Chapter 97

Rowena

Taking a deep breath, Eric and I pushed our way through the crowd so we could see the results. As we approached, we received curious looks from the other students—no doubt word of what had happened at the party on Friday, or at least what people thought had happened, had spread like wildfire.

Or…

As I read the names on the list, I knew now why they were really staring.

“Eric,” I gasped, gripping his arm with one hand while I pointed at the list with the other. “It’s you!”

I couldn’t help but grin as I looked up at him. Even Eric was beaming from ear to ear; he was at the top of the list of the three warriors who would be competing in the tournament. Of course he was—he was the best warrior at this camp, after all. He had earned it, fair and square.

“Congrats, Eric!” a nearby student called out. “I can’t wait to see you fight next week!”

Eric’s smile grew. “And I can’t wait to win,” he quipped, eliciting giggles from a nearby gaggle of cheerleaders who were smiling and twirling their hair around their fingers.

But then my smile fell when I saw the other name on the list.

There, beneath the second name, was the last name that I wanted to see on this list. The last person who I wanted to see ever again, if I was being honest.

Adrian Almond.

“Oh, no,” I growled, clenching my jaw as I pointed at the offending name. “Look at your opponent.”

A muscle in Eric’s jaw ticked in response, but his face otherwise betrayed nothing. In fact, he said nothing other than, “What about the combat managers?”

Right; the combat managers. I had been so caught up in the moment that I had almost forgotten, or maybe I was just too terrified to look.

No, I was definitely too terrified to look—because when I turned to check, I found myself frozen, unable to turn fully.

“I… I can’t,” I murmured, shaking my head. “You look for me.”

Eric shook his head and smirked, gripping my shoulders and turning me forcefully before I had a chance to pull away. “No. Look for yourself.”

Without entirely meaning to, my eyes clenched shut on instinct as Eric turned me. I lingered there for a moment, too terrified to see—but then a warning growl from Eric that only I could hear forced me to open my eyes.

There, on the list, were three combat managers.

Heather, of course. A girl named Sarah. And…

Me.

I felt my cheeks turn bright red. “Oh my god,” I breathed, clamping my hand over my mouth. “I made it. I made it!”

Before I could stop myself, I was whirling around and throwing my arms around Eric’s neck. He laughed, twirling me around in a circle. “I knew you would,” he murmured into my hair.

When he put me back down, dozens of eyes were on us. I felt my face redden even more, and I nodded my head toward the secluded hallway off to the side. He followed me with his hands in his pockets, neither of us speaking until we were alone.

“I can’t believe it,” I finally said, clutching my hair. “I feel like I’m in a dream. I mean, it sucks that I have to compete with Heather and you have to compete with Adrian, but…”

Eric chuckled. “As if you didn’t work your ass off for it.” He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring that no one was looking, and caged me up against the lockers with his hands on either side of me. “And when we both win against those assholes, I expect you to kiss me in front of everyone.”

I gasped, swatting at his chest and shoving him away just before a group of students rounded the corner. “Eric!” I hissed. “Don’t be ridiculous. You know we can’t.” I frowned, smoothing down my shirt and shot a wary glance at the other—thankfully oblivious—students. “And you need to be careful.”

A low, frustrated growl rumbled in the back of his throat. “I can’t handle the secrecy, Rowena. At least consider it?”

I opened my mouth to bite out a retort, but the words died in my throat. It was a stupid idea, I knew… But the heated look in his eyes made me weak in the knees. I hated the secrecy, too. Of course I wanted to scream our love from the rooftops.

If only…

“Alright,” I finally said, gritting my teeth. “I’ll consider it. But no promises.”

I watched him go after that, my fingers digging into the strap of my bag. Part of me could scarcely believe that I would even consider such a thing. Our parents would kill us, and it very well could reveal my true heritage.

But then again… The thought was tempting. Too tempting.

Would it be worth it, really?

…

A few hours later, I made my way back to my office, my mind still lingering on thoughts of the upcoming tournament and the kiss that Eric wanted. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, flicking on the light switch.

But the lights didn’t come on. Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind in the darkness. I tensed, opening my mouth to cry out—

Then that familiar, intoxicating scent of cologne filled my nostrils. A low, rumbling chuckle caressed my ear.

“Eric…” I breathed out, instantly relaxing against the hard planes of his chest.

“I thought you could use a break from work,” he murmured, his calloused hands already sliding up my skirt and squeezing my bare thighs.

I shivered, arching back against him as trails of heat blazed across my skin where he touched me. “But… What if someone sees?” I managed through a thick moan.

“No one will see,” he growled, spinning me around and pushing me back against the desk.

Before I could protest, he was suddenly tangling his tongue with mine, his hands curling into my hair. My fingers twisted up in the front of his shirt, one leg lifting to wrap around him and tug him closer. Eric groaned into my mouth, one hand bunching up my skirt around my hips while the other hastily pushed my panties aside.

I knew I shouldn’t, that we could get caught. But I wasn’t thinking. All I could think about was him, how badly I wanted him, how much I needed that familiar filling sensation of his member inside of me.

Already, I could feel the head of his member press up against me, causing me to moan deeply into his mouth. “I’ll be quick,” he groaned, clutching the back of my neck with one hand. “No one will see… No one will see…”

“We shouldn’t—”

Suddenly, my worst fears came true. Just as I felt his warmth push into me, it hit me—I hadn’t locked the door.

And it was opening.