Chapter Eight

Ava

For the rest of the week, we straddled the line of temptation. When the lights go off and we slip into bed, it's like nothing in this world exists, and I get lost in Colter Vaughn.

When I first learned my apartment wouldn't be available for over a week, I thought I'd be counting down the days until it was ready.

Now I'm dreading waking up tomorrow. Tonight is the last night staying with Colter, and I don't know how to feel about it.

I got a call from the leasing office earlier this morning confirming our apartment would be ready to start moving in tomorrow. It's right in the nick of time, leaving us with only two days before classes start. Hallyn will arrive in Braysen hours before, so she'll be there when Colter and his coworker move everything in.

Not long after I got the call, I heard from Anita that Expressions Dance Academy was officially offering me the job.

I should be excited. I am excited. Everything I've been waiting for is finally happening, and the pieces are falling into place. Yet I can't help but think about how much I'll miss this time with Colter, and the glow of excitement slowly dims.

Why does it feel like this bubble I've been living in with Colter is about to pop, bringing us crashing back to reality?

The house is quiet. Colter and his roommates are at football practice, but he should be home anytime now.

Home. C'mon, Ava, get it out of your head. This isn't your home. Hell, he isn't even your boyfriend.

The front door opening and the screen door slamming shut echo down the hallway, and I hear his large footfalls hit the stairs.

"Ava?" Colter hollers.

"I'm in your room," I shout as his footsteps draw closer.

He stops when he reaches the door, exhaling a heavy breath, and his eyes soften when he finds me sitting on his bed, my legs stretched out in front of me with my back against the wall.

The look in his eyes makes me wonder if his mind has been running over the same things before my attention stops on the sweat dripping down his brow.

"Did you race home after practice?" I ask since he doesn't even look like he showered.

Colter is a creature of habit, and it's something I've come to appreciate about him.

"I figured I could shower at home. It's our last night here together. I hurried back 'cause I was kind of hopin' you'd want to hang out."

A slow smile stretches across my face, and I nod.

"I think that sounds perfect."

He runs his hand over his beard, his brow lifting in question. "Yeah?"

I nod. "Yeah. Guess what… I got the call. Guess who got the job?"

"You did?" He drops his bag near his closet and turns toward me, his eyes brightening. "That's incredible. I'm happy for you. I mean, I've seen you dance. I had no doubt you'd be perfect for the job. How could they not hire you?"

He pulls his shirt over his head and uses a dry spot to wipe his face.

"Give me a few to shower, and we'll celebrate, okay?"

I motion with something that must look like agreeance. Meanwhile, I'm doing everything I can to avoid staring at his chest. All the smooth ridges of muscle I'd like to brush my lips and run my tongue over.

He steps into the bathroom, and I busy myself with trying to focus on something, anything, other than how he's naked only a few feet away.

Is it ridiculous to be jealous of water? Because I am.

I distract myself by texting Hallyn about her trip to Braysen. Her flight lands at eleven thirty-five tomorrow morning. I guess Tanner will pick her up and come over to help her get things situated, so we have a tight timeline for getting my furniture in before Tanner shows up.

I'm trying not to think about him being at our place, especially with Colter there. I hate hiding or faking whatever this is between us around other people out of fear of it making it back to Alec.

I guess I won't care so much after tomorrow. I just don't want to deal with him and whatever bad blood they have between each other now that he's transferred to play for Keaton.

He's reached out a couple of times to check on how I'm doing, asking if he could stop by one of these nights to see our new place. I've managed to dodge his calls and keep our text threads short. I'm not a good liar, and I'm dreading him finding out about whatever this is with Colter. He told me about how Alec lied to him before transferring to Keaton, and I can't even blame Colter for being angry with him.

No way am I going to let my brother ruin my first year of college or come between me and Colter.

The water turns off, and I resist looking toward the bathroom when I see movement out of the corner of my eye until a voice in my head tells me to do it. I glance up, locking eyes with Colter in his reflection in the mirror.

He's naked, holding the towel in his fist as he brushes it over his body as he dries off, all while never taking his gaze off me.

I force a heavy swallow. We've been avoiding this moment all week. Whenever we're around each other, there's no doubt we're thinking about how badly we want this, but not until we're alone in the darkness do we let ourselves give in to the desire.

I've never had a man look at me the way Colter does. My heart rate amps up, and my body comes alive from the heat in his stare. Tingles spread over every inch at the thought of his hands on me again.

The towel drops low, and I'm once again wishing I could touch him in the ways the fabric can. What the hell has gotten into me?

I'm the one who ends up breaking eye contact, giving him privacy to finish drying off and changing into his clothes. He steps out a minute later, wearing a pair of athletic shorts, and takes a seat on the bed.

He never bothered putting a shirt on, the jerk. Maybe he likes to watch me squirm while fighting against the urge to gawk at him.

"Any ideas of what you want to do tonight?"

I shrug. "I wouldn't mind staying in, you know, away from the crowd."

A smirk curls the edge of his lips. Maybe it came across more suggestive than I intended, but he's not wrong either.

His large hand wraps around my ankle, and he yanks me toward him before he moves his leg over me, taking the spot behind me. He wraps his arm around my center, pulling me until I'm perfectly molded against him.

"I wouldn't mind staying here all night."

I exhale a shaky breath, running my palm along his arm to where his hand splays across my stomach. The size comparison between his hand and mine isn't lost on me.

"What time are you thinking you'll want to move things in tomorrow?" he whispers against my neck.

"Early. Hallyn will land after eleven, and I want to have the furniture in before she shows up with Tanner."

He nods, picking up on the fact I don't want Tanner to know I'm only now moving things in.

Colter moves his thumb, and I freeze when he brushes it along the underside of my boob. He leans in close, his mouth pressed against my ear.

"We can order some food and find another movie to watch. I'm guessing you heard everyone is going to Greencastle tonight, so we'll have the place to ourselves. I'll have you all to myself for one more night."

Greencastle is at a point overlooking Sugar Bottom. I've quickly learned it's one of the hot spots for all the college parties around Braysen. Mandy mentioned during practice earlier today that with everyone starting to come back to campus, there would likely be a lot of people there.

"It doesn't have to be only one more night…"

Colter's hand slips lower, and my leg falls lax. I hear the hum of approval when his mouth presses against my ear. There's hardly any separation between his hand and my pussy except for the dance shorts I put on earlier.

His fingers continue their torture, brushing along the edge of the fabric.

"I don't want this to be the last night I have with you either." His warm breath feathers against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

He groans when I grind my ass against his front and gives in, slipping his fingers beneath my shorts.

"Colter," I moan.

My chest shudders. "Tell me what you want," he croons. He brushes over my clit and down to my pussy, where he slowly enters a finger inside me. "So wet for me already."

"Please," I beg.

"You have to tell me, baby."

"I want you. I need you," I blurt out, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

He moves down the bed until he's positioned between my legs.

"I think we should skip dinner," he says, and my eyes fly open, thinking he wants to stop again.

"Why?" The concern in my voice is evident, and he smiles.

He reaches for the waistband of my shorts and tugs them down my legs, along with my panties, in one fell swoop.

"I've already decided I want you for dinner." His eyes are locked between my legs, his large palms pressing my thighs open.

He has me right where he wants me. One swipe of his tongue and I'm sent into another orbit. I don't give a fuck about anything but wanting more of him.

My eyes roll shut when he flicks his tongue over my clit and slowly slips one finger into me. I moan, knowing without a doubt it won't compare to his actual size.

I slip my fingers into his hair, grinding my pussy against his face as my pleas grow louder and longer. I'm already trying to catch my breath when he pulls away, and I stare in awe as he pushes his shorts to the floor, and his dick bounces free.

My eyes widen when he wraps his hand around his impressive length, and I realize every assumption I had was true. His hand tightens around the tip, speeding up his movements, and my mouth is watering with how much I want to taste him.

"If you keep dragging your lip between your teeth like you're fighting the urge to taste me, I don't know if I'll be able to take my time like I want."

"You want to know what I want?" I ask, tilting my head to the side.

"Always."

I bite the edge of my lip, taunting him, and spread my legs wide while brushing my fingers over my clit. His nostrils flare, and he grunts, my name intermixed with the sound.

"I want you to fuck me," I mutter. "And I don't want you to stop."

He grabs a condom from his nightstand and rolls it on before he resumes his position between my legs, lining the tip up at my entrance. My body stiffens when I feel him start to push his way inside me.

"Fuck, you're tight." He squeezes his eyes shut. I groan, and he must hear the edge of my pain. "Don't worry, baby. It'll fit, and I promise it'll feel so fuckin' good."

He leans over me, and something is so passionate and powerful about having our eyes locked as he enters me.

"I'm almost there," he says before thrusting deep.

I wrap my arms around his back, digging my nails into his skin, and he hisses.

"Relax, baby. Try to relax and tell me when I can move."

As my breathing evens out, I nod, and when he pulls out and thrusts back in, the pain fades away, and the pleasure takes over. I wrap my legs around his waist, forcing him deeper.

"You want to know what I want?" he whispers.

He wraps his arms around me and brings me with him when he leans back on his haunches until I'm straddling his lap.

I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing his mouth closer. "Tell me."

I feel him deeper in this position, and he's hitting the right spot.

"All of you." His voice cracks, and I pull away, pressing my palm against his cheek.

"I don't want this to be my last night with you."

"It doesn't have to be."

He presses his forehead to mine as I continue to bounce on his lap, taking him hard and fast with each thrust.

When my release hits me, I find myself holding back from giving him everything because the weight of the three words on the tip of my tongue is too heavy.

I couldn't possibly love Colter after only a week of knowing him.

It still doesn't change the fact that I do.