Page 34 of Dark Things
Stafford
It’s taking everything in me to not sit next to her. The whole duration of this math class, I watch her instead of focusing on what the professor is saying. I couldn’t tell you what the topic is and what the assignment is, but maybe it’ll give me another reason to talk to her. I could pretend like I don’t know the topic and ask for help?
I can’t get the image of her dancing last night out of my head. It’s been so long since I’ve been attracted to a woman that I almost thought I was fully into guys. No one since Belle has made me feel this excited, this turned on. I might have spent the night jerking off to the image of her grinding on Haunt.
Of course Haunt is sitting next to her, so I’m not sure how he’d react to my interest, but something tells me he’s not the typical straight jock and that makes me even more intrigued.
Once the professor allows us to leave I jump up, ignoring the rest of the students around me, and follow behind the couple moving out into the hallway. It doesn’t take me long to reach them in the courtyard.
“Hey guys,” I say. Not the most eloquent, but it gets them to turn around.
Haunt’s arm is slung over Reb’s shoulders and he’s gripping her bag in his hand. She stiffens as I approach, and for a moment I hesitate on whether this was a good idea or not.
“Staff, what’s up?” Haunt asks. He doesn’t seem pissed off, so I go for it.
“I’m looking for study partners for this class. Any chance you guys are interested?” I ask. I shift on my feet and hike my bag higher. I don’t know why I’m so damn nervous.
Haunt studies me for a moment before turning to Reb. Her mask is firmly back in place this morning. Last night I saw her let loose. She was so carefree, but this Reb’s edges are all hardened and sharp.
“What do you think,gioia mia? Want to spend time with the runningback?” He picks up a piece of her hair and twirls it around his finger while still holding onto her.
She studies me for a moment, the tick in her jaw a little too obvious. She looks up at Haunt and something passes between them before she turns back to me.
“We can do Thursdays at four, after practice. Library, not the house.”
Haunt pouts for a moment, and my whole body tingles with anticipation. Reb rolls her eyes and hip checks him a bit before he changes his expression and chuckles.
“That works for me. We can meet in one of the private rooms on the fourth floor. It’s quiet, and we’ll be left alone,” I say.
My words seem to echo around us even though we’re standing outside. I want this so bad, I can taste it.
“Don’t get any ideas, pretty boy. Studying, that’s it. We aren’t looking for a third right now,” she says before turning away, swinging her hips. I stare, momentarily caught in her web.
Haunt’s hand grips my shoulder and gives it a little shake. I look up into his impossibly blue eyes and get lost for a moment. “This is going to be fun,” he says, winking before he takes off after her.
Right now.
Right now.
It’s on repeat through my head as I walk to my car. I get in and start the engine before leaning back in the seat and close my eyes, head tipped up to the roof.
She knows exactly what I’m doing, and yet she agreed. It wasn’t a shutout, but a time out. This could go the exact way I’ve been dreaming of since the moment I saw the two of them together. No fuck that,since the first day of math class when she challenged my answer.
Beautiful women are one thing. I appreciate their beauty even if they don’t do anything for me, but smart and beautiful…Jesus.
I’m going to have to go home and take care of the raging hard-on in my pants.
When I comein the front door, Colter and Brooks are sitting in the living room, the football game on the TV. They both have beers in front of them, and they look up when I enter.
“Good class?” Colter asks, pulling out his phone. “We’re ordering pizza. The usual?”
“Yeah, sounds good.” I put my bag down and toe my shoes off before sitting opposite them on the couch. Colt goes back to his phone, and then slips in his pocket before turning to me.
“You seem a little frazzled, Staffy babe,” Brooks says, a smile on his face. I roll my eyes before spitting it out.
“I asked Reb and Haunt to study with me for Math,” I say, taking an unopened bottle from Brooks when he hands it to me.
“What? Why would you do that? You’ve never asked anyone to study before,” Brooks says.
