Page 17 of Ride or Die (The Shores #1)

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

THE STACKS

LAYLA

We have gotten into this groove where we’ve spent every single night together, either at my place or his. I am floored at how much my life has changed in the past few weeks.

Colton is a bad boy who treats me like a queen, opening up this whole world I never knew I was missing. Companionship and friendship.

Simone hasn't talked to me since our fight, but I am more than okay with that. Other than the fact she is immature, I have no idea why she got that dramatic, but I want no part of it. She's my sister, the least she could do is be happy for me.

It's 4:30 a.m. and I'm getting ready to catch the train to head into work.

I want to let Colt sleep, so I try to be quiet as I walk around my room, grabbing my clothes and heading to the bathroom to get dressed.

When I get back, Colt is awake and sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his tired face.

“What are you doing up?” I whisper. He looks at me like I have two heads.

“Taking you to work. Speaking of, we don’t have to leave for another forty-five minutes. Let’s snooze until then.”

I shake my head. “No, no, you stay in bed. I want you to sleep in today, and I’ll meet you outside the lecture hall later.”

He just stares at me with tired eyes. “I told you, my girl doesn’t take the train anymore. All those years when I’d see you standing at the bus stop, I just wanted to scoop you up and be your ride every day. I’m going with you. So stop arguing with me about this every time you have to work.”

It’s true. Every single work morning we go through this exact discussion. I just hate putting people out, but I think he likes it.

“Our lecture doesn’t start until one.” I try to reason with him.

“Yeah, so? I’ll go to the gym and the library.

It’s admirable as fuck that you hold down a regular job and go to school full-time.

I can be productive during that time too, and get shit done while you work.

I have every other time.” I shake my head at this amazing man and his hard work and dedication. Such a turn on.

He grins at me and pats the bed, and I can’t help myself. I set an alarm for forty minutes so we can head out on time and snuggle into his arms for a sweet little snooze.

The drive to work is quiet, but that’s expected at this time of day. Colt walks me to the coffee shop and waits out front for a few while we open so he can come in and get a coffee and breakfast.

Watching him walk in, wearing his gray hoodie with ripped stonewash jeans, his leather jacket, and white sneakers, is mesmerizing. His eyes are accentuated by the store lighting, that perfectly messy hair sweeping across his face. He’s so fucking sexy, and he’s all mine.

I make his breakfast and large coffee and sign his name with a heart. He leans over the counter, grabbing his meal and giving me a sweet kiss before heading out for the day.

Elliott watches the two of us interact, heading over when Colton turns away.

“Girl, I still can’t believe it was him you were talking about! You bagged the Colton Hawthorne. Every day, he brings you to work. I can’t get over it. He is so fucking smitten with you.” He beams, shaking his head as he watches Colt walk out.

Elliott is the closest thing to a friend that I have. Colt’s friends are slowly accepting me, but I still wouldn't call them actual friends.

“Why does everyone do that? Call him ‘ The Colton Hawthorne’. He’s Colton, for Christ’s sake, not some overlord.” I roll my eyes.

“Whatever, you used to call him that too. And he kind of is. Everybody is obsessed with that guy. So, is he good in bed?” He nudges my shoulder, hitting me up for information.

I snort. Fuck yes. I may not have a lot of experience to compare, but when we have sex, it’s like our souls intermingle in a unique way that could only happen with him.

“He’s my boyfriend, Elliott. I’m not telling you about our sex life.” I shake my head and chuckle. He throws a towel at me.

“Boo, you’re no fun. But I’ll take that as a yes. I mean, look at that man!”

“The guy praises my vagina multiple times a day. That say enough?” I raise an eyebrow and smirk.

“Lucky girl.” He winks, both of us laughing as we get back to work.

When my shift ends, I change my clothes before leaving, throwing on a plaid skirt and V-neck sweater. I make us a couple of drinks before I meet Colt outside the shop. His smile reaches ear to ear when he sees me, and I can’t help but return it.

“Hey, babe,” he says softly as I approach him, sitting on the edge of a retaining wall. He pulls me between his thighs and kisses my lips gently, and I hand him the coffee. “Mm, thank you. How was work?”

I shrug. “Meh, work. How was your morning?”

He stands up and we start walking hand in hand to our lecture hall.

“Went to the gym, showered, then went to the library and got a jump on study notes for the accounting exam. Yes, I’ll share them with you,” he offers.

“No, no. You keep your notes. I’ll make my own. I’m an independent woman after all,” I boast confidently. “I also do my own notes as a form of studying, so…”

“But now you have a study partner, so you’re not on your own. We can study the material together. We can even reward each other.” He squeezes my hand and wiggles his eyebrows, smiling. I can’t help but giggle at him. The big tough guy has a little silly side to him.

“I’ve never smiled so much in my life,” he confesses. “Thank you for being with a piece of shit like me. You make me so happy, Layla.” He stops us to look down at me adoringly, leaning in and kissing me softly. My stomach flutters.

“You make me happy too, Colt.” I rub my hand on his cheek. We garner some attention as we walk across campus. It’s been this way since we started dating a few weeks ago. People are fascinated to see the bad boy and the good girl together. To see Colt with one woman.

I feel like royalty when I’m with him.

We make it to class and get through the boring three-hour lecture, then go to the library afterwards. I want to prepare for a test tomorrow, and we have a ton of papers coming up.

We work together, exchanging notes and books, while I constantly look over at him with pride.

I love that he takes his education seriously.

He’s smart, and I admire him for working hard for a better life.

Even if he took a bad path to get here, I see a man who is trying to make a change, who wants a better life, and he wants it with me.

We head to the stacks to put our books back, and Colt looks at me with a gleam in his eye.

“What?” I ask, and he smiles, his gorgeous eyes darkening as he bites his lip.

“Come on,” he says, grabbing my hand.

He drags me along the aisle to the back stairwell, and we head up to the third floor. Excitement rushes through me as we hustle and weave through the aisles until we reach the literature section, the same spot we made out that day.

“What are we doing here?” I ask suspiciously, though I have a feeling I know why. This guy can’t keep his hands to himself. The past few weeks have been so erotic, well…by my standards.

He doesn’t say a word, just pins me against the shelf. His scent overwhelms my senses as he looks down at me, his lustful eyes raking over me. I throb between my thighs as his pelvis pushes into mine.

“I can’t get enough of you, Layla,” he whispers, dragging his finger down my neck and chest until he runs it between my breasts.

My skin prickles under his touch, fully igniting when he leans down and captures my mouth in a deep, intimate kiss, laying kisses along my jaw and down my neck.

“I want to finish what we started that day, right here. I’ve wanted to fuck you here ever since,” he whispers against my skin, licking my ear. I’m a puddle beneath him.

“Colt, we can’t do that here,” I scold him breathlessly. I may be horny, but I don’t want to risk getting caught having public sex.

“Oh, trust me, Layla, if we do this it will not take long. I’m already hard just having you right here,” he whispers, and he's not lying. I’ve been trying to ignore the erection that’s pushing into me right now.

I bite my lip, looking up at this sexy as fuck man before me who looks like he’s about to devour me.

“You want this Layla?” He groans almost painfully as his erection grinds further into me, and I can't help the moan that escapes me. My panties are soaking right now.

His hand skims underneath the hem of my skirt, slowly creeping up my thigh. A sexy smirk graces his mouth as he feels me tremble beneath him. The power this guy has over me is unbelievable. I live my life in a Colton haze these days.

He dips his face into my neck and breathes me in. “You want me to fuck you right here? In the stacks? Among one of your greatest passions in life?” he whispers hoarsely into my ear, his hot breath tickling me.

He moves to my lips, kissing me as his fingers slip under my panties to stroke my wet pussy, right here in front of some of the works of the greatest poets and writers of all time.

I bite my cheek to stifle a moan. This all feels so good.

So thrilling. Not just doing something forbidden, but being with a man like Colt.

“Yes. Please. Fuck me here,” I beg quietly.

“Yes, ma’am.” He lets out a throaty chuckle, watching my face while continuing to pleasure me. I moan again, louder, shaking under him.

“Shh, baby. You need to keep quiet or someone will hear us,” he whispers, quickly looking around before focusing back on me. This is so fucking exciting, and I just know I’m going to come in no time.

His pace picks up, and when he feels my walls start to clench around his fingers, he lowers his mouth to mine. Swallowing my moans as he makes me come on the third floor of the library.

I pant as I fumble with his belt and jeans, opening them just enough to release him, and eagerly grab his perfect cock.

“Mm, my naughty girl.” His breath feathers against my ear, teeth dragging along my skin.

He lets me stroke him for a moment longer before stopping me.

He looks both ways, then effortlessly lifts me, and I wrap my legs around his hips.

He pushes my panties aside, gliding his cock between my wet lips, making us both groan.

We both look down the aisle, our eyes meeting again as he lowers me onto his cock.

His eyes widen as I slide down his length bare, and I gasp at how deeply he hits me. "Fuck," he grunts, feeling me surround him.

We both look side to side again to make sure we’re still alone, and when we see the coast is clear, I grab hold of his shoulders to lift and drop myself on him. He helps by lifting me under my ass, and I fuck him standing up in the stacks of the library.

This could get us charged with public indecency, nudity, fines, maybe jail time. But in the throes of passion, the risk is so worth it.

I never thought I’d see the day, me having this sort of mindset.

He was right. We don’t last long. The thrill of being caught heightens the adrenaline and pleasure, fast-tracking us to the finale in record time.

With one last thrust, Colt makes me come, and I moan into his mouth. He pulls out, hot cum spurting all over the inside of my leg as he lets out a strangled moan. He quickly puts me down and tucks himself away, looking both ways again to make sure we weren’t caught.

Almost like he had this planned all along when he suggested I wear this skirt today, he pulls a napkin from his back pocket and hands it to me to clean myself up.

“Fuck, Layla, that was the hottest thing ever. I’ve never done anything remotely close to that before. Like ever. You’re fucking amazing.” With hooded lids, he leans up against the shelf beside me, lazily grinning as we both come down from our high, a sheen of sweat glazing his forehead.

“Yeah, if you told me a month ago I would be doing this today, I never would have believed you. You bring out the little sex fiend in me, babe. Did you know no one would come up here?"

He gives me a cheeky grin and shrugs. "I've been studying up here while you work the past few weeks. You're right, no one comes up here, so yeah, I kinda planned this."

I lightly swat him in the gut, making him laugh. "Knew it."

"We've got a little secret sexy spot now." He winks and kisses my forehead, squeezing me to him.

We walk back to the desks hand in hand, packing up our shit before heading home. As we walk to the car, we spot Serena, her eyes shooting daggers at us. She’s clearly still upset I’ve taken her ride and her most recent conquest.

"Hey, loser! How do you like my sloppy seconds? He tell you how good I fucked him?" she sneers, crossing her arms.

"Fuck off, Serena! Shouldn't you be giving someone head to get a free ride home?" Colton snaps, making her eyes widen.

“Ignore her. Everything she says is lies,” Colt grumbles.

I can’t say that it doesn’t bother me because it does. Colt has been with a lot of girls, which is intimidating enough. Add in the fact they all hate me, and I know they have malicious intent at every turn. It’s just a matter of time before one of them tries to step between us.