19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Quiet Corner

I wake up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the thin curtains of my dorm room. My body aches in a delicious way, a reminder of the night spent with William.

His scent, a mix of musk and the faint hint of old books, lingers on the pillow beneath my cheek. I can feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back, his arm draped possessively around my waist.

It’s a startling sensation, having him here in the morning, in my dorm room. A thrill courses through me, a dangerous dance with the possibility of being caught. The Shakespeare Society is no more, their tendrils of power snipped. Maybe, just maybe, we’re safe.

I stretch languidly, my muscles protesting slightly. The soreness between my thighs sends a shiver down my spine, my body still humming from his touch.

I can’t help but smile, a secret, satisfied curve of my lips.

But as consciousness fully descends, so do my worries.

The societal debris may have been cleared, but the path forward isn’t suddenly smooth. My tuition remains a looming shadow, a problem I can’t solve by simply closing my eyes and wishing it away.

The sex we had was rough. And fun.

But I won’t use it to pay for tuition.

I turn to face him, his features soft in sleep.

The usual stern lines of his face are smoothed out, making him look younger, almost boyish. My heart flutters, a warm sensation spreading through me. I could get used to this, I think, then swiftly banish the thought. No, I can’t depend on him, on anyone. I need to figure this out on my own.

His eyes flutter open, catching me in his gaze. A slow smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me closer, his voice a low rumble. “Morning.”

I hesitate, then smile back. “Morning.”

His hand trails down my side, igniting sparks in its wake. I’m suddenly very aware of my body, of his, of the heat building between us. I lose myself in his touch, his kiss. Right now, in his arms, is the only certainty I have. And I cling to it, desperate and hungry, as the world outside looms, waiting.

The warmth of his body seeps into mine, his hand tracing patterns on my skin. I can feel the hard length of him pressed against my thigh, a silent promise. His eyes, those intense, dark eyes, hold me captive.

There’s no escape, not that I want one. Not really.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice is a low rumble, vibrating through me.

I hesitate, then admit, “Everything. Nothing.”

He raises an eyebrow, his thumb circling my nipple, drawing out a gasp. “That’s not an answer.”

I arch into his touch, my body already alight. “I’m thinking about how much I want you. About how wrong this is, but how right it feels.”

A slow smile spreads across his face. He leans in, his breath hot on my ear. “I like it when you’re honest.”

His hand trails down, over my stomach, my hips, until he’s cupping me. I’m already wet, my body ready for him. He groans, his fingers slipping inside me. “You’re always so ready for me.”

I can’t respond, can’t do anything but feel. His fingers move expertly, stroking, teasing. My hips buck against his hand, chasing the sensation. He watches me, his eyes never leaving mine. It’s intense, intimate. I’m laid bare, not just physically, but emotionally. He sees me, all of me, and he wants me.

He shifts, his body covering mine. His cock presses against my entrance, a tantalizing promise. But he doesn’t push in, not yet. He holds himself there, his muscles trembling with restraint. “Tell me you want me,” he demands.

I look into his eyes, seeing the raw need reflected there. It’s a heady feeling, knowing I have this power over him. “I want you,” I whisper.

With a groan, he pushes into me. My body stretches to accommodate him, that delicious burn making me gasp. He starts to move, slow at first, then faster, harder. Each thrust hits a spot deep inside me, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.

I cling to him, my nails digging into his back. He growls, his pace quickening. The room fills with the sound of our bodies coming together, the scent of sex and sweat. It’s primal, raw. It’s us.

His hand slips between us, his fingers finding my clit. He rubs in time with his thrusts, pushing me higher, closer to the edge. I can feel it building, that intense pressure. I’m so close, so very close.

“Come for me, brave heart. Let me feel your sweet little pussy grip my cock.”

His words push me over the edge. I cry out, my body convulsing around him. He groans, his hips jerking as he finds his own release. We ride out the waves together, our bodies slick with sweat, our breaths ragged.

In the aftermath, he rolls off me, pulling me into his arms. I can feel his heart pounding, echoing my own. I look up at him, this man who has become my world. His eyes are closed, his face relaxed. He looks almost peaceful.

But as I lie here, wrapped in his arms, I can’t help but wonder what happens next. Where do we go from here? The future is uncertain, a vast unknown. But for now, in this moment, I’m exactly where I want to be.

I trace the lines of his face, my fingers lingering on his lips. His eyes flutter open, catching me in his gaze. He smiles, that slow, sexy smile that never fails to make my heart race.

“Good morning,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble.

I can’t help but smile back. “Good morning indeed.”

He shifts, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me. His fingers trail lightly over my shoulder, down my arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Oh?”

“Thank you. For saving Brandon.”

“Oh.”

“The plan was already in motion. I didn’t know you’d be taken. I didn’t—”

“Don’t. Don’t blame yourself for what they did. And don’t keep trying to protect me. You can’t keep secrets from me if you trust me.”

He shakes his head, because he still clearly doesn’t trust me, even though I know he wouldn’t agree with that. “I never stopped thinking about you. Even when I was supposed to stay away, I couldn’t. You were always on my mind.”

“I missed you, too. When I thought you were dead .”

“You’re not just a student to me, brave heart. You never were.”

“Then why didn’t you trust me?”

He sighs, his expression turning serious. “This again.”

“Yes,” I say, frustrated. “This again. This forever.”

His answer is an angry, dominating kiss, his body pressing against mine. I can feel his desire, hard and insistent against my thigh. It’s offensive for him to think that he can answer a serious question with sex.

At least, it’s offensive in theory.

In reality my body responds, heat pooling between my legs.

His hands roam over my body, touching, teasing. I gasp as he finds a particularly sensitive spot, my hips bucking against him. He chuckles, a low, sexy sound that sends shivers down my spine.

“You like that, brave heart?” he murmurs, his lips trailing down my neck.

I can only nod, my breath coming in short gasps. He knows my body so well, knows exactly what I need, what I want. And I want him. All of him.

His mouth finds my breast, his tongue circling my nipple. I arch into him, a moan escaping my lips. He sucks, bites, driving me wild with desire. I can feel the pressure building, the need for release growing stronger with each touch, each kiss.

But just as I’m about to tumble over the edge, he pulls back, a wicked grin on his face. I groan in frustration, but he just laughs, his eyes dark with desire.

“Patience,” he says. “We have all the time in the world.”

Except he’s wrong.

We’re running out of time.

He starts all over again, his touch lighter this time, teasing, tantalizing. I squirm beneath him, my body aching for more. I beg for him to take me. But he takes his time, drawing out the pleasure, driving me wild with need.

Finally, he slides into me.

I gasp. I’m completely filled by him.

He starts to move, slow at first, then faster, harder. Each thrust hits a spot deep inside me, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.

His hand slips between us, his fingers finding my clit. He rubs in time with his thrusts, pushing me higher, closer to the edge. I can feel it building, that intense pressure.

I’m so close, so very close.

“Come for me,” he orders, his voice rough.

His words push me over the edge.

The pinch of pain on my clit makes it explosive.

I cry out, my body convulsing around him.

He groans, his hips jerking as he finds his own release, finding solace in my body, ignoring my needs and my fears, wanting to pleasure me into obedience.

The faintest scuff outside the door.

I barely have time to drag the sheets over us as Daisy walks in.

Her blue eyes widen. “Wow.”

“Christ,” William mutters, shielding me with his body.

It’s a sweet, chivalrous gesture, even though Daisy and I have been roommates for over three years. She’s already seen me naked. She’s never seen him naked. Her blue eyes take in his muscular body with clear appreciation.

“Daisy,” I say, my face warm. I’m not sure whether I’m more scandalized by her obvious appraisal or by the fact that I feel…jealousy. How mundane of me.

“I would tell you two to get a room, but it’s clear you already did.” Her eyes dance with amusement. “Though next time leave a sock on the door. I think that’s how roommates do it when one of them’s having sex.”

“There’s not going to be a next time.”

The door closes behind her.

I cover my face. “Oh my god.”

William strokes my hair, his voice rough with sleep and pleasure, a tinge of wry amusement in his voice. “You didn’t already have a signal for this?”

“Of course not.”

“Then that means you never brought a boy back.”

The satisfaction in his voice makes my eyes narrow. “Get out.”

“Fine. I really do have to go. There’s all kinds of red tape that needs to be handled, both for the university and for the police. But don’t think we’re done here. You and I are going to come to an understanding on this. You’re not dropping out. Period.”