This Intensity

This Intensity Chapter 3 "The Insatiable Hunger"

It was half-past three when Avery sifted through her bangs and eyed herself in the windows before entering the Library. It had been a welcome change to have a different hairstyle after so many years of the same ol straight one. She'd even added a few red streaks to her brown waves, layers, a jean jacket, and some boot heels. Man, I feel overdressed for studying. Her jeans outlined her nicely toned legs while the tight shirt was just the right shade of red to enhance the whole thing.

This was the normal Friday group meeting the photography class met to display their work, get ideas on projects, and turn in work. The classroom, normally a building over, was undergoing repairs. Rather than cancel the class, the teacher simply moved them here. To be honest, the AC was a helluva lot better and Avery was happy about the change.

Still, her ever-wandering mind kept circling back to the stranger. That's why she'd gotten her hair done. Really, Avery?

She briskly walked in with her bag over her shoulder when she spotted a dark head leaning over several books. There was no reason to stop, not really, she told herself. It was something about the head itself that drew her in to stop. This is madness, she cried on the inside. She stopped right in her tracks as realization dawned on her. For some reason, her stomach coiled; she reconsidered, turned, and gently grasped the edge of the nearest bookshelf. It's him, she thought bewildered.

Do I have sex radar or what? Just look at him, like a god, so sure of himself. Why does he...make me feel this way?  she wondered. The fact of the matter was, it irritated the living crap out of her. No matter how or when it was like she knew when he was near. It had gotten to be so bad over the last few days, she felt as if someone were watching her. Carefully, she watched through a series of books as he and Rose chatted. What they were saying, she wondered. His fingers strummed against a book he held just near his chest. It hadn't helped that she wanted to ease that dull burning ache he'd created. The shower had been her only solace, and that was a moot point by now. Watching those fingers roll in that smooth harmony brought back memories of them against her...

Stop it, she scolded herself. Her body responded to him on such an acute level that nothing else mattered.

How come I've never seen him on campus? Avery slowly peered around the corner with a death grip on the bookshelf. Her breath came in heavy gasps that she struggled to keep under control. She felt like a needy animal in heat just waiting for its mate. That earned her a tight clench and some closed eyelids as she masked the shudder that ran through her body. God, I want him, her mind begged. No man had ever made her react like this. Her hands began to sweat, shake with nervousness, and her eyes blinked several times. Ok, do it....look.

Avery glanced over enough to see who he was talking to. Rose? Hell Rose was awake this time of day? They were laughing jovially, handing papers back and forth. Well, no wonder you're never home. If that was tutoring, sign me up. Rose took that particular moment to look up causing Avery to jump. Shit, Avery cursed under her breath.

Her bag slid off her shoulder and nailed the floor in a rather noticeable thud. Both sets of eyes stopped and looked her way.

"Avery?" Rose stood with an unfamiliar face, while Elliot watched her. "Holy crap it is you...your hair! Me likey!"

Mortified, Avery picked up her bag holding it over her center. It was like she was caught red-handed but unsure why she felt ashamed. Well, you were spying. She stepped forward in awkward form, one hand on the bag and the other in a tiny wave. "Hi, ah....sorry. I thought I heard you but didn't want to bother you...."