“Now? They’re already looking for us.”
He glances around and clicks his tongue. “I got it. Come with me.”
“Is this in bounds?” I ask after he leads me back around the corner to the spot the seekers usually wait.
He shrugs and takes a seat on the top stair so we’re as far out of sight as we can be while still pretty much being in plain view of anyone who walks by. He pulls me down into the space between his legs. “Technically it is, but no one has ever hidden here as far as I know.”
“Probably because it isn’t a very good hiding spot.”
“I disagree. It’ll take them at least ten minutes to double back, and in the meantime, I have you all alone.” His mouth brushes against my neck. His shirt is baggy on me, giving him more access and his lips trail along my collarbone.
I start to turn around so I can touch him, but he stops me. “If you get any closer, they’re going to find us naked.”
Naked sounds great, but not in front of my brother, so I don’t move.
There’s something about holding still and just receiving his affection that is hotter than anything I could have imagined. Fingertips tease my waist and occasionally dip down to the top of my jeans, but he doesn’t slide his hand lower to rub the ache between my legs like I desperately want.
This time, I’m the one who hears our friends approaching and I squeeze his calf hard enough it gets his attention. He hunkers down like he’s hiding behind me, and we sit still until Rhett wearing Reagan’s dress, a sight I’ll never be able to unsee, spots us.
“What the hell, man?” he asks as he and Reagan take a seat on the stairs beside us. “You had to have switched hiding spots after we started. Is that legal?”
He’s heated about it, talking loudly, and it isn’t long before the others find us.
It turns out that it isn’t legal, but I don’t even feel a little bit bad about it when Heath and I get chastised for ruining the game. Totally worth it.
Taryn’s chatting with Dakota on the walk back, so I take advantage of her not being attached to my brother’s side and fall into step beside him.
“Sorry I ruined your game.”
Hands in his pockets, his long stride is slow. “Eh, it’s fine. Rauthruss takes games of any kind real serious. For me, it’s just fun getting out and doing it.”
“Taryn seems nice. Should I get to know this one?”
He shoots me an annoyed glare.
“What? Come on, your track record isn’t stellar. It can’t surprise you to know I’m hesitant to get attached to one of your girlfriends.”
“Taryn’s great.” He shrugs. “Get to know her if you want or not, whatever.”
“So it isn’t serious?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’re not saying anything.” Good god, sometimes I want to shake him.
He huffs a quiet laugh. “Look, I like her. She’s nice and a lot of fun, but I have no idea where it’ll go. Dating in college isn’t like it was in high school. People don’t go into it thinking they’ve found their forever person or at least I don’t.”
I wonder if that’s a universal thing or just my brother. Heath basically summed it up the same way. Seems a little depressing if I follow their logic too deep, but fun—fun I’m in for.
When the apartment building comes into view, I fall back beside Heath.
“I promised Reagan I’d stay over tonight to talk boys.”
He smirks and his eyes darken. “You could come over later when you’re done talking.”
“I’d like to, really, but sneaking into your place with Adam there… I don’t know.”
He nods and I can’t tell if he’s disappointed or not. I’m glad he doesn’t push any harder to get me to change my mind though. I’d probably cave, and some part of me knows I’m not ready to get naked with him yet.
I’m not a virgin, but my experience is pretty limited. And if what Adam says is true, that this isn’t a big deal, I need to capture the butterflies in my stomach and give them a good pep talk about slowing their flutter every time Heath is near.
“Breakfast tomorrow?” I offer.
“Yeah. Text me and we can go over to campus together in the morning.”
“Are you coming, Ginny?” Dakota asks when we reach the top of the stairs. She and Reagan are headed into their apartment, and the rest of the group has already gone into the boys’ place.
“Yeah, I’ll be there in just a minute.”
As the doors close, Heath’s mouth finds mine. He kisses me like he’s begging me to reconsider going inside with him. His large hands frame my face, and he walks me backward until I’m trapped between him and the wall.
Heath likes to be in charge, and my body doesn’t mind one bit. His lips find the sensitive flesh at the curve of my neck and I sigh. “How many hours until the dining hall opens?”
“Five or six.” The words are spoken against my skin between nips.
“That’s a long time to wait.”
“Hungry, baby?” His deep baritone rumbles.
I don’t answer, not even sure I’m capable of stringing words together as his face nuzzles in between my boobs. We didn’t bother switching shirts back, so I’m still in his. Even through the cotton material, the scrape of his scruff provides a delectable friction. His hands fall to my ass, and he pulls me against him. He’s hard again, or maybe still, and I rub myself on him desperate for more.
He growls and pushes his hips forward, slamming me back to the wall.
“Yo, Heath—woah, sorry, man.” Maverick covers his eyes but doesn’t leave as I duck my head, embarrassed.
“What the fuck?” Heath asks, not moving. Even in my embarrassment, I can’t resist moving just slightly so I can recapture the delicious friction. At my movement, he moves his hand
