Shuffle (Ruby Riot #2) (16 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

FLEUR

Will’s away for a week, in which time I attempt to suppress how I feel, but the distance only intensifies everything. I lie in bed picturing us in the study room and on the sofa, arousal building as I skip forward in my imagination.

Will is not the man I expected.

What do I think of him now? He’s a sweet guy underneath his image, and at odds with the one I’ve read about. My initial view he’s using me is eroded. Will pursued a girl who repeatedly told him to leave her alone, and drew me to him until he became the person who drifted into my mind as I lay in bed at night. When I discovered the lie over who he was I was prepared to never speak to him again. Will refused to let me go.

Then there’s the way he’s always looked at me, not predatory like the other guys recently, which backs up his words that he cares. Will calls every day and brushes away any doubt with his crazy sense of humour, interspersed with out of the blue complaints that he misses me.

I miss him too, an irrational amount.

In an attempt to switch off and deal with the ache for Will, I throw myself into my dissertation, doubly determined to do well after Shaun’s veiled threats and patronising comments.

I’ve manage to avoid Shaun, but today my luck runs out. I have a class in one of the upstairs rooms in the same building as his office and I’m on my way past when his door opens. We both stop and look at each other, a wave of anger sweeping over me as I take in his smug face.

“Fleur. A word please.”

I hesitate and glance at Steph.

“I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

She cocks a brow. “Uh huh.”

“No! Not like that.” My cheeks heat and I hope to hell Shaun doesn’t hear the exchange.

Steph leaves, and our lecturer from the class passes us with a nod to Shaun on the way out. The building entrance door closes. I listen for movement upstairs but the creak of floorboards stopped.

“I’ll talk to you here,” I say and cross my arms.

“Fine. How’s the dissertation going?”

“Almost done.”

“Is the paper much different to the work we discussed?”

“I think so.”

Shaun gestures to his office. “I really think you need to come inside and discuss this.”

“I don’t have anything else to discuss with you.”

Shaun steps closer and I step back. “Don’t you want my help?”

The awareness we’re alone in the building edges in. “No.”

“I think you may need it.” He’s close. Too close and I attempt to back up again but I hit the wall.

How did I misjudge this man and become caught up in his spin and clever seduction techniques? “Why?”

“I published a paper last week. An article in
American Historical Review
to showcase some of my new research.”

“Prestigious. Good for you.”

“You should read it.”

“I will.” I edge away but Shaun places his hand against the wall, caging me in. I straighten. “Get the hell away from me.”

“You think you’re special, don’t you?” he whispers, his breath against my cheek. A reminder of the night he attempted to persuade me into sex is triggered by his subtle scent and the prickling fear intensifies at his tone.

We’re alone.

“Do you think you’re too good for me? Well you’re not.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

He places the other arm against the wall and looks down at me, body centimetres from touching. “If you fuck rock stars, you must be easy. Time you let me have a go too.”

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” I say in a low voice. I need to get away. Now.

“It would be in your interests. Believe me.”

“You’re disgusting!” I push him in the chest but he catches my arm. “This is harassment! I’ll report you!”

Shaun laughs. “Good luck with that.”

“Come near me again and I will!”

He lets go and brushes my coat where the material has creased. “When you need me to help clear things up, let me know. We can come to an arrangement.”

“Clear what up?”

His mouth curls into a knowing smile. “Misunderstandings. Good night, Fleur.”

I refuse to be drawn into his game and don’t respond. My head is screaming a hundred questions, but my sixth sense sends me to the door before he takes hold of my arm again – or worse.

As I hurry across campus through dusk, I drag my phone out and call Will.

“Hey!” he answers. “Two secs.”

The background noise quiets as he moves. “How’s your day?”

“Will.” No other words come as I hold back tears.

“Fleur?”

I gulp down air. “When are you back? I want to see you.”

“What’s happened?”

“I just want to see you. I miss you.”

“I’m in Edinburgh tomorrow. I won’t be back until Monday.”

“Okay,” I say in a whisper.

He pauses. “Fleur. Tell me what happened.”

I can’t. I don’t want anybody to know what happened with Shaun – today or any time. Will already suspects and I don’t want him involved. I’m embarrassed and ashamed that I’ve been so stupid. My mistake. I can deal with the arsehole on my own.

I fight the thickness in my throat. “I just had a bad day, that’s all. How’s your day?”

My light tone may or may not have fooled Will. I don’t know, and I sit on a bench to listen to his voice. Will’s stories of his recent band interview and photo shoot amuse me, the stories of Jax and Ruby refusing to do as they’re told by their publicist. I’m gradually pulled away from the crap of my day.

“Thank you,” I say when he pauses.

“For what?”

“Helping me switch off. Caring.”

“You know how much I care, Fleur. I hope you’ve told me the truth.”

“Honestly, it’s only stress about assignments.”

“Right. You know what’s funny? I can tell from your voice how you’re feeling.”

“Why’s that funny?”

“‘Cause that’s never happened before with a chick. Weird, huh?”

“Well, you are weird, Will.”

“Shut up.”

“Excuse me!”

A soft laugh is my answer. “I miss you. I want to know what’s bothering you and help.”

“By help I hope you mean a hug and not tracking down the perpetrator.”

“Of course. As soon as I’m back in London, I’m there.”

We face our usual end of call awkwardness. What’s the etiquette here? Are we dating? More? Every time the endless moments pass, where we both attempt to figure out what to say, my heart rate speeds. Today I don’t want him to end the call, not yet.

“I’ll look forward to Monday,” I reply.

“You’re funny. You sound like you’re organising a business meeting. So formal.”

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’ll see you on Monday and we can deal with our unfinished business.”

When we end the call, I clutch the phone to my chest and summon up images of Will to replace those of disgusting Shaun.

Images of our unfinished business.

Chapter Thirty

FLEUR

Will returns a couple of days later, and I’m surprised by him waiting outside the lecture theatre. I hadn’t arranged to see him until later today. I see Will before he notices me; he’s sitting on a bench hunched against the cold November day with hands in pockets as he watches people pass. More people seem to notice him these days, although on campus he’s still Will Campbell, student, to most.

One or two stop to speak to him and he grins. I share his happiness; if he’s smiling this broadly, they’re complimenting him on the new album or his music. With this comes a sinking in the pit of my stomach. He’ll leave campus. It’s inevitable. Although I’m happy to see him, another part of me resents he came back this academic year and stole his way into my heart. If he’d stayed away, I wouldn’t be facing hurt.

As if to confirm this, a couple of girls approach Will. He stands and folds his hands beneath his arms scanning round until his eyes rest on me. Without a word to the girls talking to him, he strides over.

A week since I saw him and the feelings I have attempted to bury spill out as I walk towards him too. Will sweeps me into his arms and off the floor, squeezing tight around my waist as he looks up at me. I grab his shoulders in surprise and suddenly the world around doesn’t matter. The only people who exist in this place are us.

“Missed you so fucking much,” he says as he looks up at me.

My pulse rate hikes as I look into his eyes, and the doubts drift away. When somebody looks at you the way Will is now, there’s more than a casual connection. He drops me to the floor and seizes my head for a kiss instead. The scent and taste of Will trigger my body’s demand for this man, and I press myself into him, the safety of his arms around me wiping away the fears around Shaun. A giggling pulls me away from our space in time; but our kiss continues, the ache for each other not soothed yet.

If I stay here, doing this, I’ll combust. I shift my mouth and bury my head in his neck. “You weren’t joking about seeing me as soon as you arrived back, were you?”

“Arrived home about an hour ago.” Will rests his chin on my head. “I hope you’re free tonight.”

I pull away and touch his mouth. “Of course! I haven’t made any plans because I knew you were coming back.”

“Good.” Will unhooks my bag from my shoulder and drapes it across his. He takes my hand and we walk away from the building. “Now, tell me what’s happening. What upset you?”

I glance at the pavers, kicking my way through the leaves on the ground. “I’m okay. Forgotten about it now. You know how over the top I am about my grades.”

“Hmm.”

“Taking me somewhere special this evening?” I nudge him with my elbow, attempting a swift subject change.

“Bed.”

I snap my head around, expecting a teasing Will smile, but he stares straight ahead as we continue walking. “Ha-ha.”

He stops. “Why’s that funny?”

“I don’t know, just –”

Will takes my coat by the collar and drags me closer. “I don’t want to wait anymore. This is killing me.”

My breath rushes out with an ‘oh’ sound as his steady look holds mine. Our phone conversations over the last few days increased with innuendo, his forthrightness shouldn’t be a surprise, but face to face, this is different. “You said you didn’t… I mean last time you…What changed your mind?”

“Oh, nothing really. Just that I love you.”

I blink away the words. “What?”

“I love you. I mean, I kinda thought I did already but, when I was away, I spent a hell of a lot of time wishing you were with me. Then you called and sounded unhappy and my chest ached. Like, literally.” He fists his hand over his chest. “In here, it hurt. I thought I had heartburn or something.”

“Will…”

“Shush! From that moment I’ve counted down the hours to seeing you.” He holds my face in both hands. “So, I guess I must be in love with you. Don’t know what else to call it but I’m pretty sure it isn’t indigestion.”

My heart thuds in my ears at his weirdly spoken confession, and I place my hands over his cool fingers. Typical Will, out of the blue, no sense of time and place. Over the last few weeks, I’ve grown to love something about Will. This guy speaks off the cuff, never tempers his words. If he has something to say, he’ll say it, often with unintended, and funny, results.

But I never expected him to walk into my day and tell me this.

His brow dips. “This isn’t what you’re thinking. I’m not saying this just to get you naked.”

“I wasn’t thinking that,” I say in a soft voice. “If you were lying I’d know. I was thinking how crazy this is, and how I felt the same. I’ve never missed anybody the way I missed you.”

The strangest part of all this is Will’s constant public displays with me, right from the start. We’re in the middle of campus, kissing, telling each other our deepest thoughts as people pass by. What if we’re photographed? Doesn’t he care? But I understand. When I’m with him, the world around us fades into the background and becomes about my lips on his, his hands on me, and a connection that crosses both our worlds.

His frown disappears, a grin replacing the concern. “Felt the same? You had indigestion too?”

I poke him in the ribs and he winces with a laugh.

“Funny.” I glance around at the passing groups, not wanting to be overheard. “I never expected to fall in love with somebody like you.”

“Somebody like me? A pierced, tattooed slacker?” He kisses my nose.

I laugh. “You may be a pierced, tattooed slacker, but you’re my pierced, tattooed slacker. And you know what? You’re not a slacker; you’re an amazing guy who chased his dreams. Slackers don’t do that.”

“Right, so…?” He cocks an expectant brow.

I reach out a hand and run my fingers along his scruff until I rest them on his lips. “Despite your stupidity, you’re worth a hundred of the other guys I’ve met recently.”

“Yeah, I know that.”

I sigh. “Big head!”

“C’mon.” He wraps his large hand around mine and we stroll away. The late autumn sun is brighter in the sky, the cold day warmed by Will’s presence.

“You always do these things in public, Will. Why?”

“Dunno. Just didn’t want to wait, I guess.” I rest my head against him as he wraps an arm around my shoulder instead. “You’re awesome.”

“So you keep telling me.”

****

FLEUR

The evening with Will begins as an attempt at a civilised date as we head out for a meal at a local Indian place. The problem is every look and every touch – brushing fingers, legs against each other under the table – adds more to our need to leave. I’ve never been in a situation where sex is the aim of the evening. I would’ve been appalled with myself in the past, but this is bloody hard. I almost dragged Will upstairs when he picked me up from home earlier; and I’m pretty damn sure he’d say yes if I’d asked.

“I bet you don’t usually wine and dine girls you take to bed,” I say as we arrive at my place.

“Don’t, Fleur. I’m not him with you and won’t be again.”

“Not him?” I kick my shoes off in the hallway.

“No.”

“The one who has girl’s at his feet. How do you do that? Why would they, if they know you won’t hang around?” I curl my arms around his neck. I’m not drunk, but the warm, fuzzy edge is around the world again.

“Because.” He kisses me. “I’m.” Another kiss. “Irresistible.”

“Conceited!”

He laughs. “You know it’s true.”

Will Campbell scoring an invite into my bedroom was impossible two months ago, and inevitable at the same time. The first time he approached me at the party, I genuinely was grossed out and pissed off; but the minute this guy walked into the study room that day, something changed. Chemistry; the elusive spark between two people I’ve heard talked about. I denied it; but the longer I spent alone with Will, the more I wanted to be close to him.

After he betrayed me by lying, I thought back to the time I met the real Will, when I thought he was Nate. The evening Will stood with me, Anne, and Jax at the concert, the strange sensation of something filling the small space between Will and myself confused me. At that time, I thought I was falling in love with Nate, and suddenly Will was having the same effect on my heart rate.

“What are you thinking about? You look lost.” Will sits next to me on the bed, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the nearby lamp.

“You. Us.”

“Us.” He smiles and moves my hair, placing his lips gently on my neck. I shiver as he kisses along my skin, resting his mouth on my pulse point as his arm curls around my waist. “What about us?”

I shift to face him. “How unlikely we are.”

“Isn’t that what makes us special?” Will’s kiss is soft, fingertips gentle on my face. “I think we’re perfect together.”

Will’s love is spoken through each kiss and touch, and we explore what’s beneath the need for each other that follows us around. However gentle, the line needs crossing. I lie back and tug him toward me. Will’s face hovers above mine, and the familiar vibration trips down my spine as he traces my lips with his fingertip. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers with a hint of a smile, before leaning in and replacing his finger with his mouth.

Gentle but demanding, Will’s lips move against mine, the weight of him against me adding to the intoxication. My senses are given over to everything Will, from his subtle spice scent, to the touch of his fringe against my forehead; the taste of the man my body craved every moment he was away from me. I push my hands beneath his shirt, across the solid muscle of his abs to the planes of his back.

Will sits back and drags off his shirt, the body I explored highlighted in the orange glow of the room. The tattoo covers his chest and I slide a hand to trace the outline.

“Where did the piercings go?” I ask, running a finger across his nipple.

Will flicks open a button on my blouse. “I didn’t want you running to the bathroom and throwing up again.” I giggle at him then hold my breath as Will unbuttons then pushes my shirt to one side, gazing down at my breasts pushing against the black lace bra. “I don’t want you going anywhere.”

He runs his tongue across my collarbone to the top of my breasts, his hot breath stroking my skin. My nipples harden in anticipation of his mouth, but he stops.

Will pulls me upwards; and this time when his mouth meets mine, his kiss is hot and hungry. His fingers tangle into my hair as he pulls my head backwards and delves his tongue into my mouth. I climb onto his lap, and Will slides his arms around to my back, gripping me close, his mouth and hands possessive. Where our skin meets, the heat builds and I want him. I want the connection. I want to be his.

He pushes my bra straps, down and unsnaps the clasp. “Too many clothes.”

“Way too many,” I say and move my fingers to the button on his jeans.

Will moves away and his jeans hit the floor as he shuffles out of them. I shiver as he kisses from my belly upwards, cupping my breast before closing his mouth around my nipple. He circles his hot tongue, the piercing on his lip rubs, and a lightning-jolt trips along every nerve ending as if this is hardwired to the rest of my body.

Will’s hand slides beneath my skirt, higher along my thigh until he reaches my ass, pulls my hips towards him and grips. He looks up at me, as he unzips the skirt and I wriggle until the material hits the floor next to his jeans.

The only barrier now is thin cotton panties, dampening with each kiss and touch from Will. The ache builds as he traces fingers along my inner thigh and skims along the cotton. He sits back and hooks his fingers into my panties, then pulls them to the floor. Again, he trails a hand along my thigh until he reaches the apex.

His mouth finds mine again, as he covers my body with his, and I make a soft noise as he strokes my sensitive flesh. I push myself against his palm, as the kiss continues, and Will slides a finger inside, resting his thumb on my clit. I dig my hands into his hair, clutching him to me.

Will pulls away and props himself on his other arm, looking down at me. The lust in his eyes is matched by a reverence I’ve never seen in a man’s eyes before, and his mouth tips into the Will grin as he stills the movement of his hand.

“Want me to show you how lip piercings feel on other parts of your body?” He moves his finger from inside me, and circles my clit and my body clenches because Will doesn’t need to explain what he means.

Without waiting for a response, he leisurely kisses me from my breasts to my belly, dipping his tongue into my belly button. Will grasps my waist and drags me to the edge of the bed as he kneels on the floor; his rapid, hot breath strokes my flesh as he pulls my trembling legs onto his shoulders.

White light arcs across my vision as Will drags his tongue along the length of me, then closes his mouth around the bundle of nerves. The metal of his piercing contrasts the soft of his tongue, intensifying the toe-curling sensation as he licks and sucks me. Will murmurs something, adding to the loosening control as I push my hips against his face. Will grips my thighs, spreading my legs further as he runs his tongue along me, teasing.