SWNOVELS Chapter 18
Blaise
My anxiety is at an all-time high as I make the trek back to the academia building for my astronomy course. I feel almost jittery as I step inside the elevator. Trying to do some deep breathing I close my eyes and focus on taking deep breaths and releasing the air slowly from my lungs. As the elevator doors slide open, I step out into the room and with each step forward I tell myself I’ve got this. Who cares if all four guys will be sharing the same space with me in a matter of minutes. I mean definitely not me!
I feel like they’re all conspiring against me as I hear the ping of the elevator and watch them all step out into the room together. My heart rate skyrockets, and I see a sly smile slip across Nox’s face. Can he hear my heart beating? Oh stars! Now I’m embarrassed for the fact that I didn’t realize that little fact sooner. FML. Groaning internally, I make my way over to a desk and take a seat. Of course, three of the four claim the surrounding seats though this time Braeden sits to my left, Nox to my right and Carden behind me. My body trembles at their proximity.
The air suddenly stills and thickens around me, and I can feel a change in body language from Carden (even though he’s behind me) and Braeden. Glancing at Braeden I see his gaze is fixated on something, so I shift my eyes in the direction he’s staring, and I hiss in a breath. Morgan waltz’s in acting like she owns the place!
Nox looks over at me and notices where my attention has strayed and looks in the same direction as well. I hear him growl audibly. “Nox, don’t!” I whisper and I know he heard me because he shifts in his seat and sneers. Morgan doesn’t look our way, but I can tell she can feel our stares as she walks by to take a seat. There’s a smugness about her and if we weren’t in class, I swear to the stars above I would have punched her!
Gavin clears his throat to grab everyone’s attention and then begins the class. “For this evening’s class we are going to mark the well-known and the not-so-well known constellations. Please take a map from my desk and then you may begin. Oh, and you’re more than welcome to seek out help from any or all the students in here.”
People begin to stand and walk towards his desk as he has said to do. Nox leans next to my ear, “I’ll grab you a map. Stay where you are.” It sounds like a command, and I want to laugh but I understand why. I’d rather not run into Morgan if I can help it.
“Carden, can you bring me a map? I’ll stay with Blaise. Just in case -.” Braeden asks as he places a hand on my thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. Carden nods and makes his way to Gavin’s desk. Nox passes by Carden, and they do that weird head nod thing and then Nox takes his seat while handing me one of the two maps he has grabbed.
“Thank you, Nox, I appreciate it.” He grunts a response but manages to lift the corner of his lip ever so slightly in an almost smile. I roll my eyes but smile and then I turn my attention to the map before me.
Gavin claps his hands together and implores as to what we are all waiting on and then everyone begins to chat and converse with each other. Before any of us realize it, class has ended. “Leave your maps on the desk. I will gather them, and we will go over everything on Monday.” I follow the guys into the elevator but remember I want to talk to Gavin about who we’d be getting paired with for our group projects.
As the doors slide open, I say, “shoot. I need to chat with the professor. I’ll see you guys later.” They go to protest, but the door closes on them cutting off their voices. Once the door opens again, I step back out into the classroom and look around for Gavin. Spotting him collecting papers at the back of the room I start to walk towards him. Realizing he hadn’t heard me I decide to sneak up on him, give him a little scare like he had given me earlier that day. Tiptoeing up behind him I tap him on the shoulder. An almost girly shriek comes from him, and I burst out laughing. He turns around swiftly to see who had just scared the living daylights out of him. “Why in the world would you do that?” Gavin asks as he places a hand over his heart.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” With laughter still glittering in my eyes, I place my hands on my hips and smirk at him. He grins because he knows I’m referring to the incident earlier.
Gavin cocks his head to the side, “is there something you needed Miss Salvino?” His grin turns cheeky as he continues to look at me.
“Y-yes,” I manage to say suddenly feeling flustered. Turning away from him, I begin to help him pick up the papers still on the desk. The last few papers gathered, I follow him into his office. “I just had a question about the group assignment or rather who you’re planning to group with who?”
“Um, I was going to let everyone know via email on Friday. Was there someone in particular you didn’t want grouped with?” He watches as I chew on my bottom lip, and as he watches me intently, I realize how me coming back like this could have been misconstrued for wanting something else. And as this thought pops into my head, I blush because why wouldn’t I? So, I say in a rush of words, “I just wanted to ask not to be in Morgan’s group. I don’t have proof but I’m pretty sure she’s the one who cursed me, and I’d like to avoid her as much as possible if that’s okay?”
Gavin’s eyes grow wide stunned by my revelation. He takes hold of my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Of course! Don’t give it a second thought. I’ll make sure she won’t have any reason to be around you, or in my class at least.” He pulls me into an embrace, and I am surprised at how safe I feel in his arms.
Tilting my head, I look into his eyes and see the desire burning in him mirroring my own desire. Without a second thought I readjust my hands so I can wrap them around his neck and snake my hands into his hair before pulling him down to me in a crushing, bruising kiss. I whimper against his lips because I need more. Not breaking our kiss, we stumble to his couch, and he falls onto the cushion pulling me down with him. Straddling him I feel the bulge in his pants becoming larger and I’ve never been happier to be wearing a dress. Gavin bunches the skirt of the dress up around my thighs before running his hands back down my legs and then traces his fingers along my inner thighs.
Moaning as he pushes a finger and then a second finger inside me I rock against his hand and then lean forward slightly to kiss along his jaw and down his neck. Needing more than just his hands I make quick work of undoing his belt so that I can work his pants loose. I growl in frustration as I try to push them down and he chuckles before lifting his hips to shimmy them and his boxers down to just above his knees and in doing so freeing himself for me. I gasp because he’s long and thick and ready for me! Gavin wraps his hands around my waist to lift and reposition me so that I’m able to give him better access and then a second later he lowers me back down while plunging upward into me.
We both groan at the pleasure that courses through our bodies as we collide with one another. Grinding and rocking I ride him as he thrust deep inside me causing me to shiver. He feels so good inside me, and little gasps escape me as I feel myself getting closer to the edge. “I’m going to come,” I rasp out just before I place my lips against his once more. He grunts and begins to move even faster, harder and within seconds I cry out. He follows me over the edge, and we are both left panting.
Collapsing against his chest I smile as he wraps his arms around me. His voice has become even huskier if that’s possible when he says, “maybe next time we can do that without clothes on and in a bed...” I pull back from his hug so I can look into his eyes because I’m happy to hear him say he hopes there’s a next time. My smile falls away though as I realize there can’t be a next time.
Suddenly I couldn’t move away from him fast enough and quickly I climb off of him shaking my head the whole time. “We can’t do this again,” I say in anguish. “I’m a student. You’re a professor. I haven’t read their rule book yet but I’m sure what we just did is a big no - no.”
Gavin stands to his feet, does up his pants and then walks over to where I’m standing by his door. He tugs me into his arms, and I wrap my arms around his waist. He runs his hand up and down my back a few times. “You’re right. Momentary lapse in judgement. We cannot do this again.” He pulls back to gaze into my eyes, and I see the sadness in his. My heart feels like it has been hit by a hammer and has shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. I close my eyes and he presses his lips to mine in the sweetest of ways. That gentle kiss does me in and I dash out of his office to the elevators.