Endless Bonds Copyright © 2016-2017 xXMopelXx All Rights Reserved.

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Trenton Reynolds is a sight to behold.

I feel like a total creep watching his half-naked sleeping form in Sara's bed from my perched position on the edge of my own bed. I can't look away. Strangely enough, I'm transfixed by the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest.

Even though he's wrapped messily in pink sheets, he's never looked more masculine then with that angel-face adorned with perfect dark stubble and that carved-by-God-itself body moving with every exhale, causing his muscles to shift.

I've seen him shirtless in our younger days – it's not a big deal. Occasionally even glimpsed his bare torso when I'd be at his house, chilling with Nat, and he'd come over sweaty from football practice. That sneaky grin he'd shoot me while he wiped a towel down his washboard-worthy abs was enough to have me blushing nine ways to Sunday.

Now? Nothing could prepare me for the strong and roped body of a twenty-one-year-old Trenton. I woke up half an hour ago from a restless night of sleep, only to find him comatose to the world with his gorgeous figure on display. The sixteen-year-old me who'd been infatuated with her best friend would have fainted at the mere sight.

My mind runs over last night, and I remember that Trent and I had a moment. Albeit weird, it's still embedded in my head. The way he rose and nearly...nearly closed the distance between our faces. I squeeze my eyes shut to block out that memory.

Instead, my treacherous gaze darts back to where he's lying down. I bite my lip.

He's got an impressive physique that's honed by years of football-playing. There isn't a scar or blemish on that perfectly sun-kissed skin. Except as he shifts in his sleep, throwing an arm over his face, leaving the sheets to pool around his hips, my mouth goes dry. I notice a black tat – something like a quote – running down the muscled underside of his right arm.

I don't have a moment to decipher it, because my eyes are trailing over those sculpted pecs, following down his muscled stomach to the trail of hair that leads to his...Jesus Christ, Trent likes to go commando. I let that thought sink in.

I've spent enough nights next to Pierre to wake up in the morning and find the sheets tented between his legs.

Last night I helped Trent slip out of his shoes. He probably got rid of his shirt, jeans, and boxers when I was asleep. They are scattered on my dorm floor.

The semi Trent's sporting between his legs looks huuuuge, based on how it's covered by the pink silky sheets. I'm horrified that I'm ogling and considering his dxck size.

"Oh, God," I mumble, putting my hands in my face. He's still so hot and the last thing I'm supposed to think about is how big and thick he is.

I don't know how long I stay like that, sitting on my bed, my coffee cup resting on the table beside me, but soon enough, I hear a soft thud. I glance up.

It's Trent. He looks to be shaking the sleep out of his eyes. He's sitting upright, shuffling a hand through his tousled brown hair. His blue eyes seek mine and there's a soft emotion rocking in them.

"Hey," His voice is warm and gravelly from disuse. "What time is it?"

I'm about to speak up when I catch him wincing and clutching the nape of his neck.

Keeping my eyes away from his spectacularly half-erxct cxck, I stare lamely at his...forehead. "Morning. It's ten. You had a little too much to drink last night."

He moves around so he's sitting down but facing me from his bed. "Yeah. I don't remember much of what happened."

You talked about Rose. About our friendship. About your feelings. Then drank yourself stupid because I encouraged you. I drove us to my place. Helped you get to bed. You nearly kissed me. And this morning I woke up staring at your mammoth-sized genital. Basically.

"You're probably hungover. I set you some Advil and water on the table. They'll make you feel better."

Trent stifles a masculine yawn and reaches over for the medication and bottled Fiji water. I watch his throat work with a swallow, his corded neck muscles jumping to prominence with the motion.

He licks his bottom lip a little.

His gaze finds mine again, smoky and hooded. He takes his time, leisurely letting it roam down my frame, until halting at my chest. The muscle in his jaw ticks and his nostrils flare a little. I look down and realize that my nxpples aren't covered and so obvious through my white nightie. He sucks in a breath as heat suffuses my cheeks. I quickly scramble for my blanket to make myself decent.

Trent doesn't lower his gaze from mine. Holding the sheets to his lap, he bends down a little and grabs his clothes. He dons his shirt in that hot way only guys can do. There's a knot in my chest as he pulls on his boxers and jeans.

"You know." His husky timbre rolls over me like a caress and I'm mortified by what I feel. "The honorable thing would have been for you to look away."

"The honorable thing for you would have been not to stare at my nxpples. But I guess we can't have everything we want. That's twice now, by the way."

His cheeks hollow and dark amusement bleeds into his expression. "Got me there, cherrycakes. Not my fault you have an aversion to bras."

"That's not true. You just always happen to catch me when I'm indecent."

"Then make yourself decent if you don't want me staring at your nxpples."

"You're infuriating," I say, not understanding why my nxpples were part of this conversation to begin with.

He stands up and I do the same, still holding on to my blanket. Without my heels, he nearly towers a foot over me.

"It's part of my charm," he cracks a familiar grin and the atmosphere eases up a bit.

We stare at one another and share a secret smile, until the silence morphs into something unbearable. "Look, about last night," he whispers.

"It's fine, Trent." I don't know why I'm whispering back. "You needed it. You're allowed to talk about what's happening with you and I wanted to be there. So let's not dwell too much on it, all right?"

The blankness on his face evaporates and his shoulders sag in relief. He chuckles."I should get going."

"You can stay and have breakfast if you want. I think, ah, Sara is not going to be home for awhile. Since she's probably with Jared and all."

He smirks a little. "I think I've overstayed my welcome for one night. I really should go."

I frown, not liking how he speaks. I slap his chest for good measure. "Shut up, Trent. You're welcome here anytime. Don't say such nonsense."

He leans against the door and wraps his arms around my waist, bringing us flush together. "Okay, Cher."

"Okay," I murmur back, looking up at his handsome face.

"I'm going to go now though. There's a couple of things I need to get done. Maybe I'll even have breakfast with my mom."

"Okay," I say softly, not understanding what's happening. This is my best friend. We used to hug and touch all the time. Why does it suddenly feel so different now as I palm his t-shirt clad chest ?

"You have a good day," he says. Dipping his head, his lips skirt over my cheek. He presses a lingering peck. "If I didn't already say it, thanks for last night, babe."

Surprised, I watch him twist the lock and open my door, before disappearing out in the hallway. I don't think he realizes his slip.

The word 'babe' in his smooth and rich voice echoes inside my room. Or maybe it's in my chest. My head. I don't know.

I clutch my blanket tighter before closing the door.

* * *

SEPTEMBER 17th

Tara's late.

I chose Le Petit Moulin, which is my favorite bakery away from campus to study. Their chocolate macaroons are delightful and Teagan's cousin, who owns this place, is often working behind the counter. I come here whenever I miss Teagan. It reminds me of her.

"What took you so long to come?"

"I sense a dirty joke there." Tara points out as she slides in the chair across from me, wearing a criminally short blue dress with strappy wedges.

I slide her chocolate toffee frap in her direction. She takes it without so much as asking me how much I paid for it. Friendship, I guess.

Gabe's peers at her with a tentative look over the rim of his laptop. After our first initial meeting in the auditorium, three weeks ago, we've taken to studying together. Gabe and I are practically inseparable. Sometimes Sara tags along, too. She likes him. He's sweet, shy, quiet most of the time, and damn hot looking without having the usual cocky persona that's attached to looks like his.

Even Tara's taken a massive liking to my new friend.

"Hey, baby." Tara winks at Gabe. Much to her pleasure, he blushes scarlet. "How's my favorite guy doing?"

Gabe wheezes a little, even though he's older and Tara has no business being evil like that, the bxtch. "I-I'm good. How are you, darling?"

"Call me baby, Gabe. I already told you this. It's what I prefer. Or any term of endearment in Greek will satisfy me."

"Tara," I warn under my breath.

"Oh, that's true, Cher. He only calls you baby."

I glare at her.

She's pulling his leg. She damn well knows it's platonic between Gabe and I, even though he's an attractive straight male. Tara wants a reaction out of him, probably the kind that'll get him in bed with her.

Gabe shifts nervously under her perusal, his cheeks hollowing. "Tara...Please, don't tease me today. I really need to finish this paper." He halfheartedly gestures miserably to his laptop.

Tara huffs exaggeratedly and dips her blue manicured finger into the whip cream, before licking it clean. Oh, no. She's giving Gabe the predatory look. "Sorry, baby. I won't do it. Plus, you know I prefer to be the one who's teased...in bed, of course."

He chokes a little harder.

Poor boy, he never stood a chance against Tara. I give him my glass of water.

Tara's grinning at him wickedly.

I'm still shooting daggers at her. One, for being late. Two, for always making innocent Gabe feel awkward. I swear this might be some weird foreplay between them. "Seriously, Tar, what took you so damn long?"

She shrugs. "I couldn't cxme. The guy trying to get me off didn't know where the clxtoris was. Took me a long time to show him and then eventually I had to touch myself to finish. He was horrible."

My eyes bulge out of my sockets. Gabe has never recovered from his coughing fit.

She runs her hand through her wet blonde hair and bites her lip. "Of course, Gabe baby would have no problem touching me the right way, hmm? He knows just what to do."

"Tara!" he scolds, turning an even flaming red.

"Just kidding. Don't get your boxers in a twist," She laughs hard. "I was finishing my analysis for my social work class."

I feel relieved. "Nice of you to join us. We're working separately on our theses for my Sports and Nutrition class. I need to hand it in this weekend."

"Ew. That sounds gross." She lays out a thick textbook and opens it up to a highlighted page. "Have you thought of asking Trent for help?"

I honestly did think to ask Trent for help. I'm going to have to conduct a research, and he would make a great source. I just don't know if he'll be up for it.

Especially since I've kind of been ignoring him for the last few weeks after our almost kiss. Or whatever the hell that was. We've kept conversation to a minimum through text, and I haven't seen him at all.

I miss him.

"Yeah, I've thought about it, Tara."

She gives me a weird look.

At that exact moment, my phone blares up and I'm elated to see Teagan's face illuminating my screen.

I pick it up with a smile. "Hey, Stranger."

* * *

SEPTEMBER 29th

I've just had the most incredible phone sxx of my life.

Pierre's pxnting fills the other side of the receiver and I can't contain the silly grin off my face. Although I love his touch, mine will have to do until I see him again.

"I miss you, Cherie," I whisper to him.

"Mmm. Moi aussi. Come back to me."

He always whispers those words to me fiercely. Come back to me, Cher. Come back. Although he wants what makes me happy – my life here in Vancouver – he longs for my nearness. My companionship. I don't blame him. I crave his, too. So much that it makes me feel guilty for leaving him and my friends over there. But I'm wanted and needed here too and this is my home first. I miss him so much and every day seems to be another test of my patience.

"One day. Soon." I pull my wxt fingers out of my pxnties.

"Svck them for me," he asks naughtily. "Baby, dans ta bouche. Put them there and txste yxurself."

I grin cheekily. "Non. Maybe if you were here, I'd consider it."

He rumbles a deep sound. "If only I was there." His accent thickens. "You know what I do to you when you don't listen to me."

I laugh, breathy. "Yeah. Spxnk my a$s red? I miss that too, by the way. Truthfully, we'd be doing more than spxnking and svcking my wet fxngers if you were here. I'd probably beg you to fvck me hxrd hmm, mon amour?"

"Fvck. Fvck. Fvck. Temptress." He hisses through his teeth. "I'm hxrd again."

"Poor baby," I tsk. "Take a cold shower why don't you."

The line goes quiet. I ponder if he's still there. There's no sound of breathing. Did he hang up on me?

"Pierre?"

There's an odd rustling on the other end. I hear a muffled sound.

"Pierre?"

"Cheryl. I have to go, baby. Goodnight."

Pierre hangs up abruptly, and the sound of the dead line is loud and clear.

That isn't right. He usually tells me he loves me before hanging up.

He didn't utter those three words.

* * *

OCTOBER 1st

"Thanks for the ride home."

I wave to Oliver and a smiling Inga as they drop me off at my building. It's Friday night and we decided to go to the movies to watch this new thriller. Thrillers aren't my thing. Inga doesn't like them either. But Oliver loves them.

I don't like third-wheeling, especially to a couple like Oliver and Inga who are so pro-PDA and touchy-feeling it's both annoying and sickeningly sweet.

"We'll see you soon, Cher!" Inga hollers through the open window as Oliver speeds out of the parking lot in his black Infiniti.

When I go inside my dorm, I'm surprised to find that Sara isn't here. It's almost midnight and she's usually asleep by eleven. I debate giving her a call to check if she's okay.

I go through my nighttime routine and change into comfortable cami and shorts.

I think of Pierre when I'm laying in bed, and remember how the last three phone calls have been short and quick. Very impersonal.

Because I was out with Oli and his girlfriend, I'd taken his ring off. I reach for my bedside table and gingerly pull out the velvet box housing my engagement ring. I slip it on my finger and instantly feel relief crashing over me like waves. This ring – this arrangement – it's my safety net.

I'm almost asleep when our dorm room door creaks on its hinges. A smiling Sara steps inside and an even happier Jared behind her. They're whispering and hushing to each other.

I flick on the lights.

They stop in their tracks when they see me.

"C-Cher," Sara stammers, her corkscrew curls looking untamed and wild. Her red lipstick is smudged and Jared has the remnants on his mouth. "I didn't think you'd still be up."

"Don't worry about it," I tell them both honestly.

"Well, I was just here to walk Aiko to the door," Jared smooths a hand over his buzzed hair. "I guess I'll be going now."

Sara spins around in his arms and drops a peck on Jared's smiling mouth. She has to stand on her tippy-toes to kiss him. Just like Nat once used too. Oh, God. I wince at the image my brain has conjured.

Sara saunters to our bathroom but Jared strays at the threshold, seemingly fixed by something.

"Jare, what's wrong?" I prop myself up on some pillows. "You okay – Did you have a good time tonight with Sara?"

He doesn't answer me.

Jared's grey eyes are zero on my hand with an expression akin to horror. My gaze follows his line of vision, and I pale a little.

"Cher...Are you engaged?"

* * *

OCTOBER 2nd

Sometimes I train with Gabe when I need to let out some steam. It helps to have a friend who's a personal trainer at your Uni's gym with access to all the facilities.

I've got a lot on my mind. I have a sinking suspicion that Teagan's not okay, that Pierre's pissed about something because he's suddenly too busy for me, and that Jared won't keep his mouth shut after I begged him.

"Please, Cookie Jar. Don't tell anyone yet. It's my secret, I should be allowed to break the news."

"Cher. This is big news, sweetheart. Not the fvcking weather we're discussing. I don't know how you thought it was okay to hide this from us-"

"Please. Please. Jared. I'm begging you."

He looks at the bathroom where Sara is and back at me. Frustration gleams in his eyes. "Fine, Cher."

Once I'm showered, I change into a t-shirt dress and some booted heels. I need to go out for a walk and clear my mind of all this confusion. I grab my keys and wallet.

The hallway is bathed in darkness since the lights fused two days ago. The maintenance guy hasn't passed by to fix it.

This is exactly why I shriek in fear when I'm locking up my dorm and hear a softly uttered, "Cherrycakes," rings out beside me.

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There isn't too much to say besides the fact that I'm sorry again! I truly hope you guys are enjoying this story despite me disappearing for a few months. If you follow me on wattpad, then you know what my reasons were :( How's everyone summer going so far? Also, what did you think of the chapter? Trent calling Cher 'babe'? Pierre being iffy? Tara trying to get Gabe to fck her? Jared finding out she's engaged?