WITH a heavy and only slightly annoyed sigh I slam my thick textbook shut. Friendly voices and quiet laughter surround me as I glance around the packed library. With midterms right around the corner everyone is here constantly making sure to stay at the top of their game. Binsfeld University is an extremely competitive college and everyone wants to be at the top.

But I want it more.

I decided to not go to the floor that Preston and I usually study on because I'm still actively avoiding him, even after my talk with Elizabeth yesterday, and anything that reminds me of him. And the beautifully gothic stained glass and hazy yellow lamps always will. They take me back to his deep voice pushing me. Encouraging me. Never letting me back down from any question or ounce of confusion I have weighing me down. I always leave our sessions stronger and smarter and...better.

So I opted for the main computer lab today. It's bright and tends to be more chatty along with the constant clicking of the keyboards and constant hum of the printers.

I shove my things into my bag with a stifled yawn. It's later than I realize as I glance at my phone to see it's already half past midnight. I've been hiding out here most of the day trying to study and focus but without Preston I'm realizing it's more difficult.

Over the past month I've grown accustomed to his presence and the way he can explain and expand on topics that usually take me hours to work through by myself. I will always work harder than anyone around me, but with Preston by my side the homework and studying didn't feel like work.

It was hard at times of course but it was also fun. It made me love the law for more reasons than just proving my father wrong. It made me appreciate it on a level that was just for me.

I stand from the table and sling my tote over my shoulder. I decide to exit through the basement because it's closer to where I parked my car and I don't want to take the long way around campus when it's so late at night.

The elevator is empty as I take it all the way down to the last stop and exit. A chill dances down my spine at how quiet it is down here. Not a soul is around and it makes my heart rattle around in my chest as my eyes dart around the long hallway.

Because even though I know I'm all alone I also feel as if someone is watching me and it makes nerves scatter throughout me.

My shoes brushing against the old worn tile is the only sound echoing around me as I make my way towards the exit. My gaze scans the many empty rooms lining the hallway as I walk by them. This used to be where the main study pods were years ago before the school renovated the rest of the library and left this floor to become a storage locker and empty ghost-town.

I'm almost to the exit when a hand grabs onto my upper arm tightly and yanks me. Terror seizes my entire body as the blood in my veins flashes ice cold, and my heart stops dead in my chest. A sharp scream breaks through my suddenly dry throat and I immediately attempt to escape the hold of whoever is trying to kill me.

All the episodes of Law and Order that Elizabeth has forced me to watch flash through my mind and I'm suddenly imagining every terrible scenario that could happen and panic floods me.

The person drags me backwards into a dark study room when I finally can twist away from their firm grasp and I'm able to get a good hit with my elbow into their rib cage. The person curses and the words make me pause before he lets me go and I whip around and hit the light switch.

The lights flash brightly before they dim and flicker softly revealing who my attacker is.

Fierce anger flares from within me. "What the fuck is wrong with you Preston?" I shout at him as confusion and irritation tangle within me. Why would he scare me like that? Was he trying to give me a heart attack?

He coughs a couple times and runs his hand over his ribs with a wince before he stands up straight. "A lot," he admits with the hint of a smirk on his lips.

Relief slams into me as I get my pulse under control but in seconds a darker emotion inflames me. "Seriously I thought I was going to die," I yell at him heatedly.

"Then we need to work on your self defense cause that was pathetic."

I tilt my head and narrow my eyes. "Pathetic? Really? How's your ribs?" I ask, calling him out knowing I hit him hard enough to bruise the bone.

"One hit proves nothing," he counters.

"Whatever. Seriously, what the hell do you want?" I ask him as I cross my arms and try to understand the massive swell of conflicting emotions racing through me. I'm beyond angry at what he just did. I am still embarrassed by my actions at my brother's party. But even more than all of that, seeing him after avoiding him for the past week has my heart aching at how wickedly beautiful he is.

"To talk to you," he answers. "But you've made that more than a little difficult," he growls, obviously just as frustrated with me as I am with him.

All the tension from the night of Aiden's party pours into the room and I'm almost afraid to move knowing I might get electrocuted from the energy radiating from between us at this moment.

I feel sparks coat my skin and I'm all too aware how in the presence of Preston Rothwell those small sparks can grow into a full fledged flame that devours us both in seconds.

"I've been busy," I tell him but as soon as the lame excuse leaves me I want to cringe because I know he can see right through it.

He takes a purposeful step towards me as heat swirls in the air. "You mean embarrassed," he counters, calling me out and refusing to take my bullshit excuse.

"You don't know shit. Stop acting like you know me Preston," I shout at him with aggravation clear on my tongue.

"We've already been over this! I do know you and don't think you can hide and avoid me and take the easy way out. We don't do easy Jameson," he grits out the last few words through a clenched jaw as his eyes blaze with a fire so dark it has me gasping for breath in the small room.

My head shakes faintly in an attempt to push some space between us. "What do you mean we? We aren't anything Preston so why do you even care? Just leave me the hell alone."

"We are far from nothing and you fucking know it so don't push me away. Not now. Not ever," he tells me. His words making my heart beat faster. "Plus I've been called worse. Much worse. So believe me when I say you're going to have to do a lot more to get me to back down from this, from you."

"Whatever Preston—" I start but he doesn't let me finish.

"Jameson." He says my name with such authority it causes my knees to shake. He grabs onto my bag and drags it free from my arm until it lands on the floor with a thud, stripping me free of it. Then he grabs both of my wrists in his large hands and pulls me towards him. He eyes me and studies me with such intensity I can't help but finally snap.

I yank out of his hold hating the way his skin scorches mine. Hating the way no matter where he lingers or touches I can feel him all over me. "You pulled away from me when I tried to kiss you," I blurt without hesitation. I wish I could hold my emotions back but seeing him so close in the flesh after my drunken attempts to kiss him a week ago has me riled up so hard I feel like I might combust.

Preston's dark eyes narrow in on me. "You were drunk," he trails with furrowed brows, my words clearly catching him by surprise which is not so easily done.

I huff out a sigh because I want to believe Preston Rothwell is a good guy with good intentions. But hesitation lingers in my soul when it comes to this man because nothing about him screams good. "Didn't think that would stop you," I accuse with bitterness burning on the tip of my tongue.

His nostrils flare along with the fire in his eyes. "Do you really think that little of me?" he pushes his voice rumbling with emotions raging under the surface. "That I would take advantage of you."

I shrug trying to play it cool when my insides are completely twisted and tied up. "I don't think of you at all," I tell him, trying to remain impassive when my heart is beating against my chest like crazy, contradicting the calmness of my face.

A dark chuckle falls from his perfect mouth as he stalks forward even closer. The heat that radiates off of him in waves is beginning to pull me under and suffocate me. "I know that's a lie," he says as if his words are a solidified truth with a sinful smile tugging at his lips.

I roll my eyes, pissed at the way he thinks he knows me so well. And even more pissed at the way he gets under the surface of my skin and reads me like no one else ever has. "You know nothing," I fight back.

Preston leans in close. His tall frame bends so his lips graze against my temple making me involuntary shudder. This is the only time he ever makes me feel small.

"I know you do think of me. Especially late at night, in bed, when your hand trails under the lace of your underwear," his raspy words fall onto my skin like embers burning and scarring me all at once. "Or do you usually get yourself off in the shower? Do you want to know what I think of when I'm in the shower?"

My cheeks flame red at his words as my chest heaves with heavy, needy breaths. All I can think of is him in the shower and the way he would look soaking wet and naked. My thighs clench at the thought. The idea of him touching himself to an image of me makes me want to melt and it's so dirty and wrong and yet I want more.

But I can't let him know that. I can never let him know how much his dirty and depraved words have me wanting more. "You're disgusting," I growl at him looking him dead in the eyes.

Preston raises his hand to trail the back of his fingers against my flushed neck. "And you're beautiful," he murmurs as he lets his hand trace the gold chain that lays against my collarbone. His eyes burn hotter as he watches the movements he makes. "Also you didn't deny my words," he adds with a cocky smirk.

With that he steps forward so my back is against the wall and his body pressed into mine making my blood boil with desire and my heart leap into action.

Suddenly I'm all too aware of how secluded the room is. There are no windows. Only one closed door. And the lighting in the room is dim and daunting as the man who haunts my dreams and saves me from my nightmares cages me in like a wild animal about to attack their prey.

The little hairs on my arms raise as a dash of fear fills my lungs. Preston loops his pointer finger through my necklace and tugs me closer to him as lust paints every other emotion black.

"Leave me alone," I push, not wanting to give in to the feelings that are overtaking me at this moment.

"Or what?" he taunts as his dark eyes glitter in the fading light.

"I'll scream," I counter with a raise of my chin to meet his gaze.

His grin widens at my words as if he loves it when I fight back. "Do it. See if anyone runs to save you."

A bolt of unease strikes through my bloodstream. "Why? Do I need saving?"

The hardness in his face softens. Only a little, but it's there. It's enough for me to latch on to and never want to let go of. He reaches up to tuck a dark strand of hair behind my ear letting his thumb graze my cheek in the process. "With me Jameson? Never," he swears.

My heart wants to believe him. But my mind holds me back. "Don't lie to me," I tell him as my words break at the end showing just how fragile I truly am. Especially around him.

I don't give anyone the power to break me. But he took it without me even realizing it and it makes me scared of what he will choose to do with this power.

"I'll always protect you," he whispers in my ear, making me shiver. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this." Confusion whirls within me at his softly spoken words.

They are so quiet I wonder if he even knows he said them aloud. If he knows I heard them.

I want to ask what he means but I don't. I'm too nervous to even acknowledge them and what might happen if I break this moment.

Preston cups my cheek spreading his fingers across my skin letting his thumb move in gentle circles before he moves to trace the outline of my lips.

They part at his touch letting my heated breath sink into his skin. But he doesn't stop touching me. It's as if he's in a trance and it's the first time he's really letting himself give into what he wants. His thumb then paints across my jaw before trailing down with the rest of his hand. He presses his nail gently into the center of my throat right below my chin and let's it scratch down my skin. Hard enough I know it will leave a faint pink scratch but not so hard it will break the skin.

The slight burst of pain makes my knees tremble and for the first time I let myself fully give in to the way he makes my body feel. Untamed. Desired. Aflame. And I settle my hands on his hips, hooking my fingers into his belt loops and tugging him closer.

Darkness cascades over his features but a faint smile lifts the corner of his lips at my move, and in seconds his hand is draped around my neck like the gold necklace I always wear. He isn't applying any pressure. He's just simply resting it as his thumb lazily plays with the delicate chain.

A silent threat, and one I secretly hope he follows through with.

"Preston?" I whisper his name. A question. A desperate plea. A single all consuming need for more.

He doesn't answer me with words but by actions as he presses his lips into mine. My entire body is in shock. My heart is screaming with excitement and my inner fourteen year old self is jumping for joy that the Preston Rothwell is finally kissing her.

Kissing me.

My head takes a second longer to understand what is happening but I refuse to let my mind ruin this moment.

So I shut her off and lean into the thing I've always secretly wanted but have always been too fearful to ever act on.

Preston's lips are soft moving against my unmoving ones. He doesn't rush me. He cherishes my lips as if he truly has been waiting for this moment as long as I have. I almost laugh at the idea. Preston waiting for me? Never.

But little does he know how long I've secretly been waiting for him.

He continues the slow pace and it seems like he's almost giving me an out. As if he's waiting for me to freak out and pull away.

But I don't. I won't. Instead I give in to the man who's been a permanent fixture of my daydreams as of lately.

It's then he can sense the change in my body and he finally gives it all to me. Everything. He unleashes on me and my fingers tighten their hold on him in an effort to hold on.

Every move Preston Rothwell makes is calculated. But this isn't. It's pure want and I let his darkness pull me under until we are both surrendering to the flames of our demise.

The hand around my throat tightens and it makes heat curl in the pit of my stomach as his other hand grips my waist pinning me between the solid wall and his hard body.

His kiss is hot. Beyond hot. It's downright filthy.

He doesn't let up. Not even for a moment as he assaults my lips with his own. His tongue tangles with mine as he traces and tastes me as if he's desperate for more. Desperate for me.

I'm dizzy from his drug-like kissing. The longer his kiss overwhelms me the more on fire I become.

I've always been taught that when you feel heat you should leave. It's not an indicator of anything good or healthy. It means flames are near. It's a warning to run. It means a rising body temperature. An impending sickness.

But none of that has ever applied to Preston. He was born in the flames and will always live there. It's a part of him and always will be. His heat is electrifying and thrilling and covering every inch of me until I know I'll be ruined and reborn.

And I love it.

My fingers curl through his thick brown hair drawing him closer as a deep groan rumbles from his chest making me shake in his arms with an unspoken agreement for more.

Preston releases my waist and slides his hand down my leg until I'm following his movements and hooking my leg around his waist allowing him to invade my space even more. He lightly traces the tips of his fingers at the crease where my thigh meets my hip. He's so close to where I want him. Where I need him I can't help but whimper against his lips.

He trails his hand down from my throat until he reaches my chest and grabs my breast with such untamed desire I can only imagine the bruises he will leave behind.

The thought of being left with his mark makes my head swim and I break the kiss letting my head fall back against the wall with a loud moan escaping my parted lips.

Preston's fingers continue to tease the sensitive skin of my thigh only covered by my thin black leggings as the thumb of his free hand brushes my nipple through the fabric of my top.

His lips press against my neck where his hand once held me. "Are you going to tell me the truth now?"

"What?" I ask in a haze my mind only focused on the way Preston is touching me.

I can feel the smirk of his lips against my skin. He knows he affects me. He knows he has power over me. And he loves it. But he also loves the way I fight back and dig my heels in along the way.

I won't make it easy. Because like he said. We don't do easy.

"Admit that you think of me when you get yourself off," he murmurs as he toys with me fully aware of the tease he is. "I'll tell you who I think of," he promises against my jaw before he plants a soft kiss there.

"You want the truth?" I gasp out faintly as the touch of his hand against the bare skin of my stomach. I didn't realize he had snuck his way under my oversized sweater and suddenly I ache to tear the itchy fabric off my body.

"Always," he swears as his hands continue to draw circles against my skin making me lose my mind.

"I sometimes think of Thor. Sometimes Ryan Gosling," I tease wickedly. "And sometimes your friends," I end with a grin stretching across my tingling lips.

"Which one?" he pushes with a spark of interest flashing in his wild eyes.

"Both of them. I wonder what it would be like to be with someone as reckless as Everett and as guarded as Lawrence." The words fall off my tongue with ease even though they are a complete and total lie.

The only man I ever think about when I'm touching myself and when the moon is in the sky is him. Even when I do try and think of someone else, anyone else, it's always his hands and lips and words I hear in my head that push me over the edge into oblivion.

But I won't confess that to him. Ever.

His tongue darts out and traces up the chain around my neck before he latches onto my skin with his teeth.

I know he's giving me a hickey. I know I should tell him to stop but some fucked up part of me loves his marks. Because when this moment is gone hours from now I'll be able to look in the mirror and have proof Preston touched me. Wanted me.

The thought only makes me crave it all more.

"I know you're lying James," he whispers against my heated skin. Kissing the freshly marked and sensitive skin making me breathless. "But I still find it hot as fuck," he admits with a gravely moan that makes my skin break out in goosebumps.

Then he finally strikes as he slides his hand lower and lower until his fingers are crawling beneath the band of my leggings.

He pushes my thong to the side and with a single swipe of his finger he can feel how embarrassingly wet I am for him, but