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  He found himself wanting to protect her, shelter her, and ease the distress he’d seen in her eyes earlier. He craved her with an intensity that was hardening him even now. She was the most delectable, entrancing woman he’d ever met.

  Sera managed to nod a response before he turned away from her. He brushed by Michelle, not even looking at her as he opened the door. "Nice to meet you guys," he said to Kathleen and Danielle, pointedly ignoring Michelle.

  "Bye," they said in unison.

  He shut the door behind him, and they all remained silent for a few seconds. "Oh my God," Danielle gushed. "He is so hot."

  "You had better spill!" Kathleen said, excitedly bouncing on her bed.

  "Oh yes!" Danielle cried. "Where did you guys go? How was that kiss?"

  Sera stared at them before she turned to Michelle. She was nonchalantly leaning against the door, but the set of her jaw belied her calm composure. "I'd better go too," she said as she stepped away from the wall. "I'll see you later, and I am sorry about earlier."

  "It's all right," Sera replied dully.

  Michelle swung the door open and closed it loudly behind her. "What is her problem?" Danielle asked.

  "Bet you ten she tries to catch up with him." Kathleen scrambled off her bed and raced to the window.

  "Kathleen—" Sera started.

  "Never seen her walk that fast before," Kathleen commented.

  Sera was unable to resist looking. Michelle was hurrying down the front walk, Liam just ahead of her. He suddenly turned around as Michelle walked over to him. Sera's heart began to speed up as they stood together beneath the street light.

  "That bitch!" Kathleen cried, angrily slamming her hands on the sill. "That rotten bitch!"

  "I can't believe it," Danielle whispered.

  Sera felt as if someone had socked her in the stomach as the two continued to talk. "Well, if he wants her," she choked out.

  "Screw that!" Kathleen snapped.

  Michelle reached out to touch Liam's shoulder flirtatiously, but he took a step back from her. Sera watched in amazement as he turned and walked away from her. Michelle stood for a moment before turning and walking the other way. "Good for him," Kathleen muttered. "I knew I liked him for a reason!"

  Sera turned away from the window and sat on her bed. "I can't believe her," Danielle declared. "She's got a set of balls."

  "No, she's a backstabbing bitch! Now I hope you realize what she is." Sera stared at Kathleen in confusion. "She's not worth being upset over."

  Sera blinked and shook her head. "I'm not upset about her."

  "Then what's the matter?"

  "I don't know; I guess I'm confused."

  "About what?" Danielle asked, sitting next to her and handing Sera her beer.

  Sera took a long swallow and began to twirl the beer in her hand. "I don't know what just happened."

  "What do you mean?" Kathleen demanded, hands on her hips.

  Sera stood and walked back to the window. The street was empty now. "I don't know. I just don't know."

  "Sera," Danielle said. "You're not making any sense."

  "I've never met anyone like him," she murmured. "No one has ever made me feel that way. He looks at me, and I melt. He touches me, and shivers run up and down my spine. He kisses me, and the whole world disappears, and I feel... well, I don't know how to explain what I feel. All I know is I feel more for him in the past hour than anyone I've ever met. How is that possible?"

  "I don't know; maybe it's the alcohol," Kathleen joked.

  Sera put her beer down. "Maybe you're right, but I don't think so."

  "That's a good thing," Danielle said forcefully. "Why are you questioning it?"

  "I don't know; have you ever felt like that?"

  "No."

  "Then there's Michelle—"

  "Don't tell me you're concerned about that tramp!" Kathleen cried.

  "No, it's not that. I just don't understand what in the world he could want with me when he could have her?"

  Danielle and Kathleen's mouths dropped open. "Because he has good taste," Kathleen answered dryly. "It's obvious to the rest of us what Michelle is; you're the one who refuses to see it."

  "I see it now," Sera whispered.

  But too late. She always saw things too late. She’d considered Michelle her friend; she’d trusted her. But, after everything that happened tonight, she knew her trust was misplaced. Just like it always was.

  And now there was Liam. She didn't know what to make of him, or the way he made her feel. She hated feeling this way; it only led to suffering. She found herself torn between wanting to see him again, and hoping she never would. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself as her body trembled with her torn emotions.

  Liam walked back into the frat house. The music had been turned down; the lights were dimmed to give the home a more romantic vibe. Although, how anyone could feel like screwing in the jumbled mess of garbage, and the stench of beer, he didn't know. However, some people obviously did. He could hear more than one couple having sex in the dance room, and knew the thumps over his head weren't drunks falling.

  "Hey, how'd it go?”

  Liam turned as Mike came strolling in from the back room with a cute brunette tucked under his arm. She grinned up at Liam drunkenly as she leaned heavily against Mike's side. Jack and Doug followed behind him; a redhead was under Jack's arm, and a brunette under Doug's. "Fine," he replied absently.

  Mike flashed a drunken smirk as he leaned against the banister. "Told you so."

  Liam scowled at him. "Told him what?" Jack asked happily.

  "About Sera."

  "Oh," Jack replied, his forehead furrowed. "You shouldn't have even bothered to try; she doesn't give it up."

  "I didn't try!" Liam barked. "And don't talk about her like that."

  He was even more astonished than they were by the hostility in his voice, and the tension filling him. Mike lifted a blond brow questioningly but didn't say anything. Jack and Doug both stared at him with expressions of shock.

  "Well," Doug was the first to recover. "There are some girls back there who are more than willing."

  The brunette giggled as she wrapped her arm around Doug's waist. Liam couldn't help the sneer of revulsion curling his upper lip. He looked away from her, his gaze traveled down the hall to the back living room. He could hear voices coming from there, most of them female. For a minute he was tempted. He was still partially erect from his time with Sera, and he wouldn't mind having someone relieve him.

  Growing hard again at the thought of Sera, he took a step toward them and then stopped. He suddenly realized he wasn't in the mood for one of those girls. Frowning, and suddenly annoyed, he turned back around and headed for the stairs. His emotions were a rioting mess he couldn't begin to fathom right now.

  "Where ya going?" Jack slurred.

  "To bed," he muttered.

  "Are you serious, man? There are plenty of girls back there!"

  "Hey," Mike snatched hold of Liam's arm before he could escape. "You all right?"

  Liam's jaw clenched as he gazed at his friend. Mike's eyes searched his face in bewilderment. "No," Liam responded as he pulled his arm free. "I'm not."

  He turned away and stalked up the stairs.

  Chapter Three

  Sera had slept in later than she'd planned, and now she was in a rush. She had to research her history report before meeting Kathleen and Danielle for lunch. Kathleen was still sound asleep when she'd left the room; Sera silently envied her lackadaisical lifestyle and carefree attitude. For once, she wished she could be more like Kathleen and still be buried beneath her blankets.

  She shrugged off thoughts of Kathleen sleeping as she climbed the stairs to the library. She walked through the maze of hallways until she came to another set of stairs and climbed them. There were only a handful of people in the large room. Most students were still sleeping off Friday night, and it was only the truly uptight ones, like her, that were here.

 
; She smiled at the librarian, who was used to seeing her, and headed for the back. The history books took up the last twelve rows, and she lost herself in them. Pulling down an armful of books on the bubonic plague, she headed for the beanbag chair in the corner. Slipping into the comfy chair, she opened one of the books and began to read.

  "How's the book?"

  She started and jerked back as someone slid onto the bag beside her. Her eyes widened in amazement as Liam smiled at her and leaned over her shoulder to look at the pages. Instantly, her heartbeat sped up as she gazed at his bent head. "Interesting topic to read first thing on a Saturday."

  "I always like a reality check in the morning," she said, smiling happily and still a little dazed by his sudden presence. "What are you doing here?"

  He sprawled out, crossing his long legs in front of him as he placed his hands behind his head. "I thought I'd prowl for good looking girls who come to the library at ten o'clock on a Saturday."

  "You must be disappointed then."

  He grinned as he touched a strand of her hair. "Nah, I think I've found one."

  She smiled shyly as she leaned back in the bag. "Do you have a report to do?"

  He laughed and dropped his arm around her shoulders. "Oh no, I don't make it a habit of coming to the library. I went to your room to see if you would like to go to breakfast. A very disgruntled, barely discernible, and extremely sleepy Kathleen informed me, and I quote, "Are you nuts? Mumble, mumble, mumble, nine thirty, mumble, mumble, mumble. She's probably in the library; she's crazy. Like you!" and slammed the door in my face."

  Sera laughed. "You woke up Kathleen? That's never good!"

  "So I noticed. I won't do it again."

  His hand ran over her hair. She leaned her head against his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to drift into his caress. To her surprise, she didn't feel any revulsion. She hadn't felt it last night, at least not the revulsion, but she had attributed it to the alcohol in her system. She was more amazed to realize her lack of fear had nothing to do with the fact they were in the safe confines of the library, and everything to do with him. She could have stayed there forever.

  "Don't let me interrupt you," he whispered, laying his chin against her head. "Continue reading."

  "I can't; you're distracting me."

  "Should I leave?"

  That was the last thing she wanted to happen. "No."

  He rubbed his hand along her hair and tilted the book so he could see it too. "Then we'll read it together. Nothing like a little death to start the day off right."

  She chuckled and looked down at the book, but she couldn't seem to focus on the words. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, and her body tingled everywhere it touched against his. "You know what?" he whispered in her ear. "You're distracting me too."

  She turned to look at him. His eyes were a brilliant green as they burned into hers. She shivered with excitement as he leaned down and kissed her. Instantly, she melted into his warm embrace and the pressure of his mouth against hers. His tongue brushed against her lips, and she instinctively opened her mouth to his soft caress. He entered her mouth unhurriedly; gently stroking her tongue, he sent sparks of passion throughout her whole body. He carefully pressed her back, gradually lowering himself over her, and enclosing her within the warmth of his embrace.

  Something deep inside of her began to stir as she encircled her arms around his back. She felt as if she was losing control, as if there was no one in the world but them, and the profound emotions he arose in her. His kisses became deeper, more urgent. She met each of his thrusts eagerly, her fingers curling into his back as her whole body responded to his.

  "Uh hum." Sera jumped, and Liam quickly moved aside. She sat up to find Ms. Krinkle, the librarian, staring at them disapprovingly. "I think it would be better if you checked those books out, Sera."

  "I'm sorry, Ms. Krinkle," she mumbled. She scooped up the books as her face burned with embarrassment. "I'll do that right now."

  Unable to bear looking at Liam, she hurried down the long row of books. She walked up to the counter, handed over her college ID, and waited impatiently as a student worker checked her out. She turned to leave and realized Liam had disappeared. A sense of loss enveloped her, but she was in too much of a rush, and too humiliated, to think about it. She just wanted to get out of there as fast as she could.

  She burst through the doors, grateful for the crisp air to ease the burning in her cheeks as she turned to head back to her dorm. Liam sat on a bench by the doors, a huge grin on his face. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes, adding an air of sensuality to him that was both thrilling, and disturbing.

  "Glad you think it's funny."

  "Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you." He stood and began to walk beside her.

  "It's my fault."

  "You were quite content until I showed up."

  "It's all right."

  Her head spun with the overwhelming confusion she felt. She had never lost control like that. Although she enjoyed it, she was also angry at herself for it. She knew better than to let herself get wrapped up with someone, knew better than to believe she could trust someone. But she couldn't seem to stop herself when it came to him. She needed to get away from him so she could try to sort out her confusing emotions.

  "Have you talked to Michelle today?" he inquired.

  "No, why?"

  "We had a little chat last night after I left."

  "Really?" she inquired innocently. "About what?"

  "She apologized for the way she acted."

  "That was nice of her," she said more casually than she felt.

  "I suppose."

  Sera looked up at him. "You really don't like her, do you?"

  He shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather bomber jacket. "No, I don't."

  She wasn't paying any attention to where they were going until she realized they were at the frat house. Trash, empty beer cans, bottles, and plastic cups littered the lawn. The front door was open, and two kegs lay on the sidewalk.

  "Looks amazing," she commented dryly.

  "The cleanup crew will be by later."

  "Cleanup crew?"

  "We paid some guys to come by at twelve to clean up the yard and first floor."

  "I hope you paid them a lot." She wouldn't like to be the one who had to clean up this mess.

  He chuckled and took hold of her hand. Sera almost jerked away as a bolt of electricity sizzled through her. "Are you going to come in?"

  She stared at the trashed house as she tried to calm her racing heart. Just moments ago she wanted to get away from him; now, she would like nothing more than to go in there with him. "I don't know if I should."

  "You won't get into trouble. Girls are allowed in here," he teased.

  "That's not it."

  "Then what is it?" he inquired.

  She chewed on her bottom lip as she turned to look at him. She couldn't see his eyes, but she knew he was staring intently at her. "I don't think I can control myself around you," she blurted before she could stop herself. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she hated herself for saying them and wished she could kick herself in the ass.

  He gently took hold of her arm. "Come on; I won't bite."

  "Liam, that's not it, I mean... oh, I don't know what I'm saying," she finished lamely.

  His hand on her chin soothed her as he lifted her face. The sunglasses rested on top of his head. His eyes were intense, but the tenderness in them touched her and melted some of her reserve.

  "I know what you mean, Sera. It will be all right, I promise."

  The last of her defenses crumbled at his words, and she followed him into the home. More beer bottles, cups, and piles of garbage littered the floors and stairs. The furniture was scattered around the house, holes dented some of the walls, and the entire place reeked of beer and something even less pleasant she didn't want to identify. She picked her way carefully around the trash, and the guy passed out at the top of the stairs
.

  At the second floor hallway, the trail of refuse continued to flow. A few people were lying on the floor, but all the doors were firmly closed. They moved around the clutter as he led her to another set of stairs. The stairway was gloomy, but unlike the others it was immaculate, making it obvious the party hadn't been allowed to spread past the second floor. Stepping out of the stairwell on the third floor, he led her to the third door on the right.

  She hesitated before stepping inside. A full-size bed was pushed against the right wall with a black comforter spread over it. A small nightstand was next to it with a lamp and an alarm clock perched on top. There was a desk in the corner with a computer and phone. On the other side of the desk was a small green recliner. A small wooden entertainment center sat against the wall by the door with a TV and DVD player on it.

  "Have a seat," he told her.

  She set her books on his desk and stood next to it; she was a little too nervous to sit down. He smiled at her wryly and walked over to the closet. Opening the door, he knelt in front of a small refrigerator. "Want something to drink?"

  "No, I'm fine."

  He pulled out a bottle of water and shut the door. He turned to stare at her as he leaned against the door. She began to feel incredibly uncomfortable and foolish. She shouldn't be here. She didn't belong here. And she had no idea what he expected of her. Swallowing heavily, she fully realized the situation she’d put herself in.

  She looked toward the door. It was only ten feet away, but it seemed like miles. Would she be able to make it there in time if something happened? Her gaze darted back to him. He was still staring at her, but he was frowning, and his eyes were questioning as they studied her.

  He straightened away from the door and walked across the room to sit on the bed. "Do you want to go to a party tonight?" he inquired.

  "Where?"

  "The Phi Beta house."

  Her gaze involuntarily shot back to the door. She swallowed as she forced herself to calm down. He was doing nothing wrong, nothing at all. She was acting like an idiot, and if she didn't stop he was going to notice. The thought mortified her brain into action. "How did you manage to get into the frat house so soon?" she asked in a desperate attempt to distract herself.