Chapter 3

JAX

I stand outsidethe door and knock for the third fucking time.

My patience has grown razor thin. I'm about to kick the door down just to make sure she's inside the goddamn room and alive.

I lean forward and place my head against the door.

I need a quick breath.

All this nonsense just to keep my ass lingering around the university.

I know it's more than that, but still…

"Jax?"

I turn my head and there she is.

The most important girl in my life.

"Willow?" I ask.

"That's… me," Willow says with a wave. "Did I mess up?"

"Yup," I say. "Three. Today."

"What time is it?"

"Three-ten."

"I've been running for two hours straight?" Willow asks.

"You tell me."

"I am so sorry," Willow says as she hurries toward me. "I got caught up in a crime podcast. I had no idea. I can't… I'm…"

She freezes and looks up at me.

Those big doe eyes of hers.

She's delicious looking. And the thought of her running… needing a shower. That whole thing. I'm a guy - this is what goes through our heads.

"Should we cancel?" I ask.

"We can't. You can't. I promise I don't stink."

"Oh," I say. "Well, maybe I'm into that kind of thing."

Willow blushes and hurries to open the dorm room door.

I have her flustered already.

She's worried about her body.

She's prime for a hot shower.

I'll wash you with my tongue, honey. Lick you head to toe and everywhere in between.

"Okay, so you were working on… business admin," she says. "That's a boring class. But I can make it fun."

"Going to get naked and teach me?"

Willow freezes and turns. "Excuse me?"

"Just trying to break the ice."

"Let's be clear, Jax. This isn't some dirty movie on your phone. I'm not some sweaty whore who's going to rip her clothes off and have you lick the sweat off my lower back."

"But maybe if I pass this class…?"

"Maybe I'll just tell the administration that you're making inappropriate comments to me."

I clench my jaw.

I nod.

"Now, we should start at-"

"What podcast?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"What podcast were you listening to? Crime? What kind of crime?"

"Um, it was a husband who murdered his wife and son and made it look like a murder-suicide. It was awful to listen to. But the guy was just so convincing."

"People have a way of being convincing."

"This was insane, Jax. The way he cried in interviews. He set up vigils for the people he killed. He even went so far as to go on television shows to talk about mental health. He blamed himself for not seeing the signs in his wife. Oh, it has me so annoyed right now."

"So you just kept running, huh?"

"Yeah. I'm really sorry about that. This is a really big thing for you."

I move closer to Willow.

I'm looking at that body of hers in those running clothes.

I mean… whew…

"Want to know a secret about me?" I whisper.

"Not really."

"I'm telling you anyway. I'm good at all this stuff. I don't need a tutor."

"You don't?"

I shake my head. "I just don't care."

"Well, you better start caring. You know that, right?"

"Well aware," I say.

"This also reflects on me."

"No offense, honey, but I'm not taking responsibility for you."

"I didn't ask for that. I'm just being very clear that I'm not afraid of you, Jax. Ready to study some business admin?"

"You don't want to shower first?"

Willow smiles then blushes. "How does that work? You act like a perv the entire time?"

"I'll make you a deal, Willow. You go take a shower. Lock the door. I'll sit here and go through some of this material. We both know sitting around in sweaty clothes is not a good thing. There are places you don't want to get rashes, right?"

She swallows hard and steps back. "You're crude, Jax. You're…"

"Am I wrong?"

"No," Willow says. "The door will be locked. If you try anything I will report you."

"I'm not a criminal here. I'm just a hockey player with a tutor. And it's your fault right now…"

"Which is why I'm willing to take a shower later."

"I think that's a bad idea." I point to the bathroom and nod.

Willow turns and walks to the bathroom.

She goes inside, shuts the door and makes damn sure to engage the lock as loud as possible.

I smile.

I have to admit - Willow's got some attitude to her.

She's cute as hell too.

I can easily see myself sitting her right here at the table I'm standing at and having my way with her.

Now that would be a hell of a story.

Instead of studying, I just fuck my tutor.

I glance down at the book on the table. I should sit down and actually flip through it a little. Actually attempt to apply myself.

I hear the shower running.

Of course I"m tempted to break into the bathroom and sneak into the shower with Willow. Fuck, I'll go in there with my clothes on. I'll just stand there. Just to watch her.

Hey, we can trade grades for orgasms. Now that sounds like fun to me.

There's a knock at Willow's door.

I look at the bathroom. Then at the door.

I shrug my shoulders.

It's not my business to answer the knock, but oh well.

It's like a gift from heaven if you ask me.

Because when I open the door, Willow's brother is standing there.

Ward.

You remember Ward, right?

The moronic asshole who is dating Mila.

All I can do is smirk.

Ward looks ready to punch me in the face.