“Let’s not pretend he doesn’t drop you off and pick you up from every one of my classes. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and how he can’t seem to keep his hands off of you. I’ve also had to shoo him off more than once in order to start class.” I remind her, watching the way her cheeks bloom with heat with each word.
I hope that someday, when someone talks about me, she gets that look in her eyes.
“So classes are going well, I assume?” I ask, needing to change the subject to what these meetings are actually supposed to be about. I’d love to get lost in her, but I need to make sure she’s okay in every aspect, and with her asshole roommates, I’m sure it’s not all great.
“Yeah, they’re going well. I feel like I’m going to be able to graduate on time.”
I nod because I expected nothing less.
“So, is there anything you need?” I watch her eyes dilate, and if she weren't on my literal lap, I would have missed it, but with her this close, it’s impossible. Her scent shifts a moment later, and fuck, my beast goes crazy.
The need to feed has been there like a bruise, annoying but bearable; now with her this close, smelling like she does for me…
Well, I’ve never been addicted to anything, but if this is what it feels like, I can see why people fall victim. She’s all I can think about, all that I want…
No need. Want suggests it's possible to live without her, and I’m almost positive that’s no longer the case.
She’s silent long enough that I know she has something she isn’t saying.
“Tell me, Birdie.”
“Um, I just need to go to the store.” She pushes a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looks down at her lap as if embarrassed.
“Hey,” I wait until she peeks back up at me before I offer her what I hope is an encouraging smile, and she seems to relax, even if just slightly. “I’m here to help you. It’s kind of my job.”
“Is this how you help all the girls?” she asks, and I know she’s playing. I can see it written on her face, but more than that, I see the flicker of doubt.
I lean in and press my lips to hers, wrapping my arms around her to pull her tight into my chest. Her little gasp of surprise goes right to my beast and my cock, and I make myself pull away to look her in her eyes so that she can see the truth of my words.
“I’ve never felt for a student like I do for you.” Her eyes go wide, but I shake my head.
That’s not right.
“No, I’ve never felt like this for anyone, student or not.” We’re not going to count her past self.
This time, she’s the one who leans in, brushing her lips to mine, and while my beast wants to devour her, I make myself remain in control, unwilling to ruin this moment.
A growl builds in my throat, but I swallow it down. Pulling back to press my lips to her throat, her throbbing pulse and scent consume me. I feel the way my beast craves her, my fangs aching even more than my cock.
I stand with her still in my arms and chuckle when she sucks in a sharp breath. I guess I should have warned her.
“Let’s get you to the store.”
This time, when she smiles, it reaches all the way to her eyes and makes my heart skip a beat, and my monster goes completely silent since the first night I met her.
Wren feels like home;she feels like she’s mine.
Wren’s family has money, yet she shops like she’s poor, going so far as to pull out a calculator before she brings her measly cart of basic living supplies and snacks up to the counter.
It’s strange enough that I worry maybe something's wrong.
“Do you need help covering it? I don’t mind paying,” I offer.
“Oh no,” she shakes her head and starts pushing her cart toward the front of the store. “I have a little money saved up. I just need to watch how I spend it, is all. It has to last me until graduation.”
What?
In what world would it need it to last that long?
