Page 17 of All Orc Nothing

I do my best to disguise how those words make me feel. He finds my presence relaxing and refreshing. My ego feels like it could grow to rival this campus. I want to be that safe space for him.

I’m getting way ahead of myself. I’m not even supposed to be feeling like this! Especially not for someone going to school here!

I can’t help but be honest with him. “Hearing that makes me happy, Thane. I like talking to you too.”

Finishing the rest of my lunch, I pack all my trash into my lunchbox so I can throw it away when I get back home. Standing up, I dust off my scrubs.

“Thanks for sitting with me,” Thane says, looking up at me with those wide golden eyes.

The hand not holding my lunchbox clenches against my hip. I look down at the man that has me entranced. What is it about him that stirs all these feelings inside of me? Why does he look so good from this angle? Why is it taking every ounce of my self control not to run my fingers through his pretty green hair and pull him towards me?

Fucking hell. I’ve talked with him three whole times. What the fuck has gotten into me?

“Thank you for letting me intrude on your solitude. Good luck on your creative writing.”

Thane gives me a grin, one that lights up his entire face. Just like that, I can feel the tendrils of affection weave around my heart, digging in and not wanting to let go. The things I would do to see him grin like that in the future.

I know it would be better for both of us if I would just learn to keep my distance. Thane is experiencing life away from home for the first time. He should be focusing on his schooling. There are far more age appropriate people for him to spend his time with.

I know all of this.

The problem is my heart is telling me something completely different and for the first time, I think I might actually trust my heart more than my head.

Fuck.

Chapter Six

Thane

I run my hands over the front of my shirt, looking at myself in the reflection of the mirror. I’m trying to look nice since this is my very first college party. Simon talked me into a tight black shirt with a pair of my skinniest jeans. Everything feels too tight but he reassured me that I look hot.

Instead of my usual braid, I have my hair down, letting it fall in its natural waves down my back and over my shoulders. My tusk rings are my fancier ones, the ones with little diamonds in them that I only break out during special occasions.

“Thane! Do you wanna put a little eyeliner on?”

“Uhh, I’m not sure. I’ve never tried that before.”

“Come on! I’ll help you!”

That’s how I find myself outside our dorms, blinking rapidly as my sister finally joins me and Simon. She’s grinning from ear to ear as she looks between the two of us.

“What’s wrong with your face?”

I wince at my sister. “Eyeliner,” I say pitifully.

Tess grabs my chin, looking at my face. “It looks good. Just stop blinking like that. You’ll get used to it in a second.”

“Feels weird,” I say with a pout that makes her snort.

The three of us make our way towards the quad where Percy and Wanda are waiting for us. I introduce everyone quickly before we’re on our way. The frat house isn’t too far from campus. When we arrive, there’s someone at the door collecting cash to help pay for the beer. We all pass him over some cash before heading inside.

The party is already in full swing by the time we get here. There’s loud music booming and tons of people crowding around the dance floor. The air is thick with the scent of spilled beer and weed. It’s overwhelming, but at the same time, it’s everything I thought a frat party would be.

I spot a few people near the corner of the room making out and quickly look away. Tess notices because of course she does, nudging my side with her elbow.

“Ya jealous?”

“Nope,” I tell her truthfully. “Making out in public isn’t really my thing.”