32. Wren
Ihadn’t meant to fall asleep during the movie, but my head was throbbing, and I’d been so comfortable cuddled up to Julian’s side, I didn’t stand a chance.
Apparently, my late nights with Felix had been catching up with me, too, because I’d slept through the night, straight through dinner and everything.
Though I’m sure being in an actual bed had something to do with that. Even before I open my eyes, I know I’m not on the couch; it’s too warm and far too comfortable, and the smell...
Julian.
I don’t know when I became so familiar with him that I know his scent, but there’s no question it’s him.
Which can only mean one thing.
I’m in Julian’s bed.
My eyes fly open, and I look to my right and left fast enough that I feel the muscles in my neck tighten, threatening to kink if I don’t chill out. I reach up and rub at it, finding the muscles stiff, no doubt from the way I fell asleep while watching the movie.
Nothing else hurts, though, so I’ll take it. The couch is okay, but after late nights hunched over books and the headache I’ve had all week, a night in bed was a nice change of pace.
I need to drink more water and find a way to the store to grab some snacks. Felix often brings me treats to the library, but beyond that and dinner here, I’m not great at remembering to eat. I don’t really want to cook here when I come back late, and the cafeteria seems like an even worse idea.
Julian said that Rose couldn’t hurt a fly, but I swear, when she looks at me, she’s planning ways to kill me. She has yet to actually say or do anything, though, and I’d rather keep it that way. I don’t have time for anything that isn’t schoolwork.
Which is why it’s so concerning that I ended up in Julian’s bed. At least from the looks of it, I’m here alone and fully clothed, though for some reason that almost makes this worse.
I feel like a charity case, like he’s just being nice to me.
I let myself wallow in my self-pity for all of two seconds before I shake the thought away because while he might be nice to me, it’s definitely not all he’s doing.
He’s become progressively more hands-on the last few weeks, going so far as to kiss my cheek and forehead every so often, leaving me a grinning, giddy mess.
Pushing myself up on the bed, I look around the room. I’ve never been in one of the rooms in the dorm. It’s bigger than I thought it would be, with a large window next to the bed and two doors, one to leave and one to what I assume would be a closet.
There’s not much here in the way of stuff, just the bed I’m on, a dresser, a thin bookcase, and a bedside table all in dark wood that might be brown or black; it’s impossible to tell in the low light.
The main lights are off, but fairy lights and other old-style lights hang from the ceiling and bed frame. Even with the black curtains and the fact that it seems too early for the sun, I can see, even if just a little bit.
The only color is the bedding; it's green, a deep forest green that makes me feel like I’m in nature. And there are potted plants everywhere, some with flowers, some that vine and hang from the window, the bed, and the doorways. Literally anywhere they can.
It’s beautiful, but simple and a lot less personable than I thought it would be. If you told me it was Titus’s room or even Gavin’s, it would make more sense. Julian just has so much personality that I felt like his room would too, maybe rainbows or a disco ball—something.
As if the universe knows what I’m thinking about, the man in question walks through the door, and holy shit.
I’d seen Julian shirtless that first day when he snuck into the bathroom while I showered, but this time he's not only shirtless but wearing a very low-hanging towel.
I should look away; it’s the right thing to do, and probably the smart thing, but I can’t bring myself to actually do it.
“You’re drooling, love.”
Honestly, it wouldn’t be that crazy if I were because, damn.
Julian is always pretty, but something about him, like this…
His blue hair is dripping wet, making it look darker, and his eyes pop. Water drips down his chest, and I have the urge to follow the drops with my tongue. And his tattoos!
He moves through the room, dropping the towel he’d been drying his hair with as he reaches his dresser and pulls something from it. I can’t be bothered to look at what it is, though, not when he turns and I get to see the lean muscles that sculpt his back and, you guessed it, more tattoos.
Most of his pieces are big, bright, and colorful, but they swirl so flawlessly from one piece to the next that it’s hard to know where one ends and the next begins.
“You should really stop looking at me like that, Wren.” His use of my name snaps me out of my ogling, and I look up to find him watching me over his shoulder, his gaze intense as he watches me sitting in the center of his bed, tracking his every move.
I wonder what I look like to him.
Probably a hot mess. I’m not usually one to wake up ready to go, but my braid is still in, so maybe it’s not so bad. He doesn’t seem to hate what he sees if his burning gaze is anything to go by.
“And what if I don’t?” The question is out of my mouth before I can think it through, and I’m torn between being mortified and proud of myself.
Embarrassment wins, and I feel my cheeks heat as his brows shoot up in surprise.
I expect him to snap back. Julian is witty, and his tongue is sharp. I never know what he’s going to say.
Or do apparently, because instead of responding with words, he simply lets his towel drop, and, like it or not, my eyes are drawn to the movement.
Damn, okay like it is the only real option here.
His ass isn’t tattooed, but it sure is toned. I’ve never thought a man's ass would be attractive, but Julian found a way.
I feel his gaze burning into me as he moves to step into boxers, but I don’t care. If I’m only going to get a moment with his fine ass, I’m going to commit it to memory.
Living with all these guys is getting harder by the day. I told myself I would ignore them, but it seems I’m not capable of it; if anything, I’m doing the very opposite.
Julian has been testing me since day one, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to resist anymore.
With his boxers on, he turns, and I roll my bottom lip under my teeth as I spot his very obvious bulge while he stalks toward me.
He doesn’t seem the least bit ashamed, and while I might be a virgin, I’m not stupid; Julian has every reason to be smug.
His dark chuckle makes me shake myself, realizing I’ve been very obviously staring at his junk for an indecent amount of time… is there a decent amount of time?
I flick my gaze up to meet his as he reaches the end of the bed, but he doesn’t stop, instead climbing onto all fours and prowling toward me. I can’t move, not that I’d want to; no, I’m quite content where I am.
He crawls up my body until we're nearly nose to nose, sharing the same air. He’s all I can see and smell, filling my every sense and making me ache for more to the point that I’m willing to beg.
If only I knew what I would be begging for.
“God, you're so fucking beautiful, Wren.” His breath rolls over my lips, and I resist the urge to lick them, hoping for a taste of him.
“I told you to stop looking at me like that,” he says, and I hear the warning in his tone, the promise to make me regret it.
Fuck, I hope so.
“No.”
His eyes blaze for all of two seconds before his lips crash into mine, stealing anything else I was going to say along with the air in my lungs.
He tastes like everything I’d hoped for and so much more; he’s sweet like honey, and I can’t get enough.
He continues to crawl up the bed and my body without breaking contact, and I feel his hard cock as it presses into my stomach.
I want to touch him, but I’m not sure how, and honestly, I’m not sure I could handle more right now. This kiss already has me burning up; my whole body is hot and needy in a way I’m not used to.
“Shhh, baby, breathe,” Julian whispers against my lips as he settles over me, and I can’t stop the gasp that’s ripped from me as his knee moves between my legs, pressed against my throbbing, needy pussy.
He pulls back and looks down at me, his eyes smoldering and his lips red from our kissing.
I wasn’t aware it was possible for him to be sexier.
“Fuck, you're making this so difficult,” he says as he leans further away, peering down at me as he rolls his bottom lip under his teeth and bites down hard.
“Making what hard?” I ask, unsure if I don’t understand because I’m missing something or because my brain is all frazzled from our kissing.
Maybe both.
He presses his leg up into me, making my breath catch in my throat, and he throws his head back with a low groan.
“Me for starters,” he says with a grin that's shit-eating if I ever saw one. “But I’m trying to go slow. I know you’ve never done this before, and I didn’t want to push you or overwhelm you, love.”
Well, that’s sweet, but it also kind of makes me feel silly.
He moves down my body, and his head drops to my chest with a huff.
“I’ve never gone slow before. This is terrible,” he whines, and I can’t help but bark a laugh.
“We don’t have to go slow. You're the one who stopped, not me.”
He glares up at me through his lashes but makes no attempt to move, and I roll my eyes slowly, carding my hands through his still damp blue strands. His glare melts away, and a lazy, adorable smile pulls at his lips.
I’ve never held onto my virginity for any reason in particular; losing it just wasn’t ever an option.
The one time it might have been, I was too drunk, and that ruined it.
I’d sworn never to drink again.
We lie there for a little while longer before my alarm goes off and scares the hell out of us both.
“Who sets an alarm this early on a Saturday?” Julian grumbles as he grabs my phone from the bedside table where he’d been sweet enough to plug it in for me.
“I have a meeting with Dimit—I mean Mr. Adler.”
Shit, please tell me he didn’t notice that…
His lips pull up in a devilish smirk that tells me he 100% did.
I expect some kind of snarky comment, but instead, he pushes up to hover over me again before he leans in, pressing his lips to mine. This time he goes so far as to nibble my bottom lip, licking into my mouth to tangle his tongue with mine when I open my mouth in a gasp.
As quickly as he started kissing me, he pulls away, leaving me dizzy and confused.
“If you’re going to run off to kiss another man, he needs to know he isn’t the only one.”
He moves off the bed, going to his dresser and slipping basketball shorts on while my mind reels.
Did he really just say that?
He did, didn’t he?
“I’m not…” I snap my mouth closed, unsure what to say and not wanting to lie to him.
“He’s not…”
Fuck.
My brain stalls as I try to figure out what to say, but nothing comes, still too frazzled from the sneak attack in the form of his lips.
“Hey, calm down.” He holds up his hands as he moves toward me, sitting on the edge of the bed. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t mind sharing, love.”
He holds out a hand to me, and I take it, letting him pull me out of bed and up onto my feet.
“So long as you’re happy and he doesn’t mind, I’m cool with it.”
Well.
I’m not even sure there is something between Dimitri and me, but I can’t deny this makes me feel good, better, to know that I don’t have to pick between them.
I’m not sure I could, honestly.
Before I can second-guess it, I push up on my tiptoes and seal my lips to his. He doesn’t hesitate to kiss me back with just as much passion as before, and fuck, I’m going to be late, but it’s so worth it.
I pull myself away, just barely, but I manage, taking a step back. I look up and find his gaze locked on mine.
He looks seconds from tossing me back on the bed, and while I really do love the idea of that, I have a meeting.
“For Titus,” I say before I run from his room, but I don’t miss the way his eyes go wide and I mentally high-five myself.
I don’t stop running until I make it to Dimitris' office. Yeah, I’m definitely late, but it was worth it.