Page 55 of Those That Don't Exist
“I think I’ve already made my choice.” I look up at him as we walk, admitting my truth. “I’ve wanted you since I first saw you reading under a tree in the courtyard, and nearly getting taken out by a ball.”
“You saw me then?” He halts our stroll to stare at me, wide eyed.
“Yes…” I reply, elongating the word.Is that a bad thing?
“Haha,” he chuckles. “I thought my stalking abilities were much better. I didn’t think you spotted me until weeks later in the gym.”
He shakes his head in disbelief, I can’t help giggling too, finding him incredibly adorable.
We resume walking for several minutes in silence. Our hands linked, swinging between us. It’s a companionable silence between us. The kind which feels comforting and without any need to fill the quiet. Although a question pops into my head.
“As far as first dates go, this one sucked pretty bad right?” I keep my tone teasing.
“You think this was a date?” Ty side-eyes me, brows raised.
“Well, there was drinking, and dancing, but arguing isn’t a good sign is it?”
“No, I didn’t like it. I did like the way you admitted you find me attractive though. I liked your body's reaction to my hands on you even more.”
“Can you really smell everything?” My cheeks heat once more thinking about how turned on I was.
“Yes, and with practice so will you. You just need some training.”
“Great.” I grimace, not sure I was wanting to be able to smell intimate details on everyone around me.
“You’ll learn how to block it out most of the time too.” He lowers his voice. “And how to have fun with it.”
The butterflies are back in my stomach, and I hope he can’t feel how my hand is heating in his as my temperature ratchets up a couple of degrees. Just when I think he’s going to stop teasing he leans down to add next to my ear in that delicious smooth tone of his.
“You should wear dresses more often when we’re together. Your arousal might be my new favourite scent.”
I stumble in my heels as my feet forget how to walk. Ty is quick to react, spinning in front of me to stop my fall. Another laugh escaping his lips.
My hands grip the shirt covering his chest as I peak up at him through my lashes. His crystal blues catch in the streetlights, dancing with amusement. It's not fair how gorgeous he is,especially when he’s being flirty and playful like this. My heart doesn’t stand a chance as it takes off in my chest.
He brushes my hair back with a soft touch, hooking it around my ear. He lets his fingers linger on my skin, drifting them down the side of my neck, until he reaches my pulse point. I feel the caress all the way down to my core.
“Red, you’re really feeding my ego right now. If you react this much to my touch I wonder what would happen if I were to kiss you?”
My mouth drops open on a pant. I know this reaction to him is strong, I barely know him, but I don’t want to understand. I just want to feel.
“Please…” I plead. I need to feel his lips on mine. One side of his mouth pulls up in a grin.
He stares into my eyes for a few more seconds, I think he’s looking for certainty. I gently pull on the material of his shirt, to show him I am.
Just as he leans into me a little more, and brings the hand on my neck to my nape, to cradle my head, a drop of cold water lands on my nose.
A second later another lands on my cheek, making me tip my head back. Before I can blink more cascade down, interrupting the moment with a literal cold shower. I swear I hear Ty growl before he pulls back. He grabs my hand again before pulling me along the street, back towards the campus. We break into a run as the rain turns into a deluge.
We’re both soaked in seconds, it’s like the sky is trying to drown us as cold rain pummels my skin. Tiny shards of ice land all over my skin but my lips remain warm, the ghost of that almost kiss refusing to die.
We’re crossing the main courtyard, the one where I first spotted him, only a few turns from my house, when Ty suddenlydeviates. He swings right, pulling me into an archway of one of the lecture buildings.
I slam into him, the momentum at which we were flying too much to easily stop in my heels. He lets out a harsh ooph as his back hits the concrete wall behind him. He recovers quickly, wrapping his arms around my waist and starts laughing.
“We might need to work on your gracefulness as well as your senses,” he taunts.
“You try stopping quickly and gracefully from a sprint in these stilettos, I dare you,” I fire back as I peel my now dripping hair back off my shoulders.
