Well, color me surprised; that wasn’t at all who I was expecting.
I’d thought maybe Dimitri had finally snapped. I’ve seen the way he looks at her in his class and, more importantly, the way he looks at me when I drop her off at said class.
I’m shocked his eyes didn’t fall out of his head on Monday when I kissed the crown of her head. I’d wanted to do so much more, but I refuse to rush her. I’ve never gone slow with anyone, never had a reason to, but Wren…
I’m not sure there’s anything I wouldn’t do for her.
“Nolan…” I'm unsure how this happened. He’d apparently changed sides at some point and decided Wren wasn’t so bad. We’d been studying together on Wednesdays and Fridays, but that’s small shit compared to this.
“I was wandering, trying to make myself more familiar with the building, when I stumbled upon the pool. I didn’t even realize it was him at first, but he swam like he was born to be in the water, and the next thing I knew, I was taking pictures.” I hear the way her voice climbs, clearly embarrassed to admit this out loud, and I bite back the urge to wrap her up in my arms and squeeze her the way I want to.
She’s so stinking cute, but I know now isn’t the time. Soon, hopefully.
More importantly, I need to hear how this little meeting went because Nolan isn’t one to let people sit and watch him; he’s even less likely to let them take pictures. So either she went creeping on him, and he has no idea she took these, which I love, or she’s gotten to Nolan even more than I thought.
Somehow, I also love that.
She flicks through a few more pictures, and I get my answer. She’d snapped a photo of him pulling himself from the pool, water cascading down his body like he’s a model, rolling over every muscle and leaving his hair hanging like a dark curtain in front of his face.
It’s a great shot, and I’ve never looked at Nolan like that, but I can see why Wren might be drawn to him, or anyone else would, for that matter.
The only issue is that, if you look really hard, you can see the sheen of his scales. It’s not enough that I think anyone will assume anything past him being wet, but it’s close.
Wren shifts, pulling me from my thoughts, and I don’t need to ask or even guess why when her cotton candy scent takes on a spicy note that I’ve come to associate with my little Pookie being hot and bothered.
Maybe I should take up swimming?
That’s not necessary, though; the first time I’d smelled her arousal was when I’d snuck into the bathroom with her that first morning, far before Nolan was even a thought in her head.
Perhaps it’s time to pay her another visit… The last time I’d tried, Titus stopped me, and while he’s right, Wren isn’t stupid. I think I’m past caring.
I know she won’t tell anyone, and it might be against the rules, but I’d almost bet my immortal soul that she’s destined to be mine.
“Mmm, no wonder you wanted to watch himswim.” I don’t even try to hide my implication and can’t help the smile thatpulls at my lips when she turns around, mouth open and eyes wide, before she whacks me in the chest with the back of her hand.
But she doesn’t deny it, and I still smell the proof that she didn’t mind the view.
“Stop that! He’s a great swimmer!”
“I’m not denying that. The boy’s like a fish, but that doesn’t negate his attractiveness.” I mentally high-five myself for that little joke that she, of course, won’t get, but it was still too good to pass up. Something else she won’t understand is the importance of him allowing her to not only stay but to snap pictures of him like this. At first, I wasn’t sure if he was aware, but there are a few I’ve seen with him looking her way as if posing, and that one of him coming out of the water… Well, he must have planned that.
Clever bastard.
“Your brother swims, right?” I'm pretty sure I remember seeing Jordan at a few of the competitions we went to for Nolan. He’s not like Gavin, though, and he didn’t usually ask us to tag along, so I’d only ever been to a few.
It’s always better for everyone if we avoid the dean at all costs; he has a way of making us all miserable. It’s a talent, really.
Her face falls, and she turns back to look at the camera, like she’s trying to hide it, but I can damn near taste her sadness as it perfumes off her.
Strange.
“He did. He was pretty good, too. I spent hours studying by the pool growing up. He would have me time him or record him so we could play it back and see what he could improve.” Her wistful tone lets me know it’s a fond memory they shared, and I can’t help but imagine a little Wren with her big books while the rest of the kids swim.
We’re both quiet for a moment before she looks over her shoulder at me, her eyes sad and glossy with unshed tears.
I’ve always been a pretty nice guy overall, but with her, I feel like the biggest softy because seeing her like this is breaking my heart, something I wasn’t even sure existed outside of for Titus.
“Thank you for the camera.” Her bottom lip wobbles, and that’s it—my final straw.
