“I got it.” He took her backpack and slung it across his shoulder. “Is that your last class for the day?” He slowed his pace adjusting to her stride as they walked out of the building and toward the direction of his car.
“Yep. She stuck her hands in the back pocket of her jeans. Her breasts strained against the thin material of her shirt. A couple of guys passed by, their gaze zeroed in on Haley’s chest. Jayden let out a growl. The guys hurried away.
“So what did you do all day?” She looked up at him. “I’m sure you were bored to death.”
“Actually I was looking up Fayetteville’s upcoming activities.” He grinned. No need for her to know about his stalker research. “For your college experience.”
“Oh yeah. How could I forget?” She laughed.
“Haley!”
Jayden followed Haley’s gaze to her roommate, Dana, who was running across campus toward them. He’d seen Dana around Little Rock and knew she had a penchant for trying to catch a sneak peek of the Guardians while they were working out or trying to get dressed. Truth be told, she was going to get herself in a whole lot of trouble with that kind of behavior.
“Hey.” Dana frowned at Haley and then gave Jayden a surprised look.
“Hi, Dana.” Haley frowned and shifted her weight. “I’m sorry I moved out in such a hurry…”
Dana crossed her arms and gave her a scowl. “You didn’t even wait until I got back to the dorm. You could have at least told me face-to-face.” She looked over at Jayden and then back at Haley.
“Yeah, I know. It all happened very quickly and well…”
Jayden pulled Haley into his arms.
“Sorry, Dana. It’s my fault. I realized I couldn’t be away from Haley another day.” Jayden looked down into Haley’s surprised expression and covered her lips in a blazing hot kiss.
CHAPTER FOUR
Jayden’s warm lips covered hers and she opened her mouth, welcoming him to taste her. He took the invitation and slipped his hot tongue inside her willing mouth. Her fingertips gripped his narrow waist, momentarily forgetting Dana was standing there. She pressed closer, wanting to crawl inside him until they were one.
Slowly he pulled away, leaving her breathless and startled at her own quick reaction. His blue eyes bored into hers, searing her with a look of lust that made her shiver despite the warmth of the spring day.
“Wow. I had no idea you guys were dating.” Dana grinned.
Still dizzy from Jayden’s kiss, Haley glanced at her friend and murmured, “Yeah, me either.” Her nerve endings tingled from the contact of the kiss.
She tried to step back to clear her head, but Jayden didn’t release his hold. He slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her in front of him, pressing her back into his chest. He nuzzled her neck. She had to fight to keep her eyes from fluttering shut.
“You sure know how to keep a secret, Haley. I should be mad that you didn’t at least tell me.” A streak of pain flashed in Dana’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, Dana. I didn’t mean to keep anything from you.” She hated that she’d betrayed her friend. Dana had been a good friend to her since she moved here and she would never intentionally hurt her. But most of all she hated lying to Dana.
“It’s my fault, actually.” Jayden cleared his throat. “I didn’t really want anyone to know how involved we were. It might cause some unwanted talk about the difference in our ages”
Dana’s eyes narrowed as she looked between them. “Surely you can’t be that much older than Haley? What are you, twenty five?”
Haley snorted.
Jayden squeezed her tight. “Something like that.”
“You guys look so cute together.” Dana’s expression softened as she looked between them.
“Really?” Haley looked up at Jayden.
“Yeah, like Ken and Barbie,” Dana said brightly
“I don’t look like Ken,” Jayden groused.
“Well, like a surfer Ken, you know, with all your bright-colored T-shirts.”
Haley bit the inside of her cheek. She didn’t have to look at Jayden’s face to see he was glaring.
“Well, I’m heading to the library to study. I’m supposed to have dinner with my sweetie tonight. You two should come.”
Haley shook her head. “I don’t think Mark would appreciate us busting in on his romantic dinner for two. Besides, it sounds like he is trying to make you and your relationship a priority.”
Dana shot them a sheepish look. “Or it might have something to do with him catching me flirting with a certain professor of his.”
“Dana!” Haley’s mouth dropped open.
Dana frowned. “What? I was trying to see if Mark would even notice. He’s been so busy with his classes lately.”
“And did he notice?”
“Dana grinned. “Oh, yeah. Not only is he taking me out to dinner, he is insisting that I spend the night at his apartment. Which has never happened.”
“You’ve never spent the night at your boyfriend’s apartment?” Jayden asked over Haley’s shoulder.
“No.” Dana pouted. “He’s always telling me that he has to study and that when I’m over there he can’t concentrate because I distract him too much.”