laugh and read his mission brief.

I have to stop reading at this point and skim the rest. I look up at Rasheed and give him a deadpan expression. "First, this is completely juvenile." Rasheed opens his mouth to object but I hold up two fingers, stopping him. "Second, there is no way you'll be able to accomplish this. You'll need like, a hoard of dudes."

"I have an army."

"Third, disguised as an enchanting seductress, really?! To go to the library? He'd know something is up right away."

"Tell him you have a date," Rasheed says all easy-breezy like.

"And what exactly do you want me to wear?" I question.

"Something low cut."

"And short," Heather jumps in. "And no leggings."

Winston rolls his eyes but then says, "And do your hair in that low bun. He likes it when you do that."

"And red lipstick," Beau states, striding in.

"I'm sorry, is everyone in on this or is this just a me and Rasheed briefing."

"They are part of my army," Rasheed answers. "Well, Beau and Win are. But, Heather, if you'd like to join?"

She peers at the paper in my hand then smiles, her mischievous eyes snapping up to Rasheed. "I would be honored, Commander."

"Ah," Rasheed objects. "It's Special Agent R."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Since when?"

"Since I promoted myself," he replies with a grin.

My lips purse and cock to the side to fight off the smile trying to take over my face. "Okay, Special Agent R. I think dressing up is a little excessive."

"Says you," Rasheed responds. "How about an old prom dress?"

I bark out a laugh. "A prom dress, seriously? You want me to strut into the library sporting a prom dress. Do I look like a girl who went to prom?"

Heather goes over to my closet and pulls out my absolute favorite dress. It's a deep red velvet, so super soft, with long sleeves coming off the shoulders that shows off my neck and collarbone, and it's also low cut.

"No way," I protest with a swipe of my arm. "You guys are being ridiculous and I'm not going to lie to my boyfriend about going on a date with some other dude."

Ugh, girl, he's not your real boyfriend.

But they don't know that.

Apart from Heather.

Who, I may add, is smiling like a crazy person at me.

An idea pops in my head and I take a deep breath knowing I'm going to regret this, but it will do the trick and Tariq will be too distracted to be suspicious. Sucking my lips in and then popping them out, I look at Rasheed.

"Any chance you can get me his jersey?"

I fiddle with a bobby pin that's trying to come out of my low bun. Shoving it back in, I take out my weapon from my arsenal and position it on the table, raring and ready to go.

I reeeaaally hope this works.

I have on my best pair of leggings. They hug my shape nicely and I have Tariq's jersey tied in a knot on my side, hiding my little puff and crooked side, but I make sure that it's hiked up enough to show off God's blessing he had, in his good grace, bestowed upon me, as Rasheed had said. I'm wearing Heather's high black suede boots, which are a little tight for me, but for today they work.

My coffee cup sits in front of me with lipstick smudge on it and steam coming from the top. My walkie-talkie is prepped and ready, hidden away in my bag. I'm typing away on my computer when a chair next to me slides out and I straighten, readying myself for my acting debut.

I grab hold of my coffee, smirking, and turn my eyes toward the figure sitting down next to me.

I freeze.

It's Colin.

"Well, hi there, Elodie. Or is it Blue now?" He's lounging back in the seat, examining me from head to toe with those green eyes. He blows out a sharp whistle. "Gotta say, you're a lot prettier than I remember."

He tries touching a strand of my hair that I had stylishly pulled out of the bun. I jerk back and point my liquid hot coffee at him along with my finger. "Don't. Touch. Me."

That long slenderly built body of his stretches back as he puts his hands behind his head. "You're wearing his jersey too now? Things are getting serious."

I'm about ready to pack my stuff up but his next words slither down my back in an ice-cold chill. "Your little trip to the dean caused us a lot of problems and now, it's unfortunate, but I have to make an example of you."

I take a deep breath and snap my eyes over to glare at him. "You really think Tariq will let you hurt me?"

Colin's chair clashes to the floor and I lean back as he gets right into my face. "Tariq Araneo is going to learn he's not as invincible as he thinks and it's going to start with his new pretty girlfriend," he says as his fingers touch my forehead and push back that lock of hair. It's supposed to be an intimate touch but as his fingers slide over my skin, I realize it's a threat. He trims over my ear and then puts his hand down, staring at me with calculative eyes. "I've been waiting for two years for a weak point and you sweetheart, have given me one. Tariq won't be able to help you. He may rule this campus, but the world is a lot bigger than this little bubble."

My fists clench and for some reason, I'm not scared, I'm angry, burning with a rage so hot my skin feels like it is going to peel. "And you're not as scary as you think. What exactly do you plan on doing to me, huh? Drug me like those other girls at your parties? Have your way with me? Screw up my academic career?"

Colin looks too smug, too confident. "Those are too unoriginal for me, Blue." He takes in a breath, smirking with his mouth slightly open as his eyes look down then back up at me, whispering darkly, "You should know some threats take time to weave. They work behind the scenes, like a spider crafting its web for that sweet delicious-looking butterfly." He lifts my chin up, pinching it with his thumb and forefinger. "And like a butterfly, you won't know until it's too late that you're caught in it."

Colin lets me go. "See you around, Elodie."

He pushes the chair back, walking away. As he does, something tells me Colin Ruimveld isn't that type of guy who would use his fists or some horribly plotted scheme to hurt someone. He's a manipulative strategist, cunning, and highly intelligent. A great future politician. And right now...

My worst enemy.

I sit back wondering what he could possibly have or do that could harm me and in the process hurt Tariq. What he doesn't know is that I'm not Tariq's girlfriend and harming me would tick him off, but not hurt him. Maybe we should stop the whole charade? Or would Colin even believe that if we did?

I need to talk to Tariq.

He should be here by now.

I look around and don't see him anywhere. I dig out my cell phone and see that he's running late. Okay, good, that gives me time to collect myself and figure out what to do about this.

Colin's threat looms over me and my fingers are sore from all the typing and stress. I'm not scared really, more concerned. I decide to scrape the confrontation from my thoughts and focus on my homework and directive, pressing down on my walkie-talkie and informing Rasheed it will be a little longer.

He's probably just trying to scare you.

The chill won't leave me and I shiver.

"This will help you keep warm." Tariq's jacket lands on my typing hands and I look up as Tariq doesn't even look at me, while he walks over to the other side of the table. "Don't do that again."

Does he already know about Colin? "Do what?"

"The jacket. You try returning it again I'll..." All thoughts of Colin fade away as Tariq's eyes land on me and darken as soon as he sees what I'm wearing. That gaze. It caresses me once again.

He's gorgeous today, like always. Wearing a tight yet loose grey henley, sleeves pulled up a little as his forearms tense and ripple, jeans low on his hips, and the black beanie concealing some of his hair. His scruff is turning more into a beard and I suck in a shaky breath because it's unbelievably sexy. The muscle in his jaw tenses and then he licks his bottom lip, replacing the cold chill in me with a beautiful pressure and blazing heat.

I smirk, grab my weapon that had been lying in wait. I pop off the cap, twist, then take my little compact mirror and slowly, efficiently slide the lipstick on. When I look up his eyes are wild, filled with a primal need I'm both scared and relishing in.

I click the cap back on and shrug my shoulders, acting as if his attention isn't doing anything to me."Maybe I decided to trade it in for something better?"

His eyes snap to mine and I go rigid at the challenge in them. "Get up." He commands me.

I look around, but no one was really paying any attention and today was one of those rare days the library was vacant, which is why we decided to meet here.

"Blue," he gets my attention back to him. "Get up now."

I do.

He points and I turn, looking to where he wants me to go, and then glance back at him, confused. His dark, almost black eyes smoke over with that devouring gleam again. "Go."

I start walking that way and I suck in a deep, painful, excited breath. This is not part of the plan but my wobbly legs won't obey me and the way I can feel his hot gaze on my back where his name and number are stamped, scrolling down my figure, has me walking faster.

I reach a dead end and am blocked by walls of books and when I turn around Tariq takes those last steps, eyes like a sleek predator who caught his prey. He fists my hair and yanks my head back.

"Tariq," I whisper. His lips crash on mine with an all-consuming heat and hunger. I open for him, letting his tongue glide in tangling with mine. He pushes me into the aisle of books, his muscular body pressing hard into me as his mouth devours, his tongue silk against mine. Everything else falls away as I taste him and moan into him as he lifts me up so my legs can wrap around him. My hands dig into his locks underneath his beanie and he groans and it vibrates through my mouth and travels throughout my body, marking me forever.

Our bodies crash against each other and I know I'm supposed to be getting him out of here and to the rendezvous spot, but I want to immerse myself in this man a little bit longer.

Just a few more minutes won't hurt...

Right?

Sorry, this is late today but I really wanted to give you something good and have been combing through it, hoping it's good! So Tariq can't seem to keep his hands off of Elodie and I think we all like that hahahahaha!

So thoughts on Colin? Any ideas what he's up to?

Things are going to start getting intense and more dramatic so hang on!

If you all like this chapter and want an update tomorrow hit that star button for me :)

Much Love,

LivingRed