Campus God (Campus)

When I take a quick step in retreat, her voice halts me. “Crosby?”

“Yeah?” My gaze stays fastened on hers.

“If we were to…get back together, it would take time to earn my trust. There’s no way I can just hand it over again.”

My heart stutters.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that I’m worthy of it. That I’m deserving of you.” I close the distance between us until she has to crane her neck to hold eye contact. “I won’t let you down again. I promise.”

“I’m scared,” she admits so softly that it almost breaks my heart. I’m the one who did that to her. I gave her a reason to withhold her love and affection by not being truthful.

“I know.” Unable to stop myself, I cradle her cheek in my palm. “There’s no reason for you to believe I’m telling the truth, but I swear I am. I want you, Brooke. I always have. Even when I was too busy denying it to myself, I wanted you. Even when you were dating my best friend, I wanted you. I never stopped, and when I found a way to get close, I took it. That doesn’t make it right,” I tack on quickly. “All I can do is promise to give you total honesty moving forward.”

Her eyelids flutter shut as she presses the side of her face against me. “Okay.”

My brows lift as I tug her into my arms and hold her close. I don’t give a shit about the flowers now crushed between our bodies. I’ll buy her new ones. Hundreds of them. “Really? You mean it?”

“Yeah, I do. I’ll give this a shot.” There’s a pause. “I’ll give you a shot.”

“I promise, babe, you won’t be sorry.”

With that, my mouth crashes onto hers. All it takes is one sweep of my tongue against the seam of her lips for her to open, and then I’m delving inside where I belong.

42

BROOKE

The party rages around us as Crosby holds me close, his arm thrown over my shoulders. We’ve been together for more than a month now. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to give him a second chance to redeem himself, but how could I let him walk away after everything he stirred within me?

The answer is that I couldn’t.

I’d had every intention of telling him that there was no way I could trust him again, but something deep inside prodded me to give him a chance to prove that he’s the man I need him to be. It’s possible that I’ll regret that decision in the not-so-distant future. But so far, I’m glad I opened my heart and let him in.

As soon as I glance up, our gazes collide. He lowers his face until his lips can brush across mine. The slow slide of metal against my flesh still makes me shiver with awareness. No matter how many times he kisses me, it never gets old. I’m fascinated by the piercing.

Actually, I’m just fascinated by him.

That hasn’t changed, and I hope it never does.

“Love you, babe,” he whispers against my mouth.

“Love you, too.”

We haven’t been together long, but it seems like our relationship has shifted into hyper speed. As soon as the air was cleared, everything else fell into place. It’s crazy to admit, but I’ve never been happier. The one guy I was desperate to avoid is the very same one I can’t get enough of.

“Aww. It’s adorable the way you two play kissy face.”

My lips twitch as Asher makes a few gagging noises. He can be such an ass sometimes. The caveat being that he’s a lovable ass. There are two blondes cozied up against him who look suspiciously similar.

Unbothered by the comment, Crosby smirks. “Maybe you should give monogamy a try, man. You might just enjoy it.”

The girls perk up at the notion of Asher getting exclusive.

“No, thanks,” he snorts. “I’m not interested in getting wifed up like everyone else around here. You jokers must be forgetting that variety is the spice of life.” He winks at both girls. “Right, ladies?”

They giggle, all the while running their hands over his chest.

“I think we could all use some liquid refreshments,” he says.

With that, Asher moves his entourage toward the back of the house where the kitchen is located. His posse grows as they move through the dining room.

I shake my head as he disappears through the crowd. “He’s kind of a pig.”

“Yeah,” he agrees easily, “but he’s our pig.”

My lips twitch. “True.”

My bestie and her boyfriend make an appearance on the second-floor landing before walking down the staircase hand in hand. They’re both wearing goofy smiles, making it obvious what they’ve been up to. They’ve been together for a couple of months and still can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s like they’re trying to make up for all the time they lost when they were platonic.