Chapter 51 CHAPTER 51
YAEL
The next day started with Mia banging on my dorm door like the building was on fire.
“Yael! Open up! Emergency bestie meeting!” she yelled through the wood.
I groaned, rolling out of bed and yanking the door open. Mia burst in, phone already in hand, eyes wild with excitement.
“There’s a party tonight at the Delta house,” she announced without preamble. “Like, the party. Everyone’s going. Hockey team, sororities, the works. We are not missing it.”
I rubbed my eyes. “Mia, it’s a Thursday.”
“Exactly! Pre-weekend energy! Come on, you’ve been locked up in here studying—or whatever you’ve been doing.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Time to live a little.”
I thought about Knox. About how we hadn’t seen each other all day because of classes and practice. About how a party full of drunk people who didn’t know we were together sounded like torture.
But Mia was already texting the group chat.
“Too late,” she sang. You’re not bailing.”
I sighed. “Fine. Party it is.”
By ten p.m., we were piling out of an Uber in front of the Delta house. Music thumped so loud the windows vibrated. People spilled onto the lawn, red cups everywhere.
Our friend group linked arms as we pushed inside—Mia leading the charge, me trailing behind, heart already racing because I knew he’d be here.
I spotted Knox almost immediately.
He was leaning against the kitchen island, laughing at something one of his teammates said, looking stupidly hot in a black hoodie and dark jeans. Our eyes met for half a second across the room.
Then we both looked away fast.
Secret. Right.
Mia dragged me straight to the drinks. “Shots first, dancing second, boys third,” she declared, handing me a cup.
I downed it, the burn distracting me from the way Knox was now surrounded.
It happened fast. Word had spread that he was “single again” after not being seen with anyone since that lunch with me. Girls swarmed him like they’d been waiting for permission.
First it was just one—some blonde in a tiny dress leaning in too close, touching his arm while she laughed.
Then two more joined. Then three.
I pretended to listen to Lexi talk about her chem lab, but my eyes kept flicking over.
Knox smiled politely, nodded, but didn’t lean into any of them. When one tried to hand him a drink, he shook his head.
“No thanks, I’m good,” I heard him say as I passed nearby for another drink.
“You sure?” the girl pouted. “I got it just for you.”
“I’ve got one,” he said, lifting his water bottle. Gentle, but firm.
She didn’t back off. None of them did.
I turned away, jealousy burning hot in my chest. I had no right to feel it—I was the one who wanted to keep this secret. But watching them touch his arm, flip their hair, press close… it made me want to scream mine.
Across the room, Knox’s eyes found me again.
I looked away too fast.
My phone buzzed.
Knox: you okay?
I glanced up. He was watching me now, ignoring the girl talking in his ear.
Me: fine
Knox: you’re not fine. you’re biting your lip so hard it’s gonna bleed
I hadn’t even realized I was doing it.
Me: just drunk people being drunk
Knox: they won’t leave me alone
Me: i know
Knox: i hate this
Me: me too
Knox: meet me upstairs in 5. club room at the end of the hall. door locks
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Me: okay
I waited four minutes, then slipped away from the group with some excuse about the bathroom.
The hallway upstairs was darker, quieter. I found the club room—some old study lounge with a couch and dim lamps—and pushed the door open.
Knox was already there, pacing.
The second the door clicked shut, he was on me.
His mouth crashed into mine, hard and desperate, hands cupping my face like he’d been starving for it. I kissed him back just as fiercely, fingers fisting his hoodie.
“Fuck this secret shit,” he growled against my lips. “I hate pretending I don’t want you.”
“Me too,” I gasped, arching into him.
He backed me up until my legs hit the couch, then spun me around, bending me over the arm. One sharp spank landed on my ass—hard enough to sting through my jeans.
I moaned, loud and shameless.
“That’s for looking so fucking jealous downstairs,” he rasped, voice rough. Another spank. “When you know I’m only yours.”
“Knox,” I whimpered, pushing back against him.
He hauled me up, turning me to face him again, then lifted me like I weighed nothing. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively as he carried me to the couch and sat down with me straddling him.
I attacked his neck immediately, sucking hard right over his pulse.
“Mine,” I muttered against his skin, biting down. “You’re mine.”
“Yours,” he groaned, head falling back. “All fucking yours, Yael. Always.”
I left a dark mark, then another, lower on his collarbone where his hoodie would hide it tomorrow.
He gripped my hips, grinding me down onto him. “Mark me up, baby. I want to see them tomorrow and remember how fucking possessive you get.”
I choked his neck with one hand—not hard, just enough pressure to make his breath hitch—while I kissed him again, messy and deep.
“Say it,” I demanded between kisses. “Say you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” he said instantly, voice wrecked. “Only yours. Those girls downstairs? Don’t even see them. Only see you.”
I ground down harder, feeling how much he wanted me.
“Tell me again.”
“Yours,” he repeated, hands sliding under my shirt. “Your boyfriend. Your whatever-you-want-me-to-be. Just yours.”
I kissed him slower this time, possessive and claiming.
“Good boy,” I whispered.
He laughed breathlessly. “Fuck, say that again.”
“Good boy,” I repeated, nipping his lip. “For not letting them touch you too much.”
“I wanted to shove them off,” he admitted. “Wanted to tell them to back the fuck up because I have a girlfriend who’s perfect and hot and mine.”
“But you didn’t,” I said softly.
“Because you asked me not to.” He cupped my face. “But it’s killing me, Yael. Watching guys look at you, not being able to touch you, kiss you, show everyone you’re taken.”
I rested my forehead against his. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “Just—let’s tell people soon. Please.”
I nodded slowly. “Soon. After we figure out Aaron.”
He exhaled. “Okay. Soon.”
We stayed like that for a minute, just breathing each other in.
Then my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Mia: where are you??? we’re doing shots!
I groaned.
Knox laughed. “Duty calls?”
“Unfortunately.”
He kissed me once more—soft this time. “Go. I’ll wait a few minutes before I head down.”
I stood, fixing my shirt, smoothing my hair.
He caught my hand. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re the only one I want,” he said seriously. “Always.”