Page 18

P hillip texted me this morning and let me know that he had the same World History class as me. Which will be very interesting, given that I also have it with Malik; after last night, I have a feeling that he will be very needy for my attention.

Who knows? Maybe this is all one really strange prank, and I’m just the butt of a joke. But the look in his eyes and the passion in his touch in my dorm room tell me that isn’t the case. He wanted that as badly as I did.

As usual, I arrive at Ivy Hall early to get settled into my seat with Sunny before anyone else shows up. But as I turn into the room, I see that someone else beat me.

I hate the way my heart skips a beat when my eyes land on Malik, sitting in his seat with a smug smirk on his lips. His tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip, and an image of him on his knees before me flashes in my mind. The same devilish gleam in his eyes right now as when he licked me like a lollipop in my room.

My body warms instantly as I enter the room and walk over to my desk, waiting to see if he says anything.

Immediately, he leans forward in his seat. “Good morning, Bug. Sleep okay?”

Sunny settles into her spot next to my desk.

“Hi. Umm … yeah, I slept well. I was exhausted .”

His eyebrows twitch, and he bites down on his lip. “Really? Well, I know how important sleep is to you. I was just trying to help.”

I giggle. “So selfless of you.”

He shrugs. “I know.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, finding a text from Phillip.

Phillip: I know I’m the worst, okay? But I’m running so far behind this morning. Meet up after class? I’ll bring some coffee.

I laugh, knowing I shouldn’t be surprised by his tardiness. He’s always run on his own clock. I type a quick response.

I’ll take notes for you.

Phillip: You’re a lifesaver. I owe you.

Yeah, you owe me a coffee, LOL.

Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I look back up at Malik, finding his stare burning into me.

“I told you there’s no going back after last night. My name might as well be tattooed on your skin and yours on mine.”

My lips part, and butterflies take flight in my stomach. I know he’s a man of his word, but I wasn’t fully prepared for what being Malik’s would entail.

Stepping toward my desk, I lean over the small railing dividing our rows. “Who said I wanted to go back?”

“That flirty smile on your lips when you were texting.” He lifts his hand and cracks his knuckles.

This shouldn’t turn me on … right? But there is something so incredibly hot about seeing him bent out of shape over a text.

“You know you’re a little possessive, right?” I bite down on my bottom lip and grin, watching his lips twitch upward.

Reaching forward, he wraps his fingers around my throat and squeezes just the right amount. “Oh, baby, you have no idea.”

“Jesus, Malik. I know you don’t like her, but there’s no need to choke her out in class.” Asher bursts out laughing as he walks in the room.

“Careful, Ash. You’ll be next.” Malik laughs.

Malik releases me, although I could have stepped away anytime I wished. Embarrassment floods my cheeks, and I take my seat next to Sunny.

Sunny looks up at me, and I wonder what she thinks of Malik. Clearly, she likes him enough to have snuggled in my bed with him last night while I was at dinner.

Images keep playing in my mind, flashing clear as day as I remember what happened. I think he might be right though; no one else could make me feel the way he does. As alive, as on fire, as euphoric.

Part of me wonders if this is only about sex to him, but I find it hard to believe. Especially after the way he held me once I relaxed between his legs, wrapped in his embrace. I could feel it like a tangible being—the connection between us. The kind that doesn’t just happen after one encounter, but one that has been building for years and years, manifesting and warping into the beast it is now.

“Alora?” Malik calls out my name.

Hearing it tears me from my thoughts, and I turn to find Malik, Asher, and now Dean all staring at me.

“You all right?”

I nod. “Yeah. Sorry. I think I zoned out. What’s up?”

Malik’s eyes and smirk tell me he knows exactly what I was thinking about.

Malik interrupts Asher as he opens his mouth. “Nothing. He’s just being a little fuck.”

Asher glares at him but remains silent.

Ooookay .

The rest of the class starts filling up, and the next hour flies by as I take notes like my life depends on it. I know that my family’s money and name could buy my degree. But I want to earn it the right way.

After I finish jotting down notes from the professor’s last PowerPoint slide, I pack my things up.

Slipping my backpack over my shoulders, I lift Sunny’s leash, and she stands up, stretching her legs. Blair walks out with Griffin and Lumi, giving me a little wave as they whisper to each other, clearly deep in conversation. I’ll catch up with her later.

I’m the last one in the room to leave. We head outside into the sunny day to make our way to Moor Hall for piano practice.

The second I step off of the stairs, I feel his presence in front of me before I even look up. Like a part of ourselves exists in one another, an extension of our own bodies.

I’m scared of how much I’m drawn to him. It’s like the moment I stopped fighting it, it somehow got ten times more intense.

“Where are you heading next?” Malik asks, and his friends look our way, shocked that we are politely speaking to one another instead of bickering.

Blair looks at me with a sassy smirk and a knowing gleam.

“Alora!”

I hear Phillip’s voice and watch Malik’s jaw tic.

Spinning around, I see Phillip walking toward me with two cups of coffee in his hands.

As Phillip closes in on me, Malik wraps his arms around my shoulders, tugging me snug against him.

God, he’s ridiculous.

Phillip chuckles at Malik’s poor attempt at marking his territory. I’m surprised he hasn’t tried peeing on me yet to warn other men off.

“For you.” Phillip smiles, stretching his hand out toward me.

As I start to take the cup from Phillip, Malik tugs at my arm, and I lose my grip. The cup slips through my fingers and falls to the ground, splashing and spilling everywhere.

I gasp and jump back as the coffee goes flying, barely able to move at all since there’s a human wall behind me.

Spinning in his arms, I glare up at him. “ Malik .”

He holds his stare on Phillip for a moment longer before dropping it to me, his eyes softening immediately. “Yes, baby?”

“You’re a brat. You know that?” I cross my arms over my chest.

I can’t tell if I’m more pissed off at him for spilling a good cup of coffee, disappointed that he can’t behave for two seconds, or turned on that the thought of a man giving me coffee threatens him.

If he wants to fetch my coffee for me, he can, all day long. But now, I’m coffeeless and sad.

Asher and Dean laugh at him. I’m sure they’ll give him shit later, too, for suddenly being Mr. Protective instead of Mr. Bully.

Glancing up at Phillip, I find humor dancing in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. I mouth the words, I’m sorry.

He chuckles. “It’s okay. Malik, I have no interest in Alora romantically. So, next time, try not to ruin her coffee just to make a point.”

Malik stays quiet behind me.

The giant clock tower at the center of the quad chimes, and I look to see that I’m now also late .

Pulling away from him, I roll my eyes. “Be nice . I’m late for practice. I’ll see you later.”

When I turn away from him, he strikes, catching my jaw in his hand and pulling me back to him.

His lips are on mine in a heartbeat, his other hand threading into my hair as he kisses me like it’s the last chance he’ll ever get.

Everything around us fades away as I greedily take from him. If he wants to claim me in front of everyone, then he can do it.

I’m breathless and dazed when his lips part from mine. His eyes are darker than normal, his eyelids heavy, and his breathing is shallow.

“I’ll find you later,” he murmurs.

Asher and Dean walk over to us.

Dean takes a jab first. “Malik, we leave you alone for one night, and you go and get all soft on us?”

He scoffs. “You think I’m soft?” He turns to look at them. “Want to find out how wrong you are?”

They laugh and put their hands up playfully, waving the white flag.

“Phillip’s walking me to my practice room.”

Malik’s head whips my way.

“And you are going to deal with it because he’s one of my best friends. And that’s not going to change.”

His eyes dance between mine, a storm brewing inside. So much has changed since I’ve been here at HEAU, but drastically so in the last twenty-four hours.

“Okay.” The word is painful for him to say, but he lets Phillip and me walk away without another word.

He might not be trying to make me cry right now, but that doesn’t mean that everything is clear as day. My mind is still clouded and not just because of my POTS.

I can still feel it though—the heaviness between us, like there’s a wall I still can’t climb or see through.

Getting caught up in the moment is one thing, but there’s still so many unanswered questions. They just escaped my mind when he had his tongue between my legs.

But I need answers, sooner than later.

Sunny prances alongside Phillip and me as we head toward Moor Hall and I wave behind me at the group.

I’m showing Phillip where his afternoon class will be on the way before I head to the practice room that I have reserved for two hours. I already looked up which building and room his class is in.

“So, uhh, how was last night? The last time I saw you with Malik it was very cordial and now he’s practically trying to piss on you to claim you.” Phillip chuckles, putting no effort in hiding the amusement in his voice.

I glare at him. “Malik and I talked … a little.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, I bet you guys used your mouths a lot to communicate with one another.”

“Shut up.” I laugh, which morphs into a sigh as I remember that this isn’t a dream. That Malik really just kissed me in front of everyone without shame. “Do you think I’m stupid? Or naive for trusting him?”

He takes a moment to think, and I don’t blame him. I don’t know how I would react to him if the roles were reversed.

Walking down the cobblestone path, he looks over at me. “I’ve known you almost my whole life, and I’ve admired you for a lot of reasons. One of them being your ability to read people clearly, no matter who they pretend to be. You have good instincts, and if they’re telling you to take a chance with him, then I trust your judgment.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I can’t lie and say that I’m not a bit worried. I mean, he is still the same Malik who tormented you in high school. Those moments are just as real as these.”

“I know,” I murmur, biting down on my lip as I contemplate his words. “I mean, I’m obviously a bit hesitant. I would be dumb not to be. I wish you could have seen him last night though.”

“No, thanks. I do not want to see those parts of him.” He winces, and both of us laugh.

Shoving his shoulder, I continue, “Not like that . But the way he was treating me when my POTS started acting up. He helped me regulate and didn’t make me feel bad in the slightest for interrupting the moment. He was so … genuine .”

He can hear it in the silence, just like I can—the inevitable but .

“But I know that the other side of him is still there. What happens when he wakes up and realizes that his hatred outweighs whatever he’s feeling now? Will it go back to the way it was? Because I can’t handle that.” I sigh. “I know he’s keeping secrets from me. I just don’t know what they are yet.”

Phillip stops me. “Just take it day by day. Don’t start making wedding plans or shopping for rings. Don’t rush into anything too serious until you can fully trust him,” he cautions me.

“You’re right,” I murmur.

But it’s too late. I’m already falling, plummeting really, and I guess we’ll find out eventually if he’ll be there to catch me before I hit the ground.

“Go through here, and about halfway down the hallway, the door will be on your right,” I instruct him, seeing the structural layout clear in my mind.

I already memorized campus like the back of my hand, including all the buildings. I like to know things to avoid ever getting lost. What can I say? I’m an overpreparer.

“Thanks, Lore. I’ll catch you later, okay?” He winks at me as he backpedals toward the building, spinning around just in time to climb up the stairs.

My senses tune in to everything around me as I’m left alone.

The birds chirping, the sound of a water fountain flowing and splashing to my right, the smell of fresh flowers in beds.

This place really is incredible. I need to remind myself to slow down and smell the roses sometimes … literally.

I make the quick walk over to the music department, and I seal Sunny and me inside of the practice room, intent on not leaving until I’ve perfected the new assigned piece from Von London.

Time melts away as I play, and by my tenth time through the music, I can perform parts without the glancing at the sheet music, my fingers following the patterns of the notes while my eyes memorize the music.

“You’re incredible.”

Malik’s voice startles me, and I jump at the sound, turning to find him standing in the doorway.

God, I was so locked into the music that I didn’t even hear him open the door.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, calming myself back down. “Also, you really shouldn’t try to scare me. It’s not exactly good for my heart,” I tell him, slightly kidding, slightly serious.

His eyes widen and soften. “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

I nod and pat the piano bench next to me. “I’m fine. I was mostly giving you shit.”

He walks into the room, the door shutting behind him. Walking around the side of the piano, he sits down on the bench.

“Would you play something for me?” He glances over, looking down at me with a gleam of vulnerability.

Oh God, I don’t know if I’m ready to open this part of my life to him. It’s my most sacred piece.

“Please?” Reaching out, he outlines my cheek and jaw with his caress.

Nodding slowly, I set my fingers back on the keys.

Quickly racking my brain for what to play, I settle on a song that feels like a representation of our relationship, whatever that may be.

Striking the minor chords, I play from recollection, holding his stare as my fingers dance across the keys.

This was one of the first pieces I ever wrote. I used to love how haunted it started off, mixed with soft major notes. It’s a war between light and dark.

I actually wrote it so the pianist selected the ending. It can either end with one side winning over the other or the two coming together in a perfect balance.

As the music fills the room, he watches me in complete awe and admiration. Our breathing begins to sync, his breaths quickening with mine as the music picks up.

It’s getting to the point where I need to deviate and choose a path to end the song. Maybe just for today, I’ll let the haunted notes win. Besides, darkness doesn’t always mean bad. It could have simply gone without light for so long that it forgot what it felt like.

My eyes drift close as I play the last part of the piece. Striking the final note, I open my eyes. Malik’s gaze has darkened, much like the music.

“You are fucking perfect, Alora.” His voice is breathless as he cups my face and claims my lips with his.

He deepens it, parting my mouth with his tongue. A soft moan vibrates from me to him, and he groans in response.

A knock on the door tears us apart, and I once again find myself jumping in shock. Either I’m way too on edge or everyone else is being far too sneaky.

Rupert Von London smiles through the window and opens the door. “Alora, there you are.”

Malik stiffens beside me. You’d think some fifty-year-old man wouldn’t pose a threat in his mind, but I’m not too surprised. It is Malik.

Professor Von London looks over at Malik, and his gaze falls to his arms, decorated in countless black-and-white tattoos. He grimaces slightly, so insignificant that I’m not sure Malik even notices.

When he glances back at me, his smile resumes. “I am proud to officially extend an invitation to HEAU’s annual showcase.” Striding over to the back of the piano, he hands me a wax-sealed envelope.

Jumping to my feet far too fast, I take a deep breath and accept the invite. “Thank you so much. I am so honored to have been chosen.”

He beams at me. “I look forward to hearing your performance.” He pauses, looking Malik’s way with an indiscernible look in his eyes. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

Turning around, he strolls out of the room.

Looking down at Malik, I find him staring at the door with a snarl on his lips.

“I don’t like that guy.”

I roll my eyes. “You don’t like any guy who talks to me.”

That earns his attention, and he shifts back to me. His hands fly to my waist, and he pulls me down onto his lap.

Planting a kiss on my temple, he shrugs. “I don’t like people thinking they can take you from me.”

“Afraid I won’t stop them myself?” I ask cautiously, wanting to gauge his trust.

He studies my face. “It’s not that, Bug. I just protect what’s mine. I won’t survive losing another person close to me.”

My heart aches. “And I’m one of those people?”

“The top of the fucking list.”