Chapter 7

Violet

By the time I returned to the dorm, I was exhausted. I barely managed to remove my shoes before I collapsed face-first on the bed. My ankle throbbed dully, my ribs ached, and every muscle screamed.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about Axel Hale. More specifically, it kept going back to the moment I had lost my balance and fallen right over him. I was on top of him, my hands pressed against his chest and my body lying over his.

And God, he was hard everywhere. He felt like something built out of muscles over muscles, all firm chest, hard stomach, and powerful arms. The world had faded around us. My hair had fallen like a curtain around us, and his grip on my waist tightened. His eyes had locked on mine, darker than before, and I had felt his cock pulse beneath me.

A shudder ran down my spine even now. I thought I’d be intimidated by a man being this close to me. God knows the only man I grew up to know was a massive toxic bully who brought only fear and scars.

But all I could hear was my own heartbeat.

I groaned into my pillow.

“This is what head injury does,” I muttered to myself. “They make you lose standards.”

Sleep took over before I could insult myself any further. Unfortunately, my dreams were full of him. In them, I rose on my toes and kissed him. His hand slid into my hair, gripping me. And then his lips crashed onto mine.

I woke with a gasp. What the fuck was wrong with me?

Lena’s voice floated across the room. “Girl, you slept like a log.”

I turned my head to see Lena standing in front of the mirror, applying a crimson shade of lipstick. She had changed into a fitted black top, jeans, boots, and a leather jacket.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up slowly. “Are you going somewhere?”

My gaze shifted to the clock.

10:03 PM.

“Damn it.” I pushed the blanket away and nearly stumbled off the bed. “I slept that long?”

Lena capped the lipstick and looked at me through the mirror. “Yes. I checked twice to make sure you were alive.”

“Ugh…” I groaned. “I missed dinner.”

“You missed dinner, the evening coffee rush, and probably three emotional breakdowns happening somewhere in this building.” She fluffed her curls and picked up her small purse. “And yes, the cafeteria is closed now.”

I groaned again and pressed a hand to my forehead. “I’m starving.” How could I miss so much?

“Then it’s your lucky night.” Lena turned around and smiled. “Come to Colin’s party with me.”

I stared at her. “A party? At ten at night? And who is Colin?”

“Yes. That is when parties usually happen, Violet. People don’t schedule them after breakfast.”

“I can’t go to a party like this.”

She looked at my hoodie, shorts, and messy hair. “You look… trendy.”

I shook my head at Lena’s theatrics.

She said, “There will be food, and Colin Bradford is the nicest guy in college. He won’t mind if I bring a friend.”

The idea was tempting only because I was famished. Still, walking into a stranger’s party felt odd. “I don’t know him,” I said, unsure.

Thirty minutes later, I was standing outside Colin’s place in shorts, an oversized hoodie, sneakers, and the same dark lipstick Lena had insisted on putting on me. When I pointed out how come he was living in an individual house, she said seniors were allowed to live in the expensive houses on campus, but only if they paid an extra f*e.

Colin opened the door. “Lena,” he said warmly. “You made it.”

Handsome in a clean, polished way, he had brown hair and dark eyes. He wore an expensive shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

“I brought a friend,” Lena announced, stepping aside. “This is Violet.”

Colin’s eyes moved to me. “Wow,” he said. “Your friend is lovely. I’m glad you came.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. It was ridiculous how much one simple compliment affected me.

“Thank you,” I said.

Lena giggled beside me. “See? Told you he wouldn’t mind.”

“Mind?” Colin stepped back. “I’m offended you thought you needed permission.”

God. Colin was a charmer.

The house was full of people. Music played from somewhere near the living room. Students were sitting on couches, leaning against counters, laughing in groups, and moving through the hall with red cups in their hands.

The place smelled of pizza, fried food, perfume and beer. Despite myself, I turned my eyes toward the people gathered near the kitchen.

As Lena left me to talk to her friends, Colin noticed me. “Hungry?” he asked.

I bit my lip, a pale blush rising again.

He gave me a small smile. “Come on.”

I followed him into the kitchen.

Colin picked up a plate to which he added pizza, chips, and mutton pie. He handed it to me, and asked, “Would you like to go out, away from the noise?”

I nodded. This guy was genuinely sweet. He led me through a side door to a small patio behind the house. The air was cold, but there was an outdoor heater near the wall, and the music was quieter out there. Snow rested along the railing, glowing faintly under the porch light.

“You don’t have to stand inside if it’s too much,” he said.

I chuckled that he even noticed. I sat on one of the patio chairs, balancing the plate on my lap. “I’m not great with crowds.”

“That explains the haunted look.”

I laughed softly. “Lena said something like that.”

“She has no filter. It’s one of her better qualities.”

For a few minutes, we talked about ordinary things. Classes. Campus. The food in the cafeteria. Which professors were strict and which ones forgot to take attendance. Colin said he was studying business because his family expected it, but he liked history more. I told him I was here for skating, though I left out the scholarship part and the fact that I was one injury away from losing everything.

“You’re a figure skater?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Wow! That explains the posture.”

I blinked. “What posture?”

“Everything about you is very elegant, very poised.”

I looked down at myself and laughed. “Skating teaches you a lot.” I picked up the greasy, cheesy pizza and took a big bite. It was impossible not to moan around something that sinful. With grease dripping from the side of my mouth, I closed my eyes and just let the flavors burst on my tongue.

When I opened my eyes, I found Colin staring at me with amusement. He laughed, “It seems you are enjoying it.” He bent toward me, and wiped the grease from my chin. I blushed slightly.

“I am!” I said and took another big bite to hide the awkwardness. “Especially after my practice session with Axel.”

“Axel?” he asked, surprised. “Axel Hale?”

I nodded.

His face changed. “Be careful of that boy,” he added in an ominous way. “He is dangerous.”

“I think you’re trying to say, “arrogant”.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “That too.” With the way he said it, it was apparent, he didn’t like Axel.

The patio door behind us opened once or twice, but no one stayed. Inside, the party continued. Outside, Colin and I talked easily.

When I finished eating, he took the empty plate and set it aside.

“I’m glad Lena brought you,” he said.

I smiled. “You are very polite.”

He leaned back against the railing, hands in his pockets. He tilted his head and said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take you for coffee tomorrow night. Somewhere quieter than this.”

The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth, not sure what I planned to say. Was he asking me for a date?

Before I could answer, a deep, animalistic growl filled the patio. Every hair on the back of my neck rose.

Colin and I snapped our heads toward the door.

To my utter shock, I saw Axel Hale standing there, huge and furious, his fists clenched at his sides. His hazel eyes were fixed on Colin, but the rage rolling off him felt thick and oppressive.