“I don’t know about all that,” I say a little shyly, staring down at my hands. “I mean, I think I can make him happy, you know? I hope I can.”
Faye giggles. “You have it bad, Anna Bell.”
I groan at the nickname. “Not you too.”
But really, I was happy. Faye was now my friend, and Arrow was right—she was a good friend to have.
“Hey, it’s catchy,” she replies, standing up and dusting off her pants. “I have to go pick up Clover. I’ll see you tonight, if you’re coming back here.”
“Okay. Thanks for the workout.”
She smirks. “That totally sounded dirty.”
I roll my eyes, my lip twitching. “Seriously?”
She grins and pulls her hair down from its ponytail. “See you around, Arrow’s woman.”
I shake my head to myself as she exits the gym, then I force myself to stand up.
Arrow’s woman.
Damn if I didn’t like how that sounded.
HAVE you seen Tracker?” Allie asks me, sticking her head inside my door. Why the hell is she asking me? I’m not Tracker’s keeper. I don’t understand Allie. Is she just a shit person? Or a woman who hides behind her defenses, which in her case would be her bitchiness and general unpleasantness.
“Nope,” I reply. “Haven’t seen him all day.”
He is probably hiding from her. That’s what I would be doing.
She makes a noise of irritation and stomps her foot. “I’m so sick of this shit!”
“Why don’t you just call him?” I murmur, staring down at my textbook and wishing that she would spontaneously combust. “And why the fuck are you in my room?”
“He’s not answering,” she reluctantly replies. “If he’s with another bitch I’m gonna kill him! And her!”
I slam the textbook shut. “Can you please fuck off and leave me out of your shit? I’m trying to study.”
“Fuck, you’re a bitch,” she replies, sounding a little surprised. “How about some fucking help finding him?”
My phone beeps with a message from Lana.
Come over, I’m bored.
“Is that Tracker messaging you?” Allie asks, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to peer at my phone. Was she serious right now?
“You’re still here?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. I put down my phone and sigh. “I don’t know where he is, Allie, but if I do I’ll tell him you’re looking for him, okay?”
“Anna, I have to go out for a bit,” Rake says as he enters the room. He looks at Allie. “Everything okay in here?”
“She won’t leave me alone,” I say dramatically. “You should make her leave.”
Rake ignores my outburst. “Do you wanna come with me, Anna?”
“Will you drop me off at Lana’s after? She’s in need of some Anna time. I’ve done my time here anyway; I get to go home now.”
His face falls slightly at that. “Is that how you feel about staying here? Comparing it to prison time? Fuck, Anna. I love having you here.”
Shit, now I feel like a bitch.
“I’ll come back on the weekend, how about that? You know I just like having my own space,” I tell him, trying to get him to understand. Allie silently leaves the room, clearly bored with our conversation.
“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters. “Come on, I need to stop at Rift, then we can have some lunch before I take you to Lana’s.”
I smile widely. “Thanks, bro.”
His eyes soften. “Get your shit together then.”
“Okay,” I say, standing up and grabbing my bag. Arrow walks in a few seconds later, just in time to find me in a compromising position, bent over, searching under the bed for my pen.
“Trying to kill me, aren’t you, darlin’?” he says, clearing his throat.
I sit abruptly on the bed. “Yes, I purposely waited in that position in hopes you would drop by.”
He chuckles at that. “Lucky it was me then.” He looks behind him, then murmurs, “Fuck it.”
Closing and locking the door, he steps to me and lifts me up to a standing position. Then, without a word, his lips are fused to mine. Hands on my ass, he lifts me in the air, and I wrap my legs around his narrow waist. “Need to be inside you,” he says against my mouth. “But I can’t.”
“Why not?” I whisper, digging my fingers into his back, trying to get myself as close to his body as I can.
“I can’t do that to him,” he grits out. “I fucking can’t. I need to talk to him first. I need to tell him.”
I groan in frustration and lay my forehead against his chest. Suddenly he lays me back on the bed and starts lifting up my maxi skirt.
“Arrow?”
“Shhh,” he soothes, running his hands up my thighs and pulling down my white lace panties. I gulp in air as he spreads my legs wide, making a sound of masculine appreciation deep in his throat.
“Beautiful,” he says in a soft, husky tone, then his mouth is on me, licking gently. I arch off the bed as he pays attention to my clit, gripping the sheets and slamming my head back into the pillow.
“Arrow, holy shit,” I whisper, looking down to see his head between my thighs, the sight so erotic that a whimper escapes my lips. His large hands are on my thighs, spreading me to him, his head slightly bobbing as he worships me with his talented mouth. The orgasm creeps up on me, hitting me with full force. I take the pillow next to me and cover my face so no one can hear me scream. Arrow keeps at it, sucking my clit until he wrings every possible cry from me, each wave of pleasure making my thighs tremble and my eyes roll back into my head. I move the pillow away from my face and squirm silently, letting him know I’ve had enough. It’s too much; it’s too sensitive. He raises his head and looks at me with a smug, satisfied look.
“That tongue should come with a warning,” I pant out.
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, then kisses the inside of my thigh, once. I hear Rake call out my name, and I quickly jump out of bed on shaky legs. Arrow stands and grimaces, adjusting himself, his arousal straining through his jeans. I lick my lips, wishing nothing more than I could take care of that big problem for him.
“Later,” he says, staring at me, promise in his eyes.
I pick up my bag from the floor, then realize that I’m not wearing any panties. “Where are my panties?”
He looks to the ground, picks them up and lifts them in front of him. Grinning, he hands them over to me, but not before smelling them first.
“Weirdo,” I say as I take them from his hands, then slide them on. “When will I see you next?”
He rubs the back of his neck, considering. “I’ll talk with Rake tomorrow, then come and see you afterward.”
I swallow hard. “Okay.”
I close the space between us and press a sweet kiss to his lips, unable to stop myself from running my hand over the bulge in his jeans. “You better not use anyone else to relieve this.”
His eyes darken. “I’m going for a cold shower as soon as you leave.”
“Is that your promise to not screw around with anyone else until we sort out whatever this is between us?” I ask boldly, my eyes not leaving his.
He tilts his head slightly, which I take as agreement. Another quick kiss and I walk out of the room, where Rake is waiting for me in front of his bike.
“You know,” I tell my brother, “maybe it’s time I got my own bike.”
His smile is so wide that I can’t help but smile with him.
“I’ll teach you how to ride, then I’ll happily buy you a bike,” he says, handing me a helmet.
“A hot-pink bike?”
He laughs at that. “If that’s what you want.”
I get on the back of his bike, still smiling.
Life is looking up.
* * *
I was having the worst day ever.
After a long and tiring day of observations at the zoo, I wait at the bus stop. I finished classes early and didn’t bother to message Rake because it was just easier to take the bus than hassle someone for a ride.