Page 85 of The Draft

Madison: *thumbs-up emoji* Can’t wait.

Dropping my phone into my purse, I made my way up the stairs, looking for the Ancient History aisle, which took me forever because it was in an obscure corner that had barely any lights. How the hell did he even know about this place?

With my finger on the books, I paced up and down the aisle in an attempt to calm my nerves. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I was still anxious, and that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t go away. Maybe it was just because I hadn’t seen Dash in a few days, and I wasn’t exactly dressed to entice him. Or maybe it was something worse.

The conversation with Tiff came to mind.Fudge bunnies.Was that it? Was I worried about the potential of just being a little fun to Dash? I tipped on my toes, and my heart started racing at just the thought of it. Yes. I guessed I was. Because Tiff was right, something felt off, and I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that we hadn’t told my brother about us yet or if it was something else.

“Madison.” I nearly melted in my shoes because Dash’s deep voice made me feel like every bone in my body had turned to liquid.

“Dash?” I spun on my heels only to come face-to-face with the guy I’d been crushing on for as long as I could remember.

Tall and still brooding, he was wearing a long-sleeved, white T-shirt with gray sweatpants. I swallowed down my thoughts because he looked good enough to eat. I hesitated walking over to him because we were in public.

Dash seemed to notice my hesitancy and swallowed the distance between us so quickly that I instinctively took a few steps back, hitting thewall. Grinning, he used his strong arms to cage me in.

“You seem to like this position, don’t you, Big Man?”

Hungry and dark. Okay, I could now confirm that look wasn’t because he wanted to kill me. He definitely wanted to eat me…again.

Funny. I’d been around him since high school, but this was the first time I’d seen him look at me like he wanted to throw me over his shoulder, take me to his dorm, and strip me of every earthly belonging. Something I’d happily oblige to if my brother didn’t live two doors down. Although, come to think of it, that didn’t stop me before.

As I took a breath in, my breasts rubbed against his chest, and his face was inches away from mine. Neither one of us wanted to speak, and as we stood mere inches apart, all I could feel was this hot tension building between us. The library was quiet, but I couldn’t relish in it because my heart was rioting in my chest.

For the first time, the thrill of the chase wasn’t there. It was just us. Alone together with no one trying to find us.

Twisting my head to the side, I was in awe at just how many books surrounded us. “How did you know about this place?” I raised my hand and winced. “No wait. I probably don’t want to know the answer to that.”

He chuckled and I felt that deep in my soul. “I’ve never been here before. It’s just a few of the hockey guys have told me it’s a good place to bring girls if you want a little privacy.”

This was a hockey make-out spot. My stomach wretched, and I pushed Dash away. “Please. Please. Please don’t tell me this is where Cade brings girls?”

“No.” It was a short answer, but enough to make me relax. “Cade prefers to hang out…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

I wasn’t about to push him, because frankly, I didn’t want to know.

“It was Brooks. The guy has a thing for book nerds.”

I couldn’t help but think about Tiff’s words on my current situationship. Dash asked me to meet him in a make-out spot. It was a great place for privacy, but was it because he only viewed me as a short-term hookup? Asfudge bunnymaterial?

Was he pushing off the idea of telling Cade because he didn’t actually want to date me but use me? Was I falling into the same trap I did withHenry? Why was it that when he looked at me with his deep, intense eyes, I almost didn’t care?

Dash stepped closer, resting his palm on my cheek, and I took in a sharp breath, melting at the touch.

All the wayward thoughts left my mind because something else took over. Something much more carnal.

He leaned in, and I closed my eyes, waiting for his lips to meet mine. Only, that didn’t happen. His breath fanned across my face, and my chest was heaving, but he just stood there, taking me in. I tipped my chin, trying to tempt him, but he didn’t move.

Was he waiting for me?

Sighing, Dash took a step back.

No. Wait. That wasn’t what I wanted.

Without thinking, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him right back in, kissing him hard.

Magic. Was it supposed to feel like magic when you kissed a guy? My body was tingling all over, and that only intensified when Dash’s hands dropped to my waist, pressing into my skin.

As our kiss deepened, his fingers gripped me tighter, and he made sure to swallow my every gasp and sigh. Even though I was in jeans, when he pushed his hips into mine, I could feel his hardness rubbing my center, teasing me. Dash dragged one of his hands down to the back of my knee and lifted my leg, letting it rest around his hip so he could grind into me like he was fucking me.