Never Have I Ever (Campus Games, #1)

by Stephanie Alves

He approaches where I’m standing, but then his eyes land on the bouquet of flowers in my arms, and he frowns. “Who bought you flowers?” he asks. “Oh… well, no one. I bought them myself.”

His eyebrows scrunch. “You bought yourself flowers?” he asks me. “Why?” I avert my eyes from him and look at the flowers in my arms. They’re huge daisies that fill out the bouquet so beautifully, and the sight of them makes me happy. “I love flowers,” I tell him. “And I don’t have anyone to buy them for me, so I buy them myself.” I shrug.

Maybe it’s weird to buy myself flowers, but I love how they look in my apartment, and it’s not like I have a boyfriend to get the...

His eyes drift to the bags in my hand. “What did you get?” “It’s girl stuff. You don’t care about this.” He scoffs. “When it comes to you? I do.”

He’s angry. His jaw is clenched, and his fists are balled up by his side. He doesn’t like the thought of anyone else seeing me in this underwear, but he doesn’t want to see me in it, either.

“I can’t. Not with you.”

“Please, just say you’ll think about it?” He lets out a breath and shakes his head. He looks down at me, staring into my eyes. “I’ve done nothing but think about it,” he admits.

I want to know what it’s like to fall in love.

If I do end up with someone I don’t love, at least I’ll know what it was like, once in my life.

“I remember everything about you, angel.”

“I want to live like Grayson Carter,” I tell him.

“Just be with me, Rosie,” he says, his eyes looking out at the road. “Forget about who you think I am or who you’re trying to escape being. Just be with me. Right now. Right here.”

I shake my head, taking a step back. “I’m not getting on that,” I tell him, looking down at my outfit. “I’m wearing a dress.” He smirks and takes that as his opportunity to look down my body. I feel the heat of his stare everywhere his eyes roam. “I know,” he says. “And you look gorgeous.”

“Go faster,” I whisper in his ear, clutching tighter onto him. I feel his laughter deep in the pit of my stomach. “You don’t even have to ask, angel,” he says before pressing his foot down.

“I want to have my first kiss.” His thumb drops lower until he cups my chin. He gently tugs my chin and lifts my head until my eyes make contact with his. “You’ve never been kissed?” he asks, his eyes dropping down to my mouth.

“And I know you said we wouldn’t ever get involved that way, but,” I shrug, “Ben seemed interested. Or maybe if I find someone else —” “I’ll do it.” My eyes widen. “What?” “I’ll do it,” he says. “I’ll help you. With everything.” Is he saying what I think he is? “You mean…?” “Yes.”

“Then I’ll do it.” He leans in closer. “I’ll teach you everything; I’ll show you everything. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”

I lean in and crash my lips with hers.

No, this kiss is soft and delicate, just like my angel.

She moans into my mouth, a sound so sweet I’m debating on how I can give her everything I own.

Even though I denied her before, even though I told her I would never go there, I couldn’t fathom the idea of her asking someone else.

I've denied it for too long. I want her, and she wants me for some reason.

Christ, this girl is so fucking adorable.

“You can touch me.” I choke out a laugh. She catches on quickly. “I know.” “Then why don’t you?” she asks. I smirk, seeing her staring at my lips. “Because angel, if I start, I won’t be able to stop.” She shifts closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I don’t want you to stop.”

“You’re trouble,” I say, feeling the heat rising through my body. I want to touch her and kiss her, but I also don’t want to move too fast. She shrugs, grinning, clearly pleased with herself. “Only around you.”

For as long as she wants to keep doing this, she’s mine, and I’m going to have fun with her.

The groans and moans, the hair tugging and devouring each other’s taste. That was kissing. That was what I wanted, and I didn’t even know it. And I want it again.

“I’ve been looking for you.” “Really?” Did that sound too desperate? “Yeah,” he says. “I’ve got a gift for you.” My eyebrows scrunch. “A gift?” He smirks again and then leans into his car, through the open window, and pulls out a huge bouquet of flowers. Pink roses. They’re absolutely gorgeous, and the fact that Grayson bought them for me makes them even better.

Grayson got me flowers.

“When you told me that you buy yourself flowers because you don’t have anyone else to buy them for you, I felt bad,” he admits, making my breath hitch. “I know I’m not your boyfriend, but… we’re friends, right? And well, you have me now, so I’ll buy you flowers from now on.”

“Listen to me,” he says. “If I’m kissing you and licking your body like it’s a fucking feast, then the least I could do is get you some flowers.”

He interrupts me with another kiss. This one quick and hard. Just the press of his lips against mine. “I’ll quit,” he says.

“As long as I get to taste this,” he says, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “I don’t give a fuck what I have to give up.”

“I didn’t know if you had a favorite flower,” he says. “So, I just got roses. It seemed fitting, you know… Rosalie.”

“I don’t care what you say, Rosie. I’m buying you flowers.”

He knows I’m flustered because he laughs, and then he leans into me. “I want you to use it,” he whispers. “Whenever you feel like you did when we kissed. Whenever you’re turned on, use it and explore.”

So, that was an orgasm. Fun.

The look on her face when I gave her the flowers was the purest thing I have ever witnessed.

“You want to eat?” she asks behind me. Yes. I want to eat you.

“I’m starving, angel,” I tell her. “But for something other than pasta.”

“What did you think of?” I whisper. She swallows. I see her throat bob up and down before she answers. “You,” she rasps out.

I fall to my knees. She literally has me on my knees, crawling to where she’s dangling off the foot of the bed.

“Of course. Your designs are great, Rosie. They’ll get the traction they deserve, and I want to be a part of that.” She smiles. “Especially because I think it’s amazing that you’re designing a luxury fashion brand that’s inclusive.”

The thought of having a plus-size best friend and ending up designing a line that would be for straight sizes only would be like a slap in the face to her.

“Got yourself a boyfriend?” he asks. “No, just a friend,” I say. He shakes his head as I take the flowers and box from him. “Friends don’t give other friends flowers, Rosie.”

I notice a card stuck to the white paper the flowers are wrapped in. I pick up the card and open it up. The woman said these were called tulips. They reminded me of what you were wearing last time I saw you. And now I’m thinking of your lips.

Grayson is here. He’ll save me, everything is going to be okay.

“Fuck, Rosie. Don’t do this to me, please,” he rasps, his voice breaking. “Not again.”

“Breathe,” he orders me. I try to take a deep inhale and feel my heartbeat slow down a little. “Good girl,” he soothes, running his thumbs on my face.

The last time I was here, I left her in the shower and left her apartment. But not this time. This time, I’m staying with her for as long as she needs me to.