“Cole,” Tristan muttered beside me as we showered, water sluicing over muscles I shouldn’t be eating up with my eyes, “whatever you’re thinking, it’s a bad fucking idea.”
Haruto turned and stared at the two of us. “Leave Eva the fuck alone. Today’s the first time I’ve seen her relaxed at practice in weeks, and I sure as fuck know it wasn’t due to anything the two of you did.”
Tendrils of jealousy tightened in my gut, sending poison racing through my veins like fire.
Tristan gave me a look he must have thought was significant, but I was tired of this shit—tired of tiptoeing around the team, tired of pretending that Eva didn’t want us. Fuckingtired.
After Saturday’s board meeting, I needed her. I needed to hear her cries of pleasure, needed to know this was worth it. I needed to know that selling my soul was worth it.
While Eva was getting breakfast, I set up my books at thelibrary on the third floor where she liked to study on Mondays before her classes began.
By the time Eva got to the library with Vi and the puck bunnies, I was ensconced at their table, my books open, half studying, half waiting in anticipation of Eva’s expression when she found me there.
The shock in her eyes, followed by unexpected softness, was interrupted by Katie’s cry of frustration.
“Cole! What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Studying,” I said, holding Eva’s gaze.
Violetta narrowed her eyes then began packing up my books while the girls tried to figure out how to evict me without causing a scene.
“He can stay,” Eva breathed. They didn’t hear her over their hubbub, but she slid into the seat beside me. “Don’t be a dick,” she murmured before opening her textbook and getting to work.
My heart thudded unevenly, embarrassingly, with relief. I’d expected her to throw a temper tantrum.
The girls settled around us, surprising me with their studiousness. I hadn’t realized that they genuinely studied here instead of simply hanging out until class started.
One by one, they packed up to go to class until it was just Eva, Katie, and me. Katie eyed her watch with misgiving.
“Go to your class,” Eva said quietly to Katie. “I’ll be fine.”
Katie’s lips twisted in frustration, clearly not pleased to be leaving her friend.
“The woman said go,” I repeated, my lips curling in cruel amusement.
Forty-five minutes later, Eva packed her books up. I followed suit, not saying a word as she stepped toward the stairs, only to wrap my arm around her waist and shove her down an aisle of stacks.
“Cole, what are you doing?” she whispered. “I have to get to class.”
“You’ve got time,” I murmured, walking her backward through the stacks until she had nowhere else to go.
She shoved against me, but she was too small, too weak, and I knew what I wanted—a taste of my girl.
My hands shook as I lifted her tote from her shoulder. She knew what was coming. I could see it in the rapid pulse at her throat, in how she pressed her thighs together even as she pressed backward into the wall.
“Cole, don’t do this,” she said. “You’reengaged.” The hurt in her voice tore through the jagged wound in my heart.
I ignored her, rubbing my cheek against hers and inhaling her citrus and vanilla scent. Fuck, I’d missed touching her. Every time she flinched away from my touch, only to unconsciously lean back in, I wanted to gather her close and never let go. To protect her and possess her. To earn back her trust while making her submit. The contradiction of it all was driving me fucking insane.
I dropped careful kisses down her jaw then down her neck, until I got to the collar of her cashmere sweater, one Tristan and I had bought for her.
I traced the fingers of my free hand down her stomach and then up the layers of clothing until my palms rested against her stomach.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” I murmured in her ear before cupping her breast with my hand as if weighing it, then teasing the nipple through the lace of her bra—another one of our purchases. Eva’s body betrayed her—her nipples hardened under my touch, her thighs trembled, and when I pressed closer, she unconsciously arched into me before catching herself and trying to pull away.
Fuck, it was hot when she wore what we’d bought her. I lifted her breast out of the cup, and Eva moaned.
“Shhh, sparrow,” I breathed as I played with her breast, marveling at her softness before shifting so one of my thighs pressed between hers.