I wasn't fond of the particular circumstances that lead me to this moment, but I'd be lying to myself if I didn't admit that I was wet.

Our interlocked fingers was sending pleasure-filled volts through my bones. Elijah was one squeeze away from completely cutting off the blood flow to my hand, and I was in heaven.

Then a gust of wind almost knocked me over.

Autumn had made it clear—repeatedly—that it is nothing to be played with. The wind was biting as we walked across the trash filled lawn. I didn't know where Eli had parked, but I knew I wouldn't survive the walk there.

I steeled my legs as we reached the curb. "My coat," I uttered as Eli turned to face me.

His usual slight smirk was replaced by a deep set frown that darkened his entire face. The muscle in his jaw jumped as he regarded me. His audible exhale made what little heat I had rise to my cheeks.

I didn't like the way he was staring at me.

I've never liked being the center of attention. My heart jumps at the sight of someone even looking at me for too long. Eli made my heart jump in a different way, especially whenever he stared at me.

However, there was something unnerving about the way Elijah watched me that night. I couldn't place my finger on it just yet.

"I'll be quick, I promise." My hand went limp in his as I tried to worm my way out of his hold.

I knew I wasn't the target of his anger, but I couldn't help but shrink back at the waves of unadulterated malice rolling off the man.

One step back to get away from his scathing gaze. Another step back to detach his hand from mine. I bit the inside of my cheek as his eyes hardened. "Take my hoodie." He lifted the sweater away from his body, briefly revealing his muscular frame.

I had always dreamed of a cliche moment like this.

"Glad to see you guys remembered me." Elaine muttered from behind us.

I craned my head around, nearly giving myself whiplash. Her arms were crossed with my coat in between. Oh, thank god.

Despite the unwelcoming manner in which Elaine regarded me, she was clearly the lesser of two evils. Eli looked like he was ready to kill. I practically threw myself into her arms.

"Are you good?" She asked as she pushed me back slightly. Her eyes washed over my face, as if checking for damage.

"I'm fine." I urged as I slipped my coat on.

I'm not good. I damn near got sexually assaulted and I'm about to get accosted by your younger brother like a child. Here is the last place I want to be.

"Okay, let's go." She looped her arm in mine as she maneuvered me to her car.

"Where do you think you're going?" Eli gritted out from behind us. His sweater was balled up in his hands as if he was ready to aim it at our heads.

Elaine turned her head to answer. "What do you think?"

"I think you've done enough damage for one night." He spat. "She's coming back with me."

This caught her attention. Elaine chuckled lowly as she turned to face her brother. "Are you dumb?" Her arms crossed as she challenged him. "We live in the same building, you don't even live on campus."

Elijah closed the distance between us in two strides. "I don't care." He snapped as he grabbed my arm and led us in an opposite direction.

"Did you even ask Verona what she wants?"

Verona wants to disappear.

Eli stopped in his tracks. I waited for the seemingly inevitable question, but it never came. The man gave me one hard glare and I knew it was best if I kept my mouth shut.

I sent an apologetic look towards Elaine, who only rolled her eyes in return. "Don't kill her." Her heels clicked away and soon became a far off echo.

The sight of Elijah's familiar car made my stomach churn. His gaze was poisonous and it was beginning to seep into my veins. Trapped in a car with a man ready to kill seems as torturous as it sounds. Nonetheless, I opened the passenger side door. Or at least tried to.

His breath was hot against my ear. I swallowed as I noticed his hand holding the door shut. That's when I realized why I felt so uneasy about the way he watched me. There was a hunger in his eyes that hadn't been satiated just yet and he was staring at his next meal.

My breath hitched as I watched Elijah slide his hand down to where my hand rested on the door handle. Gently, he turned me around to face him. Mere inches from my face, I muffled my discomfort as Eli cooked me with his fiery gaze.

With two hands on either side of my body, he began the inquisition. "What were you thinking?"

"Elaine invited me and I didn't have anything better to do." The squeak that came out of my mouth was pitiful. In other situations, I'd be quick to pick myself apart, but not this time.

I was cornered, breathing unevenly as I was interrogated by a gorgeous man who stared at me like prey. I had every right to squeak.

I'd never felt like I was at his mercy until this very moment. My pulse picked up at this realization.

His eyes drifted down to my lips, hovering slightly before eyeing my chest. I gulped as I noticed his breaths become shallow yet more pronounced.

Precise hands found their way to my crop top. Pushing one button through the tiny slit, Eli hissed. "You let him touch you?" My hands were clenched at my sides.

My eyebrows furrowed at his insidious question. "Of course not." Eli worked on the top button with a restraint that was on the verge of collapsing. "You saw me push him away."

"And if I wasn't there?" His hands had returned to trapping me in.

"But you were there!" I threw my hands up slightly. I usually enjoy our back and forth banter, but I'm not here to play hypotheticals for the sake of scolding me. I'm a grown ass woman.

"What would you have done if I wasn't there, Verona?" He enunciated his words like he was speaking to a toddler.

I'd be damned if I let him speak to me like this. I crossed my arms. "I'm not a child, can you stop talking to me like one?"

"You smoked with him too?" He scowled as he sniffed the air between us. "What if he laced—"

"Okay," I cut in. "You've made your point clear."

Elijah clenched his jaw once more.

"What did I say about interrupting me?" His tone was abrasive and his gaze was caustic. Somehow, he managed to get even closer to my face. Our lips barely grazed each other as he spoke.

I couldn't fucking breathe. Knowing what would come soon, I pushed at his chest to give me some space.

"Answer me." Elijah grabbed my wrists, prying them off his body with ease. He held them down as he inched closer, once again closing the distance between us.

If I was the victim, why was I being treated like a criminal?

My eyes began to sting but Eli kept my hands pinned to my sides. "I won't ask again, Verona." I bit my lip harshly at the sound of my name.

I couldn't fucking breathe.

My chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. In: two three, four. Hold: two , three, four, five, six, seven. Out: two, three four, five, six, seven, eight. My chest hurts.

"I can't...breathe," I choked out.

Heavy tears rolled down my face as I wriggled out of his grasp. I haphazardly wiped at my face, while struggling to breathe properly.

Breathe, please.

Elijah had stepped back, but I imagine he was probably staring at me in horror. I was never a pretty crier. My thick tears clouded my vision.

Oh god, Elijah.

I had never wanted to cry in front of him again. Yet, here I was bawling my eyes out. My skin grew hot at the thought. I turned to the car, covering my face. "I'm sorry." I gasped in between shaky breaths.

In: two, three, four. Hold: two, three, four, five, six, seven. Out: two, three, four—

With a sigh, Elijah rubbed my back. Although this is usually a gesture to make someone feel better, my twisted mind made things worse. He thinks you're such a burden.

"I'm sorry." I repeated as my tears began again.

His hand slid up to my shoulder. Squeezing lightly, he turned me slowly until I face him. He pulled my hands away, leaving me bare in all my ugly tears.

"Stop talking and breathe, please." He replaced my hands with his own. Drying my tears with his fingertips, he began to breathe with me.

"N-no...I can't—" I shook my head vehemently as I tried to slide out of his grip.

"Verona," Elijah wiped any remnants of tears from my cheeks as he crooned my name. "In for four, hold for seven—"

"Out for eight." I finished, leaning my head back against the car. I started the count in my head.

We breathed in. We held on. We breathed out.

Elijah pulled my face back to his. "Again."

We breathed in. We held on. We breathed out.

I opened my eyes. I saw him, clearly. He watched me with tender eyes as he uttered, "Again."

I breathed in. I held on. I breathed out.

Elijah pressed his lips against my forehead. "Again."

I breathed in. I held on. I breathed out.

My eyes shut as he placed a kiss on each of them. Then on my cheeks. I inhaled sharply as our lips met.

Sensing my surprise, he pulled back as if my lips burned his. "I'm sorry—" Flustered, Eli stumbled over his words. I missed his lips on mine too much to notice.

I pulled him by the shirt back to me and connected our lips one more. We found a rhythm in no time.

Elijah's fingers closed around my throat lightly as he pecked my lips. My eyes closed as I grew accustomed to his touch. Another hand explored my lower back causing me to shiver.

I felt his dick pushing against my thigh. His breathing became heavier the longer the kiss lasted. I let my hands fall to his chest, allowing myself to fully relax into him. I wondered how I shifted from the "aggressor" role by starting this kiss, to the one being dominated.

There had been a fire burning within me since I met Elijah. There were many times when I tried to extinguish it, but it always came back brighter than ever no matter how much I attempted to hide it. Everyone knew I burned for Eli, even he knew. He stomped out my flames at the first opportunity he got.

Now he was dousing them with gasoline.

I moaned softly as he ran his tongue across my bottom lip. I pushed myself against him, aching to feel his desire for me once more. I tugged on his collar for support as Eli had his fill. I would make him know how I felt.

I tiptoed to meet his lips as his hands slid down to my ass. I kissed him roughly as he squeezed me in return. I left him groaning as I ensnared his bottom lip between my teeth. Together we both watched as his lip bounced back like a rubber band.

Elijah stared at me in disbelief as I came back down to earth. His lips were red and swollen. His eyes watched my every movement, but I knew he was trying to hide his lust.

"Thank you for your help." I murmured as I leaned against his car.

"Yeah." He rasped, clearly dazed. "Should we uh..."

"Right." I exclaimed. Like a switch, we both snapped back to reality. I reluctantly pried myself from Elijah, who still held on to me.

We both got into the car at the same time. Silently fiddling with our seatbelts, I could tell a lot was on both of our minds. I bit my lip as the tender look in Eli's eyes flashed in my mind again.

What if he loves me?

My mind wandered as I stared at Eli's hands, gripping the steering wheel. I happily sighed as our passionate kiss.

I would give anything to feel his hands on me again.

Eli cleared his throat, jolting me out of my perverted thoughts. Ten minutes had passed without either of us uttering a single word. The only sound that filled the car was the low hum of the heater.

Something wasn't right.

"What's wrong?" I blurted.

His hands were strangling the steering wheel. "Nothing." He said between gritted teeth.

"Why aren't you talking?"

"I have nothing to say." He shrugged, making sure to keep his eyes forward.

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. The ride would only grow more intense. Another few minutes passed and I sighed, "Is this about the kiss?"

"Yeah, what the fuck was that?" Eli muttered.

"Okay, I'm sorry I got carried away—" Elijah raised his hand to silence me.

"No, I'm sorry if...whatever the fuck that was gave you the wrong idea." As he slowed down at a red light he looked over at me. "I'm just trying to be friends."

Once again, Elijah stamped out my flames.

My eyes stung as I returned Elijah's gaze. I closed them and leaned back in my seat. My breath became staggered as I struggled to keep my composure.

"Damn, I got the message the first time." I forced out a laugh. "You didn't have to reject me twice."

He chuckled awkwardly, "It was just a really intense kiss, I just wanted to make sure—"

"Don't worry, I understand." We left it at that.

As we pulled into the parking lot of the dorms, I tried my best to discreetly wipe my tears. My face was hot from embarrassment and shame. I bit my lip to stop the quivering.

"Try not to get into any more trouble tonight." He exhaled.

"You know me." I laughed quietly. I kept my head down as I exited the car. "Thanks again." I walked back to the dorms, letting my tears fall freely as I heard him drive away.