Students were scattered across the quad, lounging or rushing to classes. But one pair moved with more purpose. Grace walked briskly with a serious expression as her lips were pressed tightly. Beside her, Amber kept up the pace, glancing over with curiosity as they headed toward a familiar figure who was leaning against a marble pillar near the fountain.
Rowan Vale, Jax's longtime friend, dressed in casual expensive clothes, scrolled lazily on his phone. His light brown hair was slightly tousled, his sunglasses were pushed up on his head, giving him a laid back unbothered vibe. But his gaze lifted the second Grace and Amber approached.
Rowan's smirk was immediate, "Didn't expect the queen of Strathmore to come knocking." He looked chill compared to yesterday.
Grace crossed her arms. "I'm not here for games Rowan."
Amber gave him a small amused grin. "Hey."
He dipped his chin in greeting, "Amber."
Grace glanced back and forth between them briefly before refocusing, "I want to know about Jax."
Then Rowan arched a brow, "You've known Jax for years, Grace. You sure you're ready to know the real him?"
Grace tensed, "He's ignoring me."
Rowan chuckled but it faded quickly and then he pocketed his phone. "Jax isn't ignoring you because he's playing hard to get. He's kinda dealing with some things."
Grace frowned, "What things?"
Rowan looked at her for a long moment, then he sighed as he pushed off the pillar. "You ever wonder why Jax is the way he is? Why he doesn't give a damn about rules, or authority, or hell, consequences?"
Grace stayed quiet as Amber's brows knitted in curiosity.
Rowan went on, "His dad bailed on him and his mom when he was a kid. His dad left them with nothing. Jax watched her mom work herself into the ground just to keep them afloat and when she died..." Rowan's mouth tightened, "He was alone. He crawled his way out of that mess on his own. Without any handouts and second chances."
Grace absorbed that slowly and her eyes started softening reluctantly.
"He doesn't trust people easily," said Rowan. "And when he does? The fear of betrayal cuts deeper in him."
Amber exhaled softly, "Damn."
"But what happened with Professor Callahan?" Grace pressed.
"That's not my story to tell," He leaned in and lowered his voice, "If you want to know what happened yesterday, Monroe, you need to ask Jax yourself."
Before Grace could argue, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Then she frowned as she checked it.
"MOM calling."
Grace muttered, "I'll be back," and walked a few steps away to answer, her tone was clipped as she said hello.
Rowan and Amber were left standing awkwardly. The tension between them thickened in Grace's absence.
Amber cleared her throat, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "So, how's the basketball team doing this season?"
Rowan gave her a lazy grin. "We're undefeated. But I think you already know that."
She huffed a small laugh as her eyes glinted, "maybe."
Their smiles lingered longer than necessary.
Rowan's gaze dropped briefly to her lips and then quickly to her eyes before he glanced away, trying to play it off, "How's biology club?"
Amber laughed now. "You don't have to pretend to care, Rowan."
He shrugged, but there was a twitch of amusement, "maybe I do."
Amber looked away, biting her lip to keep herself from smiling too wide. Then Rowan shifted in his weight as he cleared his throat and stared at some random group of students passing by. It was an awkward moment, but not uncomfortable. It was almost sweet.
Grace returned, sliding her phone back in her pocket. She noticed the strange energy immediately but she didn't comment.
"Thanks for the insight, Rowan," she said her tone softer than before.
Rowan nodded. "Don't wait too long to figure out where you stand with him."
Grace stared at him with a confused look and then she thought, 'what do you mean don't wait too long. Your friend is blackmailing me.' Then she gestured for Amber to follow.
As they walked away, Amber glanced back at Rowan one last time before nudging Grace's shoulder. "You've got so much to catch up on."
Grace who looked distracted, just muttered, "Yeah."
As they walked away, Rowan watched them go with a flat expression. Jax hadn't been at school all week. And Grace was starting to feel the weight of it more than she wanted to admit.
---
In the distance, beyond the tall glass windows in Rowan's condo, the skyline looked beautiful even though it was at night. Soft music hummed in the background that was sensual.
Rowan's shirt was already somewhere on the floor, his sculpted chest rising and falling as he guided Amber backwards toward his bedroom. His hands were firm on her waist, as his fingers slipped beneath the hem of her crop top, his knuckles grazing her smooth skin.
"I could barely keep it together earlier," said Rowan roughly. He kissed the corner of her mouth trailing to her jaw.
"Standing there like we hadn't already done this, more than once."
Amber let out a breathy laugh, her hands skimming his chest, and her fingertips dancing along the hard lines of his abs. "You kept looking at me like you were undressing me with your eyes."
She bit her lips with a tease, "I thought Grace was going to catch on."
Rowan grinned with a horny glare, "Let her try."
He lifted her effortlessly and her legs wrapped around his waist as he walked toward the bed.
They collapsed into it in a heated tangle as his mouth claimed hers, slowly and deeply. His hands roamed her body with practiced ease, peeling away the layers of clothing like he had done this a hundred times, yet still savoring every second.
Amber breathed heavily as his lips trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin, "God, Rowan."
She arched against him, her fingers tangled in his hair, "You act like you're starving."
He pulled back just enough to look at her, "I am."
He dipped his head again, kissing her collarbone as his hands slid beneath her waistband, pushing her jeans down.
Amber shifted, helping him, before flipping them over so she straddled him. Rowan's hand gripped her hips, his muscles flexing under her as he watched her strip the rest of her clothes, tossing them aside.
She was beautiful. Every curve, and every line of her body, illuminated by the soft light.
Rowan's gaze drunk her in, hungrily, "I wanted to kiss you when you came to see me today." He murmured as his hands skimmed up her thighs. "But I had to act like we hadn't been in this bed the night before."
He sat up, kissing her slowly, "had to pretend I wasn't thinking about this."
Amber rolled her hips against him, smirking when he caught his breath, "And now?"
"Now I'm done pretending," Rowan said roughly.
She leaned in, their mouths meeting again, hotter this time. Their kisses deepened, consuming them. His hands explored her body like he was mapping it for memory, while her nails scraped lightly down his back.
And once their were fully naked, Rowan slid his cock into Amber's luscious pussy with an intense moan, and they started moving their bodies as the rhythm started building between them, passionate and intense, but not rushed. They knew each other's curves, with each gasp and every soft moan as they kissed each other deeply.
Rowan started thrusting his cock harder as tension in Amber's pussy made the cum from Rowan's dick threaten to release quicker than he intended, but their connection was more than just physical, though neither of them said it aloud.
Eventually, Rowan and Amber came together with an intense louder moan, as they both slowed, breathing hard, settling, tangled in the sheets. Rowan's hand traced circles absentmindedly on Amber's bare back.
"You think they'll ever figure it out?" Amber teased softly.
"If they do, it'll be because you keep giving me that look in public," replied Rowan.
Amber laughed quietly, resting her head on his chest, "It's your fault. You're always so distracting."
He pressed a kiss to her hair, his tone softer than before, "Good, I don't want you looking at anyone else."
Amber smiled, and later on they had both drifted to sleep after an intense session of passion.