8. Savanna #2
“Shut up,” she whisper-shouts at me. “Are you serious?” Before I can answer she says, “Oh fuck, Deirdre has him in her sights. Remember when I went on that low-carb diet, and then I almost orgasmed when you brought me that chocolate donut?”
“I do,” I whisper back. “It was a very awkward moment for me.”
“Well, that’s exactly how she’s looking at your man. Want me to tackle her?”
I grab her arm when she starts to take off and shake my head. “No, just watch.”
She shrugs, and I can tell she thinks I’m crazy, but Niki’s eyes have already found me, and I trust everything I see in them.
When Deirdre steps in front of him, giving him one of her big smiles while she not-so-subtly arches back so her boobs look even bigger, he doesn’t even glance at her.
He just steps out of her way, never taking his eyes off mine until he’s right in front of me, cupping my face and kissing me like he hasn’t seen me in weeks instead of hours.
“Goddamn,” I hear Madison whisper, and the awe in her voice is exactly how I feel because goddamn.
“Morning,” Niki whispers against my lips.
“Morning.” I smile up at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought you breakfast, and I want to drive you to class.”
“Really?” I ask.
He grins while grazing his thumb over my cheek. “I can’t let my girl go to class hungry.”
“Oh my god,” I hear Madison whisper in a that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard tone of voice.
I laugh and look over at her. “Madison, this is Niki,” and because I can’t not say it, I add, “my boyfriend.”
From somewhere behind me, I hear Deirdre mutter a “Whatever,” before stomping out of the room.
“She’s not used to her nipples failing,” Madison says before telling Niki, “Nice to meet you.”
“I didn’t notice them, and I really wish she’d stop trying to get me to,” Niki says while he gives Madison a friendly nod.
Madison grins at us and then mouths the word damn when Niki turns his back.
I give her a smile and a wave as I follow Niki out to his car.
When I’m sitting in the plush leather seat and smelling the delicious scents of hazelnut coffee and a bacon sandwich, it hits me that this is my life now.
My boyfriend is an insanely gorgeous guy with a brilliant mind and enough tattoos to always make my heart speed up, and he’s also the kind of man who loves to bring me breakfast and drive me to class.
“Better eat fast, sweetheart,” he says, when he’s almost to my building and I’m still staring at him from my seat.
“I can’t believe you did this,” I say before taking a big bite.
He gives me one of his shy smiles before placing his hand on my thigh and giving it a squeeze.
“I missed you,” he admits, and my heart breaks into a million pieces right here in his car because there’s no way it can contain everything I’m feeling right now.
This man shatters me in the best way possible.
“I missed you too,” I tell him.
He darts his eyes to mine before making a left turn onto campus, and even though it’s just a quick one-second look, it’s enough to spark me right back to life.
Keeping his eyes on the road, he squeezes my thigh and says, “Eat, baby.”
It’s hard to chew when my smile is this big, but I know I’ll be starving by lunchtime if I don’t try. I manage to eat it all and drink half my coffee by the time he pulls up in front of my first class of the day. I unbuckle and scoot closer to him.
“Thanks for not noticing Deirdre’s boobs again,” I say.
“Please don’t thank me for that. I have no desire to see anyone but you.”
I can’t help but grin and say, “You could’ve seen all of me last night.”
He groans and cups my face, pulling me closer so our lips are almost touching. “Don’t think for one second I haven’t been thinking about that all night long.”
I smile and kiss his bottom lip. “Did you do anything about it?”
His chuckle is sexy as hell when he says, “I did,” and threads his fingers in my hair.
“Did you think about me while you did it?”
“Who the fuck else would I think about, Van?”
Without letting me answer, he presses his mouth to mine and kisses me until nothing else exists except the feel of his mouth against mine and the weight of his hand cupping the back of my head.
For a few precious minutes, I lose myself in him, and when he pulls back, it’s too soon for me and I try to kiss him again.
“You’re going to be late, baby,” he reminds me.
“Believe me, I don’t want to stop either, but you know how important this class is, and your professor will be pissed if you’re late.
” He gives me one last slow kiss. “I refuse to come between you and your classes. I’ll pick you up after your last lecture, okay? ”
I smile and nod. “Okay.” When I sit back, I look out the window, remembering everything he told me last night. “You’re sure it’s safe?”
“I would never let you step foot out of this car if I didn’t think it was.”
He sees my reaction to his words and grins. “There’s my dimple.”
“Yours?”
“Yes, mine, just like every other part of you.” When I hesitate, torn between kissing him again and actually getting to class on time, he makes the decision for me by saying, “Dr. Ellison is going to be pissed, Van.”
“Shit,” I mutter, finally getting my butt in gear.
I steal one last quick kiss and then grab the to-go cup of coffee because there’s still half left and I’m not about to waste it.
I open the car door, but before I get out, I look over at him and say, “I can’t believe you know all my professors’ names. ”
He gives me a wink that has me seriously reconsidering my plan to attend class today and says, “I’ll meet you outside your last class. Good luck with your child psychology exam, although I know you don’t need it.”
“Wow,” I whisper. “You have some stalker issues, don’t you?”
He grins. “You have no idea. Make sure you eat lunch, Van.” He winks and adds, “I’ll know if you don’t. I’m guessing it would embarrass you if I ordered a pizza and had it delivered to your class.”
“Don’t you dare,” I tell him as I step out of his car. I lean down and give him a smile. “I’ll see you soon. Thanks again for the ride and for breakfast.”
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
I’m still beaming like an idiot when I walk into my class and quickly take my usual seat near the front with mere seconds to spare.
When I look up, Dr. Ellison’s brows are scrunched in concern as he looks at me.
I smile to let him know I’m okay. I’m usually the first one here, not the last, and I’ve never rushed in with a flushed face and loopy grin.
I duck my head, wanting to hide the state Niki’s left me in from my much older professor, the one whose opinion matters most to me and whose input could negatively or positively impact my entire future.
Getting my head back in the here and now, I push aside all sexy thoughts of my boyfriend and instead focus on Dr. Ellison’s lecture.
It’s a lot harder than it probably should be.
My mind keeps wanting to wander, and I have to keep reining it in and back to where it belongs.
When class is over, I’m not too surprised when I hear my name being called.
I look towards the podium to see Dr. Ellison motioning for me to come to him. I nod and start to gather my things. While I’m carefully sliding my laptop into my bag, I hear Garret say, “Somebody’s in trouble.”
I briefly glance over at the guy who’s always given me the creeps.
His large frame is blocking my exit from the aisle, and when I step closer, he doesn’t step back to let me through.
His dark eyes run over me in the same leering way they always do.
Grabbing the strap of my messenger bag, I say a quick, “Excuse me,” and then hurry and squeeze past.
“I’ll see you around, Savanna,” he says, but I ignore him.
He’s tried to make conversation a few times, and I’ve always politely gotten my ass away with excuses about needing to get to my next class.
He’s never said or done anything that crosses a line, but he looks at me like he’s imagining me naked, and it’s unsettling to be on the receiving end of it
“Is he bothering you?” Dr. Ellison asks as soon as I’m near him.
“No, I’m fine,” I tell him, while he starts gathering up his lecture notes from class.
He glances over at me, clearly not convinced but also not wanting to overstep any boundaries and butt in.
He brushes back a lock of dark hair that’s fallen onto his forehead while his blue eyes continue to study me.
I heard him joke once about nearing fifty, but he could easily pass for early forties.
It’s no secret that a lot of the education majors have a crush on Dr. Ellison, despite the fact that he’s married and has three kids, but I’ve never seen him like that.
From the beginning, he’s been my mentor, and I can’t imagine seeing him as anything other than that.
“You’re usually early for class. Everything okay?”
“I’m sorry about that,” I say. “It won’t happen again, Dr. Ellison.”
He’s quiet while he stuffs his notes into his briefcase before grabbing a folder out of it.
Closing the case, he takes the handle and then pauses while he looks at me.
“You’re very smart, Savanna, one of my best students.
I’d hate to see you lose sight of your goals.
Next year is going to be very challenging. Now isn’t the time for distractions.”
“I’m not distracted,” I start to say, but it’s hard to defend something when I know it’s true, so I quickly add, “I’m not going to let anything distract me from my goals, sir.”
He raises a dark brow at me. “Or anyone?”
When I blush instead of answering, he gives me a quick, amused grin.
“I know what it’s like to be young, Savanna.
Have your fun, but keep your eyes on the goal, okay?
I’ve seen too many young women fall in love and set their dreams aside for someone else’s.
That’s the last thing I want for you.” He holds up the folder and hands it to me.
“I made some notes for you to read. Your ideas are good, and you’re going to make one hell of a teacher. ”
When I reach for the folder, he keeps a tight grip on it while he adds, “If you stay the course.”
“I will, Dr. Ellison,” I assure him as I take the folder and then return the easy smile he’s giving me.
“Go on,” he says. “You can’t be almost late for two classes today.”
“I won’t be.” I turn back to give him a wave as I speed walk out of the lecture hall.
Once I’m outside, I race down the path that leads to my next class.
While I’m jogging past a group of students coming from the other direction, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.
I pull it out right as I hit the steps outside my next building.
NIKI:
Everything okay?
I turn around and look up, trying to find the security camera.
NIKI:
To your left, beautiful, by the oak tree.
Spotting the camera, I wave and blow him a kiss before typing a response.
ME:
I’m fine, just running a bit late. I’ll tell you about it later.
NIKI:
Looking forward to it. Have a good class, Van.
I blow him another kiss before rushing inside.
The rest of the day passes by as expected.
I’m on time for everything, and I spend my lunch break eating a large slice of pizza from the cafe while I text Niki and get a head start on some of my assigned readings.
Just like he promised, he’s waiting for me when I step out of my last class, and falling back into his strong arms feels like the most natural thing in the world, like we’ve been doing this routine for years instead of just one day.
Over the next couple of days, Niki is waiting for me every morning with breakfast so he can drive me to my first class, and he’s waiting for me when my last class lets out.
I’ve had some big papers due, so after we grab supper together, I’ve been forced to put my focus on classwork instead of on him, but he’s never once complained or made me feel bad about it.
There’s a four-day weekend coming up, though, and I’ve been secretly working ahead so that I’ll be able to spend most of the time with him.
That’s still a week away, and I’m busy thinking about how it feels like a lifetime away when he surprises me with a text.
NIKI:
I hope you’re hungry tonight. My family always has way too much food at these dinners.
ME:
We’re having dinner with your family?
NIKI:
We are. Be ready in 30, sweetheart.
I drop my phone and scurry my ass into the bathroom, torn between excitement and terror. I’ve met his family before, but this will be my first time meeting them as Niki’s girlfriend. I try not to think too hard about that while I rush to get ready.