Protecting Her: A Romance Bundle

t about the whole college experience is pretty crazy, actually. It’s a bubble, nothing like real life, I want to enjoy every damn minute of it. But for now, I need to run away before things get odder, and I need to get to Veronica. She’s always normal, the one constant, the person who grounds me when everything else messes me up. I cannot wait to see her.

I quickly spot her standing in our meeting place, leaning up against the wall with that gorgeous red hair of hers spilling down her back. She has dark trousers on and a bright green tee shirt which is really eye catching. I don’t think she realizes how everyone looks at her when they walk by. She probably believes herself still to be as invisible as she was in high school. I honestly am shocked at how I managed to miss her. Now that she’d become such a massive part of my world, it’s impossible to think of all the times I just walked past her…

I don’t think I’d mind it if she were on my arm, I think with a smirk. She’s so beautiful, it’d be lovely.

Almost as if she senses my looming presence, Veronica turns to face me and her face breaks out into an adorable smile. She always looks so pleased to see me, it tugs at each one of my heart strings.

“Hey, Jordan,” she says softly to me. “You’re late. I was just about to abandon you.”

She wouldn’t. I’ve been late before, much later than this, and she always remains. That’s another thing I like about her, she’s so reliable, I don’t ever have to worry about her letting me down.

“Sorry about that, I got caught up with Liam. He was acting like a crazy person.” I roll my eyes dramatically. Oh, and he was trying to set me up with one of his mates so if he asks, we’re together.”

She giggles and blushes brightly while tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Making her blush has become a secret habit of mine. I love to see her face flame like that, it’s adorable and makes my pulse rate speed up in a way it hasn’t ever done before. My whole body reacts in a crazy way to her.

“Shall we go to dinner already?” I rub my stomach in a jokey manner. “I’m starving here.”

We make our way to the college canteen which doesn’t exactly have the nicest food around, but it’s sustenance which is enough. While we walk, me and Veronica laugh loudly the whole way, sharing jokes and mock insults. I’ve even taken to calling her ‘rusty’ again every now and then. Luckily, she knows it’s just an affectionate, endearing term now. It was probably that before, but magnified by the horrible atmosphere of high school, it probably didn’t seem that way at all. I feel bad for ever saying anything mean at all.

“So, if I’m your fake girlfriend, do you expect me to act that way in front of Liam?”

The thought of her behaving like my partner makes me shiver violently. I’m sure she notices it but thankfully Veronica is much too cool to say anything about that. She breezes past it easily without hesitation.

“Do I have to… hold your hand?” She takes it teasingly. “Or hug you?” She does that too, still ignoring me when I stiffen under the odd sensation of her hands around me. “Or kiss you?”

As she lifts herself up onto her tiptoes, I suck in a shocked breath. My whole body becomes utterly consumed by the idea that she might actually press her lips up against mine. I should probably stop it, it seems nuts to take this step without talking about it first, but for some reason, I don’t want to. I just want to melt into it…

But then she breaks the magic of the moment by pulling away and chuckling loudly. The laughter is a tinkling sound, it trickles all the way through my system and makes me feel wild. I join in, trying to sound carefree, but I don’t think I quite pull it off. There’s a real strain there as I can’t hide how much I wanted her to kiss me then.

What is wrong with me? Have I lost the plot? I press my hand to my throbbing heartbeat. Stop it already!

I make the decision to break my no date streak because obviously, it’s messing with my mind more than I thought. I assumed I was growing and moving forward, but if it’s drawing me into Veronica I need to stop. She’s my friend, I don’t really want to ruin that. Sex always destroys friendships, it’s an unwritten rule.

“No, but seriously, what do you want me to do?”

“Erm,” I rasp back, my throat still dry and gravelly from that ill-advised almost moment. “Just act like normal. I didn’t suggest that we were about to get married and I don’t think Liam is too bothered anyway. It’s only if he asks, then agree with the lie. He likes the girl he was asking out for me.” She gives me a look, which causes me to shake my head. I need to drag myself out of that situation, not further into it. “Told you it was weird.”

“Yeah, it sounds it. Super weird. Okay, well I’ll just leave it unless he asks.”

I walk a little behind Veronica, unable to stop my eyes from raking up and down her body. I might know that all of this is wrong, but my primal urges have completely taken control of me. It doesn’t help that Veronica is undeniably beautiful, and sexy as hell too. Now, with all these random thoughts circling my brain after that near miss, I can’t stop thinking about kissing her, licking her, running my hands all over that fit body of hers. I want to touch her everywhere, to taste her, to hear her little whimpers as I drive her wild. I want to see her head tipped back in desire, her red hair spilling down her back, brushing over her hot, fiery skin. I want to consume her in lust. I would love to know just how she looks at her most vulnerable, open moment.

God, I need to get laid, I think as my cock reacts to those ideas. It’s getting pretty serious now. I lick my lips as I drag my eyes away from Veronica. If I’m not careful this could get crazy…

3

Veronica

“I don’t know how you do it,” Rachel declares as she tosses her hands in the air. “It’s impossible, honestly.”

“What? What are you talking about?” I flop my head onto my pillow and stare up at the ceiling in our room.

“I’m talking about Jordan. Oh!” She makes a noise like she’s actually in pain. “He’s just so gorgeous. How do you spend so much time with him and not jump his bones? I would be all over him because he is just so handsome.”

I smile, proud to have such a good-looking friend. Of course, to the rest of the world that’s exactly what he is. Someone I went to high school with who has now become my friend. Just this nice guy who I hang out with. But to me… to me he’s everything. Over the last few months, I’ve developed this delicious crush on him. There are feelings inside of me that flicker and simmer gorgeously every time he’s near me. The butterflies are wonderful, they have me flying higher than air, being near Jordan makes me giddy like a school girl… but then I leave his side and the lows crush me. I’m not always by his side and that gives him the chance to be with other people. I don’t know if he has been but I torture myself with the concept all the time. I hate thinking about it.

I think the lows might well be harder to hide than the highs. I’m sure people must see it, especially Rachel.

“I don’t know about that,” I murmur back. “I suppose so, I just don’t see him like that.”