Uncomfortable, Undone University Series, Book 1

Chapter 18

Krystal

The drive back to campus is considerably less awkward than the drive out to the lake house. Though, there's no shortage of sexual tension. This time, instead of trying not to make contact with little Jace, I take full advantage of the opportunity to make the man Jace squirm. I take up the same sideways position, but instead of balancing my ass on his leg, I settle squarely in his lap, then make a show of getting comfortable, adjusting my position, fidgeting with the seatbelt to ensure it sits "just right," even stretching to pull my hair back into a messy ponytail at my crown.

Jace endures it all silently. So silently one could almost believe he hasn't noticed... if it weren't for the erection pressing into my backside. I drop my hands to my lap, lean back against the car door and smile sweetly up at Jace, giving one more wiggle in his lap under the pretense of getting comfortable. He bites his lip, hard, and his eyes close on a soft exhale.

Deciding not to torture him further—for the moment—I lay my head on his chest. His heartbeat is steady, if a little fast, and lulls me into pseudo-sleep quickly. I did, after all, miss out on quite a bit of sleep last night in the name of exploring his body and him exploring mine. The hours we spent learning each other's flesh was totally worth the lost sleep, though, even if I am feeling the effects of it this morning. I'm only vaguely aware of Jace's arms coming around me to tenderly cradle me against him as I drift off to sleep, and I can't remember a time I ever felt safer than this moment in his embrace.

What seems like only a moment later, Jace whispers into my ear, "Wake up, sweetheart. We're here."

Sweetheart. The pet name fills me with warmth and tenderness. Not babe or hotness like Ryan used to call me. I'm Jace's sweetheart. And the idea makes me absurdly giddy. I have to try hard to keep a silly grin from taking over my face as I peel my eyes open and turn on Jace's lap to climb out of the vehicle. He helps unpack the luggage, and then loads up, carrying two bags slung over his shoulders and rolling a suitcase in each hand. Jameson is just as weighed down with bags, leaving me, Miranda, and Abby with nothing to carry. RJ, in typical RJ fashion is fast asleep with his face pressed against the back passenger-door window. A little trickle of drool has left a path from his squished lips all the way down to where the glass disappears into the door.

"You guys don't need to carry everything," Abby says. "We're not helpless, you know." Her words have just the right amount of feminist flare, but lack conviction. Feminist or not, I appreciate not have to lug a heavy bag across a quad and up to the fourth floor.

Jameson shrugs and keeps walking toward the dorms, while Jace says, "We could use the workout after slacking off all weekend. Coach will be livid if we show up to practice tomorrow having forgotten how to run."

And so, we let the guys carry our stuff up to our rooms. Jameson drops two of Abby's bags he is carrying off outside our door and continues down the hall with Miranda to her room. "Think your roommate will be here?" I hear him ask suggestively as they leave.

Abby grabs her stuff and heads into our room, leaving me alone in the surprisingly empty hallway with Jace. I lean against the wall, not quite ready to say goodbye yet. Truth be told, I'm kind of hoping for a kiss, or another sweetheart. Anything to indicate that we might be a couple now.

Then I kick myself for acting like a lovesick girl. We had sex and this is the 21st century. It's not like I'm ruined and he's morally obligated to offer marriage or anything. Not that I would marry him after only knowing him for a few weeks and having sex a few, okay five, times last night.

"Thanks," I say and motion to my bags still in his possession. "For carrying my stuff up."

He looks down in surprise, like he's forgotten the load he carries, then starts divesting himself of luggage. "Yeah, sure, no problem."