16. After The Hot Kiss

Casey POV

Professor McCarthy’s lecture was just a blur. My eyes were fixed forward, pretending to hang on his every word. I was playing the part of a model student, but my head was totally jammed with that insane kiss with Noah. I had to be nuts. Why’d I even kiss him? And it wasn't just a kiss. I devoured him. I’d never kissed anyone like that before.

“Ugh!” I rubbed my face in frustration.

“Miss Turner, is there something bothering you?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when Professor McCarthy called me out. The whole class was staring. My face instantly flamed up with embarrassment. Guilt and unease washed over me. I was such an idiot.

“No, Professor. I’m fine. Sorry.”

Professor McCarthy shot me a look, a clear warning to get serious and focus on his class. Lucas, sitting beside me, eyed me, then slid over a note. I read it.

“You kissed Noah????”

I just turned to Lucas and said nothing. My sigh showed how utterly lost I was. I had no clue what I was doing.

After class, I decided to head to the library. It felt like the calmest place I could find. Lucas walked with me.

“Are you and Noah, like, a thing, Casey?”

“No,” I shot back without hesitation.

“Then why were you making out with him?”

I stopped walking, staring at Lucas, who was so curious. He was dead serious with his question.

“Casey, I told you, Noah’s an asshole. He and the girls? It’s just physical for him. He’ll never be serious with you. I don’t want you to get hurt, Casey.”

“You really care about me, Lucas.”

“Of course. We’re friends. You don’t know Noah, and you’re running into him almost every day. I just don’t want you to go through what happened to Agnes.”

“Agnes?” I narrowed my eyes. “Who’s she?”

“She thought she was dating Noah, but he just wanted to hook up with her. Noah never felt bad about it.”

“So what happened to Agnes?”

“She left. Haven’t heard from her since. And there are tons of other girls who are down to sleep with Noah. They don’t say no because they want it too. I just don’t want you ending up like them.”

I knew what I was feeling, but I also had no idea how to control it. From the moment I first got to this town, I met Noah. It was annoying, but it was just how it happened. I had no idea how to avoid him, especially after he suddenly introduced me as his girlfriend to Mr. Adam.

“Don’t worry, Lucas. I won’t be like them. About that kiss, it was just a kiss. Nothing serious,” I said, then just walked away.

A surge of anger flared in my chest. I knew Noah wouldn’t be serious. I knew Noah was using me, and I was trying so hard not to let my thoughts constantly drift to him.

I went to the library, looking for books I needed for reference. I should’ve gone to the bookstore, but that incident on the secluded street was still stuck in my head. I was terrified of that harassment happening again.

I was searching for books in a quiet corner of the room. A girl passed by, adjusting her T-shirt. She also wiped her lips, her lip tint all smudged. I didn’t care, I just focused on my own stuff.

“You’re here.” Suddenly, Noah was right behind me. I nearly stumbled, but thankfully I caught my balance.

“Why do you always pop up out of nowhere?”

“You’re the one always popping up around me.”

“You could just ignore me.”

“After that hot kiss you gave me?”

I clamped my hand over his mouth. Noah shouldn’t be saying stuff like that. Alhough the library was quiet, I was sure there were plenty of students around. I didn’t want them hearing Noah.

“Forget what we did! I just got carried away.”

I pulled my hand away from Noah’s mouth. He smirked, then leaned against the bookshelf.

“Really? But I’m seeing lies in your expression. Your lips say it was a mistake, but your face says you want more than just a kiss.”

“I’m not like those other girls who’ll just fuck with you, Noah.”

“Everyone likes to fuck. Why don’t you?”

“It’s not about liking it or not.”

Noah’s gaze was full of accusation. “You’ve never done it?”

I sighed, then shifted, trying to ignore Noah.

“Your life sounds super boring. At least you gotta try it. I get why your ex cheated. You’re seriously a snooze-fest.”

Should I really listen to Noah’s words? My heart was pounding now. I didn’t know what this feeling was, but being alone with him here was making my adrenaline pump, especially since Noah wasn’t wearing his jacket right now. The dragon and skull tattoos on his arm were super clear. My hand reached out, touching the tattoo. Noah just stayed silent, watching me.

“What is it?”

“It’s an expression I poured onto my body.”

“The dragon symbolizes power and wealth,” I said, then looked up. “Your dad.”

Noah’s teasing expression suddenly turned serious. So, the dragon tattoo was really about his father. Noah had a lot of mysteries. Could he have joined a biker gang because of his disappointment in his dad? What happened in his life?

I didn't want to dwell on our conversation, so I quickly grabbed one of the books I needed. When I opened it, I gasped in shock. There was blood and a severed lizard head inside. And a message scrawled in blood: ‘Go to hell.’

“Aah!” I instantly threw the book.

“What’s wrong?”

Noah picked up the book. He looked at it with serious intensity. My breath hitched. My eyes were just blank, staring at the book. All my blood instantly froze, and I was just stuck there.

Noah put the book back on the shelf. He grabbed my trembling hand.

“Breathe!” Noah instructed.

I did what he asked, but the fear was still there.

“Noah…”

“Look at me, Casey. Don’t be scared.”

I immediately hugged Noah. This wasn’t a joke. Someone was deliberately doing this to me. That message was clear to me.

“Let’s get outta here.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere safer.”

Noah took my hand. We left the library and headed to the parking lot. Noah drove me away from campus on his motorcycle. I thought we were going to the Black Hell clubhouse, but we ended up at that old shop again, going down into the basement where a bunch of bikes were parked.

Noah led me to a room and told me to sit. He then pulled out his phone and made a call.

“James, Fallen Bike’s messing with Casey!”