Page 87 of The Draft

I pouted my bottom lip out. “Why not?”

“Because I like my scholarship,” he grumbled before looking up at me with a glint in his eyes. “And you’ll most likely see it later.”

Fudge bunny alert.

As I looked at Dash, Tiff’s words echoed through my mind, and I knew I should have probably talked to him about it instead of kissing him like he was my only oxygen. I couldn’t help it, though. The feeling I got with Dash was different. With Henry, I was riddled with anxiety, pushing him to try to get a reaction. I knew Dash better than Henry, and in my mindthe situations were completely different. I could trust Dash. I knew it.

“Come to my dorm,” I said breathlessly and without thinking, because I didn’t want our time together to end.

“Your dorm?”

“Yeah. It’s the middle of the day. No one’s around. Let’s hang out.” I sunk my teeth into his bottom lip, playing with the fabric of his shirt. He let out an uneasy sigh because he knew the innuendo behind it. I couldn’t help myself. Now that I had him, I wanted to feel him all over again.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” His eyes dragged down my body, and I tried not to take his hesitancy personally. “I’ve got a game in a few hours.” Ah, yes. How could I forget? I had Cade’s hockey schedule plastered on my wall.

“Fine. Then come back to mine for a few more minutes. I just want to spend some time with you. Alone.”

Still uncertain, I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed the light stubble across his chin. His muscles relaxed. Then I kissed the corner of his mouth, moving away when he tried to make it a full-on kiss. Gripping my hands on his shoulders, I pulled him down so I could whisper in his ear. “Pretty please?”

“How the hell am I supposed to say no to that?”

“You’re not. That’s the point.”

“Fine.” I grinned, and he pointed at me in warning. “But I can’t stay long.”

I raised my hands and nodded. “Sure.”

Dash held out his large hand, and I eagerly accepted it. I wasn’t sure why, but that move made me feel like there was something a little more ‘official’ about our relationship. He was going to walk out of the library hand in hand with me. Anyone could see us. This was a huge move.

Leading me across the floor, it took two of my steps to keep up with his, but he slowed the minute I heard voices. That was when he dropped my hand and adjusted the bill of his Covey U baseball cap.

With his gaze planted firmly on the floor, he walked ahead of me and out of the building.

Okay then.

I’d clearly read that situation wrong.

Once outside, it took Dash a few of his large strides to realize I was lagging behind him, and although I didn’t want to pout in public, this little game between us didn’t feel fun right now. I wanted to shout from the rooftops that Dash and I were together, but we still weren’t there yet, and I was starting to wonder if he was using the concern over my intentions as a convenient excuse.

“You coming?” he asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets, throwing me a small smile. If I blinked, I would have missed it. I didn’t have the heart to throw a scene in public, so I shuffled forward, leaving a comfortable distance between us, but making sure I didn’t touch him. His elbow brushed against my arm as he side-stepped a little closer to me, but I stepped away, keeping my gaze to the floor. This wasn’t how I wanted Dash, and I was starting to feel like the same dirty little secret Henry was trying to keep.

“You know, I really feel like we should be waiting until tomorrow, after our date, before I go to your dorm,” he whispered as we walked through the quad.

I looked at him from the corner of my eye and answered with a small, placid smile. His lips twitched in return and my heart fluttered. Just like the night he took my virginity, that electric energy was flying between us even though we weren’t touching.

This had to be real. I refused to believeotherwise.

Chapter 21

“Well, at least this is more appropriate than the library,” Aster snarked as she walked past us. When she got to her dorm door, she turned and looked at Madison. “I’m going to put some music on, but could you please spare me the graphic details and at least try to keep it down?”

“Sure thing,” Madison said quickly.

I rolled my eyes, wanting to push back on the request, but honestly, that girl kind of scared me, and I didn’t want to waste the little time I had out here arguing.

When Madison opened the door to her dorm, I wrapped my arms around her hips, kissing her hard as I walked her in. Admittedly, it probably wasn’t my smartest move since I’d never been in her dorm before, so I had no idea where I was going, but once I was far enough in to clear the door, I kicked it shut.

Walking backward, Madison pulled me in until she hit the back of her bed. Then, she dragged me down and we crashed into her bedding. Istopped kissing for a second, admiring her sheets.