Bright pink, shoulders stiff as if trying to burrow herself in a shell, fluffy hair yanked out of that low sexy bun with those pins trying to fall out, face red from my beard scratching that supple skin of hers, and that dark red lipstick smeared all over her swollen lips with some markings trailing down her neck that earned me some breathy moans.

Yeah, I did that.

And I don't just love it...

I freaking bask in it.

Everyone is staring wide-eyed with their jaws slackened as the librarian yells at Blue and I on the main floor in front of prying eyes. A security guard stands behind us and my arms are crossed as the woman's shrill voice doesn't even penetrate my ears because I'm too busy grinning like a mad man.

My mind is filled with the imprint of Blue's hands, how her fingers dipped into the muscles on my back leaving trails of burning fire that still hasn't been extinguished. Those muscles coil and tense at the memory, specifically the ones between my shoulder blades.

My itchy beard has leftover remnants of her lipstick, my chest vibrates with a hum remembering how delectable she had tasted, and my hair is pulled every which way with my beanie lost somewhere upstairs by the aisle we had been caught making out in.

Blue wipes her face with the heel of her palm trying to take off some of the lipstick, coating the skin around her mouth. My eyes zone in on the action and I take a deep agonizing breath.

"Eyes here, Mr. Araneo!" The woman snaps her fingers in front of my face.

I turn my attention to her, grinning like a panther irritated by the vulture coming between him and his mate. "She's prettier to look at."

Blue sucks in a horrified breath as the librarian pinches the bridge of her nose, sighing to herself. "Horny college boys, I swear," she mutters. "Get them out of here."

The security guard escorts us out and Blue glues herself to my side, her massive blue eyes darting around in panic and mortification. If people didn't believe we were a couple, they do now.

Once outside, I drape my jacket over her shoulders and the security guard leaves us, grumbling incoherent words. I bend down and whisper into my prickly little hedgehog's ear, "Take that as punishment for trying to sneak this back to me and stealing my jersey without permission."

She turns her head to me, eyes swimming and the expression, the way her face is soft along with her blue on blue eyes has me sucking in a harsh breath. "Don't look at me like that."

A flash of hurt echoes through them and I realize my voice had carried a rough tone to it. "Like what?"

It's silent between us and Blue looks away, a harsh breath coming from her nose, and then she starts down the steps. I follow and immediately hate myself because I hurt her. But I don't deserve that expression, I never would.

My fingers don't listen to me though, my body never listens to me when it comes to her. I've never felt such a pull with someone before. It beats and echoes from my heart and gravitates through my whole being in a relentless fire that scorches, aches, and leaves me breathless.

The minute my hand wraps around her arm she stops and glances back at me with confused brows drawn together. "Do you want more from me?"

I don't really know what I'm asking myself, but the way her face softens sadly and she peers at me with an understanding that hurts so much, I almost jerk back from the blow. "Your friendship is more than enough, Tariq. I know you can't."

Those words slap me harder than a hand ever could. My breath is knocked out of me and my hand falls away from her. "Blue--"

"Now! Go! Go! Go!" my brother's voice shouts.

I'm surrounded by my hockey team and my mind can't keep up. I can't even fight them, my limbs are weak when I try to push them away from me. They tear my clothes off until I'm only in my underwear in front of the whole campus, Elodie included and Heather coming beside her, recording everything.

But she's only staring at me with sad eyes and I can't break the contact. My chest hurts too much. In those vivid blue eyes, I see a woman who plans to stay by my side no matter how much it may hurt her, bring her pain.

I don't deserve that.

She doesn't deserve that.

I'm lifted off the ground and taken to the gross, disgusting pond and thrown in as all the guys howl in laughter. The ice-cold water hurts, shifts through my body in a death-gripping chill and all my muscles scream and tense from the pain. When I shoot up, my eyes find her, laughing with tears in her eyes, making the blue so bright, a true blue, no other color corrupting it. I know those are tears caused by me, not her beautiful laughter. I don't acknowledge anyone as I make a decision I could regret forever, but I can't stand it.

I need her.

I want her.

I...

I slowly get out and know I'm about to ask a lot out of her, but if I can get there with anyone...

It's her.

I move until I'm dripping, soaking wet, only an arm's length away from the woman who has burrowed herself so deep inside of me she's in my bones. Since meeting her she's been winning over something I thought was dead inside of me. I grab her wrist and pull her in the water a little and everyone goes quiet, no longer laughing or cheering as the atmosphere changes.

I don't care who sees this. I selfishly need her to continue bringing her peace and joy in my dark life. My wet hand touches her cheek and I lean in, kissing her softly with the dirty pond water on my lips, putting every bit of pain, heartache, and desperation into this one kiss.

Her lips were made for mine, heck, she was specifically either created for me, or for my demise. I breathe her in as I slowly pull away, realizing my heart is growing dangerously closer and closer to her, belonging to her.

My eyes lock with her wide-eyed gaze. "Don't stop fighting for me."

The guys shout and smack one another as they play Mario Party Three. Elodie is snuggled up to me, sleeping soundly against my shoulder. It's been a couple weeks since I was thrown into the pond. Blue and I are slowly finding a comfortable place without adding labels to it and she's been a constant in my life, cooking, playing video games, pranking me along with Rasheed.

Heather sits rolling her eyes at the guys then glances over at me and my tired hedgehog that's rolled into a little ball at my side. A small smile tugs at the corner of her lips and her grey eyes soften.

I know what she's thinking.

Rasheed seeing where her gaze is pauses the game. "Time to call it a night."

There are some protests, but Heather claps shooshes them, pointing to Elodie who's still sound asleep. They all quiet and go upstairs, saying soft goodbyes. Heather goes to leave but turns around, her silver eyes flickering to Blue. "She hasn't been sleeping at night. She's wearing herself out and it's not healthy."

I slide Blue off me and lay her on the couch, pulling a blanket over her. "Did something happen with Colin again?"

Heather shakes her head.

I blew out a sigh of relief. Blue had told me what had happened in the library and ever since I've been driving her everywhere and she hasn't been left alone for a second.

"What could it be then?" I question.

Heather peeks over and once she's confident that Elodie is asleep, she bites down on her lip. "She got a phone call a week ago. I'm not sure what it was about but she was really upset afterward. I don't have a good feeling about it."

I blow out an irritated breath. "She won't tell you about it?"

Heather shook her head. "She shut down when I asked."

I motion for her to go upstairs not wanting Elodie to hear our conversation. Heather does as I ask and once we're alone in the kitchen, I lean on the counter.

"Why won't she tell us anything?"

Heather gives me a knowing look. "Because it takes time for people to open up. Why haven't you told her about Paul and the frat?" she fires back.

I stiffen.

She sighs. "I have no doubt she'll tell us someday. There could be so many reasons why she hasn't told us everything. Scared, nervous, afraid of how we'll see her afterward, if our opinions will change about her... guilt... shame."

My eyes flick up at her grey ones at the last two. She gives me that mouth quirk that says heh I got ya with that one. "I think what you're both doing is unhealthy, her a little more than you, but I also know it takes time. Give her time. Just like she's giving you. Keep your focus on Colin."

I blow out another frustrated breath through my nose. "Fine. I'll bring her back once she wakes up."

Heather leaves and I stand there for a while thinking. When I go back downstairs, I find Blue looking around in a haze, her glasses sliding down her button nose. "Where'd everyone go?"

I stride over to her and pick her up as I slide underneath her, burrowing my nose into her knotted hair. "Heading to bed. Heather left about fifteen minutes ago. Do you want me to take you back yet?"

"Um, I'd like to stay here a little bit longer, if that's okay?"

"Of course it is. What do you want to do? We can play a game, watch a movie, or--"

I'm cut off by her lithe body turning around until she's facing me, sitting on my lap. She takes her glasses off and leans in, kissing me with a softness that nearly destroys my very being.

"Or that," I whisper huskily, my voice rough. I gently maneuver us until I'm laying on top of her, with enough pressure that I won't crush her but also enough to feel her soft curves against my solid, overwhelming body. I love how tiny she is compared to me. It excites me, forms knots in my stomach that make me moan into her kisses.

Her body breathes, swells, against mine and I lazily kiss her, taking my time to enjoy, explore and find little things that make her purr. Like when my hand grips that pouty flesh on her side and dips into the gentle curve that seems handcrafted for me. As if God had an imprint of my hand and molded, designed this little spot to mark what belongs to me.

She shivers when I grip that fleshy part and gasps, allowing my perfect access to that divine mouth of hers. We tangle our bodies, fuze our mouths together until Blue is out of breath and fighting for air.

I prop myself up and stare down at the picture before me. Lips pink and swollen from mine, breath coming out in sexy puffs, her chest rising and falling with each one, and hair seductively ruffled because of me.

I smirk, making her cheeks flush that bright pink. I lean down and chuckle out, "You are so beautiful, woman, especially after I've had my way with you."

She sits up, her face flaming. "You should probably take me back now."

My eyes take her in one more time, all frazzled and adorable, her virginity shining through her awkward mannerisms. "Yeah, I think I should."

I just can't stop myself from writing steamy scenes filled with blazing chemistry between these two. The more they try to keep a distance, the more the fire burns.

Who's all curious about that phone call?

If you are hit that star and comment with ideas, maybe I'll throw in another update today ;)

And guys I can't believe this story is almost halfway over and at 5k reads. You all spoil me way too much

Much Love,

LivingRed