Page 49 of The Draft

So I was going to do it. I’d see Madison, warn her about Henry, and then leave. What was the worst that could happen? I inwardly laughed because I knew damn well I was only making up these excuses in my head because I wanted to see Madison again. Even if it was for just a minute.

I had it bad. I knew that, and even though I wasn’t sure how this was going to end, I couldn’t stop myself fromfinding out.

Chapter 12

As I packed my laptop and notes away, I let the other students filter out of the lecture hall before I even attempted to make my way down the steps. With every move of my body, I felt an ache that I didn’t think was normal. Sure, I expected a little soreness after my first time, especially with someone of Dash’s size, but this felt different. My core clenched at the mere thought of him, and I couldn’t move without a yearning I’d never felt before.

The only logical conclusion I could think of was that my vagina was pining over Dash. She missed him. How could she not? He was the perfect fit, and I couldn’t blame her. Everything about last night felt right. The connection was more than I could ever ask for, and I knew he felt it too. We were meant to be together, but I wasn’t going to chase him. Not anymore. I’d done enough. It was his turn to make a move.

“Is everything okay, Ms. Bright?” the TA, Kinsey, asked, concerned. Itwas only then I realized that I’d sat there so long that the next class had already started to filter in.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I hummed, and stood, shuffling through the chairs until I made it to the stairs. “Sorry, I got lost in my own thoughts there.” I smiled, flicking my ponytail to the side as I descended the stairs. Little sharp pains shot up my center, but I hid my wince with a skip.

The pain wasn’t that bad, but it was serving as a constant reminder that I’d slept with Dash, which was making it hard to concentrate on anything but him. I couldn’t figure out if leaving him was the gutsiest or stupidest move I’d made to date. He was right in the palm of my hands, and I snuck out with the sole belief that Dash would chase me. He’d sent me a few angry texts, but he didn’t run to my dorm like I’d expected. I was upset with what seemed to be nonchalance and didn’t know what to do next.

As I passed by a few students talking, a pair of muscular hands wrapped around my waist, and when I looked down, I knew exactly who they belonged to.

Dash.

Don’t pee your pants, Madison.

My heart was beating fast with all the implications, and I wanted to squeal, but I didn’t get the opportunity to because Dash’s paw smothered my mouth.

“Shh. It’s just me,” he whispered as though I didn’t already know. My vagina was doing a happy dance, and my toes would be too if they were on the floor. I was feeling light-headed because the way he huffed as he dragged me away from the crowd was making me more aroused than I should be in the computer science building. My back slacked against his chest because I was happy for him to take me wherever he wanted to go.

Turning, Dash dropped me, so my back was against the wall and slapped his palms against the brick, caging me in. Memories of last night ran through my mind, and I did my best to stave off the excitement. I scanned his body, noting that he didn’t have a bag with him, which meant he didn’t have my clothes. He wasn’t here to give them back, which could only mean one thing: He was here to see me. Maybe he wanted to tell me that one night wasn’t enough. That time was a linear concept, and we should break these archaic rules. I couldn’t wait to hear his excuse.

I waited a good two minutes before clearing my throat and adjusting my sweater in order to hide the smug smile that was threatening to cross my face. He hadn’t spoken. He just stared at me like a long-lost puppy waiting for my reaction. That was when I knew I reallydidhave him by the balls.

“Was dragging me out of my class like a caveman really necessary?” I finally looked up at him, his eyes were dark and brooding. Strands of hair swept across his forehead in perfect spikes. Was that gel in his hair? Surely not. It must be wet from a shower or something.

“Just didn’t want you leaving before we had time to talk about a few things.”

A few things? That was the understatement of the century, but hey, I couldn’t knock him. He scouted me out, and that was impressive in itself since he didn’t know my schedule.

“Oh, yeah? What do we need to talk about, Big Man?” I enunciated in a way that made his eye twitch. Oh, this was getting good. I had him right where I wanted him.

“I came to tell you that, uh.” He was stuttering, looking anywhere but at me. Was he trying to think of an excuse to see me, or was I thinking too much about this?

He dropped his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. I had known Dash for nearly ten years now, and I’d never seen him like this with anyone. Taming a smile was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do because, when he looked back up at me, I could see it. The same want in his eyes that I had for him, but I wasn’t done making him work for it.

I wanted him feral. I wanted him so desperate for me that he couldn’t keep his hands off my body.

I raised my brow and said, in the most serious tone I could muster, “Oh, wait. Let me guess. Did you find my panties?” I scrunched my nose and bit my bottom lip. “They weren’t still wet, were they?”

A growl emanated from his chest, and even though we weren’t touching at any point, I could feel it through my body, all the way down to my toes. Turned out, I absolutely loved teasing Dash, and I could do it all I wanted now. We’d taken our relationship to a different level. One where we didn’t have to skirt around awkward subjects. He’d been inside me. How much more intimate could you get than that?

“You make it awfully difficult to concentrate,” he griped. Oh, how much I loved that sexy, snarly growl of his.

“And you make my legs sore. We’ve all got our strengths and weaknesses, I suppose.”

That one got him. His arm flexed above me, and I couldn’t deny just being around Dash made me feel a little horny. His smell. His unabashed masculinity. His smile. Everything about him made me want to rip his shirt off and let him take me any way he wanted.

Maybe this was just something that happened after you had sex with someone. Maybe you couldn’t just hang out with them anymore. I wouldn’t know, and I didn’t exactly have anyone to ask.

“Why did you leave?”

“Leave? When?”