Chapter 34 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Scarlett’s POV
"What frustrates you so much, Red?" he asked softly, his voice for my ears only.
"None of your business," I muttered darkly, refusing to look at him.
"Suit yourself."
I tried to focus on the board, but my curiosity got the better of me. "Why do you call me Red anyway?"
Blue didn't answer immediately. He leaned in closer until his shoulder was almost touching mine. I could feel the heat radiating off him.
"Because when I look at you," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intense pitch that made my toes curl, "I see a raging inferno. You're a fire that can either light up my world... or burn it completely into ashes."
My eyes widened. I turned to look at him, my mouth slightly agape. I couldn't breathe. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Before I could find a single word to respond, he turned his gaze back to the front of the room as if he hadn't just said something completely crazy.
I forced myself to face forward, my heart jumping against my ribs so hard I was sure he could hear it. I tried to focus on Ms. Nina’s voice, but her lecture on the history of social reform now sounded like a series of muffled noises.
When the bell finally rang, Ms. Nina gathered her notes and walked out. There was a rush of chairs scraping and students talking. Some left immediately after the class was over.
Without looking around, Blue says, "Everybody out."
The effect was instantaneous. Students who were halfway through putting books in their bags simply grabbed them and bolted. In less than ten seconds, the classroom was empty. The level of obedience was overwhelming. It made me wonder why Blue didn't have a rival. Usually, in places like this, strong guys competed for the top spot, but it seemed like Blue existed in a category all by himself.
I looked at his profile, his jaw set and his eyes cold. Was it lonely at the top? Did he ever wish someone would actually stand their ground and challenge him?
He turned to me, his expression blank. "What happened?"
"Oh," I started, my voice caught in my throat. "You heard."
Blue didn't answer. He just continued looking at me, his grey eyes demanding the truth.
"Well," I sighed, picking at a loose thread on my sweater. "Rachael had some cigarettes she hadn’t disposed of yet. They were discovered during the midnight inspection, and we got sent to solitary."
Blue’s eyes narrowed. "We?"
"Yes, we," I said, trying to sound firmer than I felt. "I chose to go with her. I didn't want her to be there alone."
I watched as Blue’s jaw ground together. A vein popped in his temple, which told me that he was far from happy. He stayed quiet for a long moment, the silence stretching.
"So," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "You went to solitary... just for her?"
"Yes," I whispered, bracing myself. I expected him to blow up, to shout, or to tell me how stupid I was for risking my health for a roommate I barely knew.
He didn't. He just looked at my midsection. "Do you feel pain?"
"No," I answered quickly. It technically wasn't a lie since the painkillers were still working but there was a dull pulling sensation that reminded me the stitches weren't ready to come out yet. The doctor said it usually took about ten to fourteen days for the skin to knit together enough for the thread to be pulled, and I was nowhere near that.
"Let me see," Blue said.
My eyes went wide. "Here? In the classroom?"
Blue just raised an eyebrow, his expression saying everything it needed to.
I looked at the door to make sure it was closed, then nervously reached for the hem of my top. I lifted it just high enough to reveal the white bandages. Blue leaned in, his large frame shielding me from the view of the hallway windows.
He reached out, his fingers brushing against the underside of my breasts as he checked the tension of the wrap. My breath hitched, a small gasp escaping my lips. His touch was cool, but it felt like a hot against my skin.
"It’s slightly damp," he noted, his voice low. "You took a shower?"
"Yes," I breathed.
"That's fine. We will change it tomorrow morning. Come to my room before breakfast." He paused, his hand still resting just inches from the wound. He looked up, his gaze locking onto mine. "You seem breathless, Scarlett. Why?"
I just shook my head like a dummy, my brain completely fried. I couldn't tell him it was because his hands were touching me. That was completely unacceptable.
Blue didn't pull away yet. Instead, he leaned in closer into the crook of my neck and hovered there.
I held my breath, my eyes fluttering shut. His breath was warm against my skin, smelling faintly of the cigarette he must have smoked. I wondered what he was up to.
Then, I felt his lips land on the sensitive skin of my neck and suck hard, pulling the skin between his teeth.
Tingles zapped through my body immediately, starting from my neck and radiating down to my toes. My knees felt weak, and I had to grab the edge of the desk to keep from sliding off the chair.
It felt possessive and forceful like he is trying to leave a permanent mark on me.
He moved to another spot and sucked again. Entirely without my permission, a loud moan escaped me.