It was around 6 AM. I lay on the bed, blanket draped over me, staring at the ceiling. My body ached in the best way possible, still buzzing from the night before.
I kept replaying it in my head—the shyest, nerdiest guy on campus had just ravished me like no one ever had. How the hell had he hidden all that wildness behind his quiet, awkward shell? But now, after unleashing the beast with me, he was back to being shy—red-faced and embarrassed, burrowed under the covers like he could disappear.
I turned onto my side, resting my cheek on my palm, watching him hide.
"Hey," I drawled, amused. "I was the one taking all the hard loads, marked and abused, and you're the one being shy here?"
He said nothing, only buried himself deeper into the blanket.
I tugged the covers off him, revealing the scratches down his shoulders and back—my nails had decorated him well.
Heat rose in my face for a second, but I still reached out, catching his chin and tilting his face toward me. "Look at me already."
His eyes flicked up, then immediately widened at the sight of my neck and chest covered in his marks. His face flushed even darker.
"Uh-huh. Yes, you're the one who did all that," I teased, chuckling softly. "So stop being shy."
He lowered his gaze again, like a guilty puppy.
"It's okay, don't be sad. I'm fine," I murmured, pressing a gentle peck to his lips. His blush deepened, which only made me laugh quietly against his mouth.
Later, he surprised me by being thoughtful—helping me sit up, supporting me with careful hands, then running a warm bath to ease my sore body. He even helped me change into something comfortable. And then, he left, too shy to stay the morning, though honestly, I wouldn't have minded if he had.
After quickly changing, I headed downstairs and was greeted by the smell of something sweet.
Lucius stood by the stove, setting a plate on the counter.
"You can cook?" I raised a brow, slipping onto the stool. "I'm impressed."
He scratched the back of his neck, voice soft. "It's nothing grand."
The pancakes looked delicious, golden and fluffy. He hovered awkwardly like he wasn't sure if he should sit or keep standing.
With a smirk, I caught his wrist and tugged him down beside me.
"You wrecked me all night, what are you getting shy for now?" I teased, brushing his cheek with my palm before digging into the food. "Eat."
His lashes stayed low, his shoulders stiff as he slowly ate.
Adorable.
He was too easy to fluster, and I couldn't resist pushing further.
I reached under the counter, caught his hand, and placed it right on my thigh—high enough to make him freeze. His fingers twitched, his entire ear turning crimson.
"Enjoy both the food and me," I said with a casual shrug, patting the back of his hand in encouragement.
His touch was hesitant, awkward, but he didn't pull away. He kept eating with his other hand, though his jaw clenched with every bite. And the sight of him trying so hard not to lose composure was driving me wild.
I chuckled to myself, finishing a bite when I felt his hand shift—hesitant at first, then bolder, rubbing my thigh in an awkward but determined way.
To my surprise, his fingers slid just under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my skin. I raised a brow, smirking.
"Well, well. Finally manning up, huh?"
The words made him freeze instantly, shoulders stiff, his gaze dropping to the table in embarrassment.
I sighed softly, amused, and leaned closer, my voice low and teasing.
"Hey, don't stop now. I'm all yours—you can do whatever you want." I laughed lightly, but what I didn't expect was the look in his eyes when I said it—soft, fragile, almost glowing. The shy red flush across his face deepened, and instead of boldness, it left him trembling, like my casual words had hit somewhere far deeper.
After breakfast, we made our way back to campus. I couldn't resist teasing him the whole way—leaning in close, watching him turn redder than my hair with every step.
"Lucius, darling, you really need to learn how to be brave," I murmured, poking his cheek. "Man up. Try looking me in the eye." His glasses caught the light, his hair still falling forward to shield his face.
To anyone else, he was unreadable, but I knew the face he was hiding—the same face that wrecked me last night.
No one else had seen it. Only me. That thought alone sent heat crawling down my neck.
"You still won't look at me," I teased again, lowering my voice. "What, are my eyes not pretty enough to look at?" He stayed stubbornly quiet, and I glanced down at my phone when it buzzed—a notification about today's basketball match.
I was distracted, not noticing that he finally lifted his gaze.
When I looked up again, he was staring straight at me. His dark eyes locked on mine, wide and unblinking, almost trembling with something I couldn't name. Like he was seeing something too precious to put into words.
"I have a match today," I said casually, sliding my phone back into my pocket. "Wanna come watch me play?"
Lucius quickly looked away, his voice a whisper, almost lost in the breeze. "I, I always watch you play." That caught me off guard. My eyes widened. "Oh, you did? That's good." A grin tugged at my lips. "Then tell me—am I sexy when I play?"
He didn't even hesitate. He nodded.
I chuckled, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, then tugged at the strap of his hoodie to pull him close. His breath hitched as I brushed my lips over his, soft but deliberate. His eyes widened, but almost instantly he leaned in, ready to devour me, only for me to pull away first with a grin.
"That's all for now," I said playfully.
The way his lips curved into the slightest pout made me laugh. Adorable.
"If I win the match," I promised, "I'll reward you with countless kisses. But if I lose, hmm. What do you want then?"
His eyes lit up, soft and unwavering. "Then, I'll do the same. I'll kiss you and make you happy."
My smile froze for a second, something tight stirring in my chest at how earnest he sounded. "Ha. That's hilarious," I forced a laugh, crossing my arms. "Don't worry. I won't lose."
Suddenly, I remembered the last time I had actually lost a game—because of them. I'd gotten into a fight with a guy, a player from the opposing team. He had been talking shit about me, pushing me past my patience.
In a flash of anger, I'd only punched him once, but they used that as an excuse to make me lose. That day, I was in a terrible mood. So angry I stormed off, walking down the night road trying to calm myself...when a teddy bear appeared. A giant teddy bear, who wordlessly offered me comfort. I ended up hugging it until my rage melted away, softened by its warmth. To this day, I still feel grateful to whoever had been inside that costume—it was as if they knew I was breaking and came just to piece me back together.
I smiled faintly at the memory.
"What are you thinking?" Lucius asked, tilting his head slightly, curiosity glimmering behind his glasses.
"Nothing. Anyway, let's go to class now." I grinned, patting his hair before gently tugging his glasses down to trace a line through his soft locks, stroking lightly until I met his shy eyes.
"One day you'll definitely win an award for being the shyest person alive," I teased with a chuckle, before quickly walking ahead, trying to control the reckless pounding of my heart.
Lucius stood frozen for a moment, lips parting before curving into the softest smile. His hand pressed against his chest as if to hold something precious, and then he followed behind me, like lost soul following its only purpose.