Page 47 of The Commons

“I don’t understand. You hate me one moment and the next you⁠—”

“The next I do what?” He glides his palms to his body, removing his golden-camel sweater, exposing his slightly unbuttoned shirt, his muscles sharp like a sword. Oh my. This is the first time I’ve seen him in a sweater.

“Um…” My eyes glide down, catching a glimpse of the veins of his hands as he hands me something, his sweater?

Oh, to me! I’m supposed to wear it. A breath leaves me, and I try to breathe, every part of me pounding, hot, tense—as he completely towers over me. My fingers quickly glide to take it, and I rush to slide it on, not wanting him to see how flushed my hands are. In a flash, I hurl my fingers back together behind my back.

His gaze narrows, no doubt wondering what I did that for, making my heart race even more.

He licks his lips with a smile like he’s laughing at me on the inside, but I look away from his deep hypnotic eyes, so I don’t expose myself even more. And just as I do, he pulls down his sweater even more, revealing its full length. And I just now realize because of his height, it swallows me and trails all the way down—past my hips, my skirt, my thighs and much more.

Just as my gaze drifts down to my thighs, he grips my hands that are clasped behind my back. A gasp escapes me. Oh God. He locks it with only one hand. How? Both of my hands are held down by one of his iron-strong hands. And he tightens his grip, ripping another gasp through my body, making my bones ache for his mercy.

“Why were your hands behind your back?” he asks me, his deep voice sinking into my neck as he glides his lips to mine.

Because I’m hiding my feelings, but I can’t say that. “Because… Because I was cold. Now I’m warm, thanks to you. Were you watching me after my test in the halls?” No. That’s not a good question. So I rephrase. “Why were you watching me?”

“Patrons outside were watching you.”

“Why do you care?”

“Why do you care if I care?”

“I… um… what?” Why do I care if he cares about me? Is his goal to confuse me?

I don’t even bother asking for more. I know he won’t tell me. He likes being cryptic, for whatever undisclosed reason. But I can’t help but ask of his previous divulgence. “Why did you say those things you just said?”

“Just a glitch,” he says casually.

“I thought you said there are no glitches in The Commons.”

He smirks, eyes searing into mine. “The effulgence of your intelligence knows no bounds.”

I’m almost tempted to feel complimented by his words, but I realize who I’m dealing with, so I drop that train of thought, stating drily, “Okay, whatever you say… Patron Pesh.”

He draws close, eyes softly drifting over me. “Pesh. Just Pesh.”

I gulp.

“Say it.”

Huh?

“Pesh.”

“Pesh,” I whisper.

I change conversations in order to help me stay alert. “Um… your sweater… Am I allowed to wear it out?”

“No,” he responds calmly, letting go of my hands.

His gaze sweeps over me as he rubs his golden ring. It seems that causes the wall behind me to open. But before my eyes can drift up to analyze the new surrounding, the wall slides again, revealing another building. Is this… my dorm? How? I turn around in shock, but his hand takes mine, pulling me into my dorm.

I try to keep up with his pace as he enters my station. I look around, noticing a new enclosed border around my personal station, in front of the glass demarcation.

“How did you?—” As my lips open to ask, he carries me, gently placing me on my bed. What the… He flies my fluffy blanket over my body, tucking me in.

He sits next to my bed, his hands caressing my hair, his golden gaze staring into mine as the warm light reflects across the enclosed border. My chest rises and falls, curling up inside my blanket, and I know I can ask a billion questions like I always do, but here, now, I don’t seem to know if it’s even the time. Just as my mind contemplates, he speaks.