30. Julian
I’ve never looked forward to studying the way I do now, and my grades can attest to it.
An A.
I’m not sure when I last got an A on anything, let alone a test. I’ve been chomping at the bit, waiting for our little group study date all day to show it off.
Which is why I almost miss the slight color in my Pookie’s cheeks when she comes into the dorm.
“Oh, you were able to find your way today. Good job.” I’m out of my chair and headed toward her before I really think about it.
It’s as if my attraction to her is something outside of my control; my whole being desires her.
She’s not simply someone I want to fuck or fool around with.
No, I crave her presence, my magic reaching for her in a way I’ve never experienced before.
How does one tell a mortal they are mated to something more?
Is that even allowed?
Crap, sounds like I’ll be doing more research.
“You were still lost for a little while there, though. It’s really no big deal if I meet you after class, love.” Her eyes shoot up to meet mine at my little slip, and I mentally scold myself.
Pookie had started as a joke, but now it doesn’t feel like enough. There are so many other names I want to call her, but most of all, I want to call her mine.
“I—I wasn’t lost. I was…” She reaches for the camera that hangs around her neck, and I feel my chest swell with pride. She uses that camera daily; it’s almost always with her.
A gift from me, even if she isn’t aware of that.
She clears her throat, her fingers gripping the camera harder as her cheeks turn progressively redder by the second.
“I was taking some pictures.”
“Of what, exactly?” I ask, probably sounding too excited, but well, I am. I’m not sure what she could have been taking pictures of to make her blush, but I’d like to.
She fidgets for a moment as if debating whether she wants to tell me before she gives in with a sigh.
I love winning.
She turns so her back is to me as she flicks on her camera so I can also see the little screen with the picture previews.
It’s so small.
I make a mental note to look into cameras. Given how much she loves this one, I think she could use another, or maybe a few more. One of them has to have a bigger screen; I’m sure.
Ugh, more research. What is this girl doing to me?
I step in closer, not willing to miss a chance to be nearer to her if given the option.
She’s clicking buttons like a pro, and I lean in to rest my chin on top of her head. She pauses as if unsure before she continues on.
Another win.
I take a moment to breathe in her cotton candy scent, enjoying the almost high-like feeling I get from being this close, touching her, and breathing her in.
Huh, what’s that?
I breathe in deeper, and there it is again. A deep, earthy tone that I’d never smelled before.
People’s scents don’t just change, at least not for no reason, but with her being mortal, it’s not like I can just ask her about it.
I’m pulled from my musing when the camera screen flicks to a stop, and I find Nolan in the picture.
Well, color me surprised; that wasn’t at all who I was expecting.
I’d thought maybe Dimitri had finally snapped. I’ve seen the way he looks at her in his class and, more importantly, the way he looks at me when I drop her off at said class.
I’m shocked his eyes didn’t fall out of his head on Monday when I kissed the crown of her head. I’d wanted to do so much more, but I refuse to rush her. I’ve never gone slow with anyone, never had a reason to, but Wren…
I’m not sure there’s anything I wouldn’t do for her.
“Nolan…” I'm unsure how this happened. He’d apparently changed sides at some point and decided Wren wasn’t so bad. We’d been studying together on Wednesdays and Fridays, but that’s small shit compared to this.
“I was wandering, trying to make myself more familiar with the building, when I stumbled upon the pool. I didn’t even realize it was him at first, but he swam like he was born to be in the water, and the next thing I knew, I was taking pictures.
” I hear the way her voice climbs, clearly embarrassed to admit this out loud, and I bite back the urge to wrap her up in my arms and squeeze her the way I want to.
She’s so stinking cute, but I know now isn’t the time. Soon, hopefully.
More importantly, I need to hear how this little meeting went because Nolan isn’t one to let people sit and watch him; he’s even less likely to let them take pictures.
So either she went creeping on him, and he has no idea she took these, which I love, or she’s gotten to Nolan even more than I thought.
Somehow, I also love that.
She flicks through a few more pictures, and I get my answer. She’d snapped a photo of him pulling himself from the pool, water cascading down his body like he’s a model, rolling over every muscle and leaving his hair hanging like a dark curtain in front of his face.
It’s a great shot, and I’ve never looked at Nolan like that, but I can see why Wren might be drawn to him, or anyone else would, for that matter.
The only issue is that, if you look really hard, you can see the sheen of his scales. It’s not enough that I think anyone will assume anything past him being wet, but it’s close.
Wren shifts, pulling me from my thoughts, and I don’t need to ask or even guess why when her cotton candy scent takes on a spicy note that I’ve come to associate with my little Pookie being hot and bothered.
Maybe I should take up swimming?
That’s not necessary, though; the first time I’d smelled her arousal was when I’d snuck into the bathroom with her that first morning, far before Nolan was even a thought in her head.
Perhaps it’s time to pay her another visit… The last time I’d tried, Titus stopped me, and while he’s right, Wren isn’t stupid. I think I’m past caring.
I know she won’t tell anyone, and it might be against the rules, but I’d almost bet my immortal soul that she’s destined to be mine.
“Mmm, no wonder you wanted to watch him swim.” I don’t even try to hide my implication and can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips when she turns around, mouth open and eyes wide, before she whacks me in the chest with the back of her hand.
But she doesn’t deny it, and I still smell the proof that she didn’t mind the view.
“Stop that! He’s a great swimmer!”
“I’m not denying that. The boy’s like a fish, but that doesn’t negate his attractiveness.
” I mentally high-five myself for that little joke that she, of course, won’t get, but it was still too good to pass up.
Something else she won’t understand is the importance of him allowing her to not only stay but to snap pictures of him like this.
At first, I wasn’t sure if he was aware, but there are a few I’ve seen with him looking her way as if posing, and that one of him coming out of the water… Well, he must have planned that.
Clever bastard.
“Your brother swims, right?” I'm pretty sure I remember seeing Jordan at a few of the competitions we went to for Nolan. He’s not like Gavin, though, and he didn’t usually ask us to tag along, so I’d only ever been to a few.
It’s always better for everyone if we avoid the dean at all costs; he has a way of making us all miserable. It’s a talent, really.
Her face falls, and she turns back to look at the camera, like she’s trying to hide it, but I can damn near taste her sadness as it perfumes off her.
Strange.
“He did. He was pretty good, too. I spent hours studying by the pool growing up. He would have me time him or record him so we could play it back and see what he could improve.” Her wistful tone lets me know it’s a fond memory they shared, and I can’t help but imagine a little Wren with her big books while the rest of the kids swim.
We’re both quiet for a moment before she looks over her shoulder at me, her eyes sad and glossy with unshed tears.
I’ve always been a pretty nice guy overall, but with her, I feel like the biggest softy because seeing her like this is breaking my heart, something I wasn’t even sure existed outside of for Titus.
“Thank you for the camera.” Her bottom lip wobbles, and that’s it—my final straw.
I lean down, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her up into my arms. I half expect her to pull away, but instead she wraps her arms around my shoulders and grips my shirt as if she needed this hug as much as I did.
“What camera?” I ask, unable to help myself, and smirk when it has the desired effect.
She pulls back to glare at me, and while it’s not all gone, she doesn’t seem as sad, and that’s all a guy could want.
I roll my eyes but give in. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it. I don’t know anything about cameras…” I trail off, realizing I should probably keep to myself how I picked it. Something tells me if I tell her I just picked a moderately expensive one, she won’t be too happy.
Titus sure as hell wasn’t, but then again, he never is.
Instead, I give in to yet another urge that’s been riding me, leaning in until my lips press to the top of her head. I hear her take a deep breath; at the same time, I hear the door open.
I may or may not have sensed Nolan approaching the door, and while I didn’t do this for him, I can’t say it wasn’t a happy accident.
His eyes fix on us as if drawn by a magnet, and I look up at him before I pull away, watching his jaw clench and his nostrils flare before he quickly gets himself back under control.
Which is just as well because the second the door clicks closed, Wren’s pulling herself from my arms to turn and see who’s just walked in. Her shoulders relax when she sees Nolan, and I hear the sigh of relief.
I fucking hate that she’s so on edge that she can’t even be comfortable here, where it’s supposed to be her own space.
“Ah, well, we’re all here now, so I can share the good news.” I release her despite wanting to do literally anything else and walk back to the table to grab the paper I’d been looking at before Wren came back.
I hold it up like a trophy, and well, I guess it kind of is.