17. Colder

Sundays werefor hangovers or for sleeping in.

Considering my usual Fridays and Saturdays were extra long shifts at the bar, I went with sleep more often that not.

Not that Sunday.

I found myself up before my usual wake up time, buzzy with energy. I figured it was a good idea to run it off or I'd be going out of my mind. It was another misty April day and perfect for a run.

I added a lightweight sweatshirt in deference to the cooler temperatures, locked up, and I headed out. I was tempted to go down and check in with Naomi, but I didn't want to look too fucking needy.

I was like a slobbering dog with her lately.

The lobby was blissfully quiet. It was my aunt's one day off and the rain definitely kept people in their beds. Exactly where I should be, but it was what it was.

Our resident maintenance dude, Davis Shehan, was the only one around. He was fiddling with the large television over the fireplace. I paused on my way by.

"Everything cool with the TV?"

He pulled the arm of the wall mount out to get to the wires. "It'll be ready for your crazy trivia deal, don't worry."

"You're welcome to join us."

Davis just grunted. "Pass."

He wasn't the most affable of people, but he was always on call, so I couldn't blame him. There were a few pain-in-the-ass types in the building.

"At least stop by for some food. My brother is coming over with pizza and pasta."

"That, I can do. Your brother's pizza is the best."

"Good. Catch you later then."

Davis nodded and went back to the wires.

As I headed to the big glass doors, a familiar pink raincoat caught my eye. Damn, even when I tried to do something to get her out of my brain, there she was. She was tossing a smile over her shoulder at someone in the street.

My gaze tracked to who she was talking to, and I saw a guy with glasses who was entirely too focused on my girl.

Who was that?

The quick surge of annoyance made me bite back a growl. She wasn't my girl, dammit. Not really. And that annoyed me all the more. She turned and saw me, and her quick, blinding smile beat back some of my pissy reaction. It wasn't like I had any reason to be sideways about it. But she made me a little crazy.

Which was one more reason I should be pounding the pavement with a hard run. I pushed the door open. "Hey."

"You're up early."

"I couldn't sleep."

She tucked her thumb into the strap of her bag to hike it up onto her shoulder. "Me neither. I went to get some writing done this morning."

"That's a good thing."

"And I'm looking forward to more research today," she said in a low voice.

Because that was what I was good for. Lessons. "Is that right? And what's the subject of our lesson today?"

She nibbled her lower lip, then she seemed to notice my mood. She tipped her head. "Is something wrong?"

"No." I shoved my fingers through my hair. "Just haven't had my coffee yet."

"Can I make you a cup?" She glanced down at my shorts. "Or are you going for a run?"

I nodded. "I need to take a run."

"Oh." Her summer sky eyes dimmed as she fixed the strap higher onto her shoulder. "Okay. I'll just find you later."

"Yeah. Sounds good." I slipped past her. Annoyed at myself because my mood wasn't her problem. I didn't even know why I was in a fucking mood.

She paused in the doorway, looking uncertain. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

I tipped my head back and fisted my hands before I returned to her and invaded her space. "It's not you."

She craned her head back to meet my gaze. "You sure about that?"

I cupped her elbows and lifted her onto her toes and kissed her. It was hard and a step away from brutal. Because she made me a little insane and I didn't know what to do with that emotion. I'd only been with her once, for fuck's sake. Why was she under my skin like this already? And why was it pissing me off so much?

She moaned into my mouth and my dick instantly went on alert. It wanted her. There was no doubt about that one. Hell, the man wanted her too—but not as a fucking lesson.

That was the problem.

And not part of the deal with her.

I pulled away and set her down. "I'm just out of sorts today. I don't want to take it out on you."Her lips were soft and swollen and a hot memory of her looking up at me after she sucked me off blindsided me.

What the hell was this girl doing to me?

Her brow was furrowed, but class wasn't in fucking session, and I didn't need to explain myself to her just yet.

"I'll see you for the Sunday festivities."

"Okay."

I turned and headed across the street to the median and took off on a jog. It was generally a walking path, but it would do to get me going. The mist felt good on my face and the cobblestone was uneven, requiring me to focus. Instead of the easy start to a run, I pushed myself harder and took a turn onto Hyde Street. The burn of the incline cleared my head.

The mist turned into rain as I pulled my headphones out of my pocket and put on my running playlist. The heavy rock beat evened me out and the mindless slap of my feet on pavement put me the rest of the way there.

When I got to the top of the hill, I headed to the right to do a full circle of the block. I'd taken this route enough times to know it was an easy three miles and would hopefully kill the rest of my asshole mood.

By the time I got back to Kensington Boulevard, my chest was heaving from my pace. I'd done the three miles in way less time than normal even with the rain slashing at me.

Working off extreme sexual frustration burned a ton of calories. And not only that. She created a whole shitstorm of emotions in me.

When I pushed through the door into the lobby Davis was gone, and the television was set to the trivia program we used.

The usual suspects were already gathered, and the coffee station was stocked with sodas and snacks. A handful of my fellow residents were already grabbing spots on the couch. Amberly and Dahlia were chatting with their girl plates full of cheese and fruit on their laps.

A half dozen bottles of wine were lined up thanks to Iona, who was already filling her own tumbler with red wine. Eli had brought down a cooler of beer. Callahan was passing outa bunch of small notepads that we used for the games.

He always came over to play even though he didn't live in the building. Most of the time, he was actually the headmaster of trivia Sunday. He had a helluva competitive streak.

More people would filter in before we started in an hour. Including my brother, who would be bringing the food today.

Iona was alone, which set my gut to twisting again. I waved to her and headed for the elevator. I needed a quick shower and to change before I was human enough for people.

When the elevator got to my floor, it opened to Naomi. She was wearing a Syracuse University sweatshirt and a pair of yoga pants that shouldn't have made my blood heat. Especially paired with the two buns high on either side of her head.

For fuck's sake, there was a pencil sticking out of one of them. She looked unfocused and a bit off-balanced.

And sexy as hell.

"Hey. Sorry, I was writing and didn't realize how late it was." She tucked a tendril around her ear that had fallen out of her messy hair situation.

I cleared my dust-dry throat. "You're not late."

"Iona's texted me three times to get my ass in gear."

I pulled her into the elevator. "What has you so distracted?" Instead of letting the doors shut, I leaned on the open button.

"Just a rough scene. I can't get the emotions right." She pulled her phone out and started typing.

I plucked her phone out of her hand.

"Hey."

I tucked it into the front pouchof her hoodie. "Tell me why not?"

She frowned. "Are you in a better mood?"

"Not really."

"Why?"

"Because I was thinking about you all night. And all morning. And on my run."

She angled her head in that quizzical way that made me hard all the fucking time. "You were? And that made you mad?"

"It did."

"Why?"

"Is class in session?"

She licked her lips. "Yes. I need a lesson."

Evidently, I did too whether it pissed me off or not.

I drew her between my thighs. "What do you need, Naomi?"

She tipped up her chin to meet my gaze. "I need to understand why thinking about me is making you angry."

"I'm not angry. I'm restless." I put her hand under my running jacket. "I want your hands on me all the time." I was tempted not to let on about the random guy on the street, but since class was in session, I owed her honesty. "I was annoyed that some guy made you smile that wasn't me."

"What? Who?"

"Whoever it was you were talking to when you came in earlier."

"Why? It was just a guy asking for directions."

She had absolutely no clue just how fucking hot she was, which mollified me slightly. "It doesn't make sense to me either." I growled. "And it kills me to tell you that when I've only had you one fucking time."

Her eyes dilated and her lips parted. "Has it ever been like that with anyone else?"

"No."

She licked her lips. "Me either." Her words were soft as her warm hand slid up my belly, the pads of her fingers lightly tracing over the line of hair that ran along the center muscles of my abs. "And you were mad I was talking to someone?"

"I was."

"Why?"

The doors started to shut, and I slapped the button as the annoyance rose again. I didn't want to give her such brutal honesty, but I also craved it. That we were a game, but also not a game was messing with my head. She was already under my skin in so many ways, but I also didn't want it to end.

Craving her was better than any drug or liquor I'd ever had.

"I want to be the only one you smile at."

Surprise lit her eyes.

And she didn't seem to be as twisted up either. Was I alone in this? Chump status after one freaking time?

Possessive shit wasn't my style, and here I was ready to crawl the walls of this damn elevator. And right now, I wanted to push her into the wall and bury myself deep inside her.

To make her see the magic of us. Feel it.

Knowit as wildly as I did.

Her nails dug into my skin. "Are you mad?"

"Yes." I gripped her hip. "Mad, because it was one time. One time I've tasted you and I can't think about anything else." I gripped her ass. "One time I've been in this sweet body, and I want more. All. The. Fucking. Time."

Her breath hitched. "Why?"

I laughed. It was harsh and exasperated. "I don't know."

And she wanted a lesson. I was an idiot. The truth was on my tongue, but even that truth was too much to give her.I pushed her back a little and then I swung her around to face the wall in the elevator. I lowered my mouth to her ear. "Lesson number three starts now."

She glanced over her shoulder. "What's the lesson?"

"When a man wants you so badly that his brain is located in his goddamn cock..." Trailing off, I pressed my erection into her ass. "You have the power, and it makes us fucking insane."

Lust filled her gaze.

"I want that power back."

Giving her that honesty struck me low. It was true. I didn't want her to have that ability to make me nuts. No woman ever had before.

Was it because she broke under me so sweetly and perfectly? Was it her sponge-like need to learn?

It didn't make fucking sense.

"Place your hands on the wall, Naomi."

She swallowed, but then instead of doing what I asked, she turned around in my arms. "No."

"No?" My body stilled—ready to retreat if I'd gone too far.

"You put your hands on the wall."

I narrowed my eyes.

Her chin lifted, then she lowered to her knees in front of me. "Hands on the wall, Colder."

"Fuck." How had she turned this on me?

She jerked at the waistband of my running shorts and that sweet, lethal tongue swiped over the crown of my cock before she took me deep into her mouth. She groaned deep in her throat and the vibration of it made my dick throb and every muscle in my body lock.

The doors to the elevator closed and her eyes went slumberous.

I brushed the stray lock of hair that wouldn't stay out of her face around her ear, then I grabbed the back of her neck. "Can you make me come before we get to the lobby?"

She gripped the base of my cock firmly enough to make me hiss. Then she stroked me steadily as she proceeded to suck the damn top of my head off. She was a terrifyingly adept student.

Mystudent.

The idea of her doing this with someone else had me gripping her neck tighter. Her eyes went hot, and I threw my head back with a groan. I couldn't imagine her doing this to someone else. I couldn't or I'd lose my damn mind.

She cupped my balls and pulled at them without the tentative bent from a few days ago. She took me so fucking deep I felt her throat close over the head of my cock. She was a goddess and a temptress like no other as she shoved me past my breaking point, and I couldn't stop myself from coming down her throat.

I actually sagged against the wall as my brain shot offline for a few seconds.

More. I had no concept of time at this point.

Carefully, she tucked me back into my running shorts and stood up. She rose onto her toes. "Telling me I had power over you probably wasn't wise, Professor." She licked the corner of her mouth and ducked under my arm as the doors soundlessly opened. "I love a challenge."

Then she darted out of the elevator.

The doors closed again, and I thudded my forehead against the wall. "Idiot." I reached over to tap the third floor once more. My knees returned from their liquid status as I staggered off and down to my apartment.

I might have created a monster.

Mine.