Author's note: Again, sorry for the delay between chapters. Time for writing is still pretty limited these days. If you're one of those impatient types, you might want to wait until all the chapters are posted before reading this story. I don't want to rush the writing, but I'll get it all posted as quickly as I can.
Cheers,
Haremgirl
*
Nick unpacked his suitcases, putting his clothes away mechanically. He was a seasoned traveler. The process of settling into a room didn't require any thinking on his part, allowing his thoughts to dwell on the past. Although ten years had passed, the images of when he had first met Jess were clear and crisp. He had tried to bury them in his subconscious, but now that they had been unearthed, there wasn't even a thin layer of dust to soften their sheen.
Placing his empty suitcase in the closet, Nick released another anguished moan and sank onto the edge of the bed. He rested his elbows on his knees and cradled his head between his hands, wishing he could blot out the memories entirely...
It had been a rainy October morning, and he was rushing to his Calculus class, mentally reviewing the formulas he had learned that semester. He had to do well on this midterm. It was vital that he get an 'A' in all his math and science classes if he hoped to get into the Masters program he had been eyeing. Competition for the program was stiff, and although his grades were impressive, one poor mark could dash his hopes.
He had been in a hurry. There was only fifteen minutes between classes for him to get from one end of campus to the other. He usually made it with a couple of minutes to spare, but that morning, he wanted to get to his class early and have time to settle in for the exam. With that thought in mind, he kept his head down against the rain and practically jogged along the path.
That's when he met her. Well, he didn't actually meet her, he practically mowed her down. All he saw was the flash of her runners and the mud splattered bottoms of her sweat pants coming directly toward him before they collided.
"Oh!" she squeaked, flailing her arms as she began to fall backward.
Nick reflexively grabbed her around the waist and hauled her against him. Their eyes locked in stunned surprise, and they both held their breath. A suspended moment passed, as they both became aware of every place their bodies were touching from chest to knee, and her eyes widened further. She gently pushed against his chest, and Nick set her away from him, maintaining his hold on her arms until he was sure she was steady on her feet.
"Sorry about that," he murmured. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I didn't see you either," she said. "I usually pay more attention when I run, but I just happened to be looking down."
For the first time, Nick took in her appearance. She was dressed in a drab grey sweat suit that revealed that she was slender but curvaceous. Her hair was pulled into a casual pony tail, but it was so wet, it was impossible to tell what color it was. Her face was devoid of makeup, and still, it was the most arresting face he had ever seen. Her cheekbones were high, her nose slim and finely wrought, her chin delicate but firm. Her lips were full and pink, and as he watched, her tongue darted out to moisten them. But it was her eyes that caught and held his attention. They were large and almond shaped, fringed by dark lashes and the irises were the most wonderful shade of deep blue.
She cleared her throat nervously and took another step backward, freeing her arms from his grasp. She flashed him a brief grin and stepped around him.
"Well, have a good day," she said before turning to jog away.
"Wait!"
She turned back toward him but jogged in place. "What?"
"I can't let you just disappear. What's your name?" Nick asked, giving her the grin that had always gotten him results with women.
She eyed him with amusement, cocking her head slightly to one side as she appraised him. "My name's Jessica, what's yours?"
"Nick. Can I have your phone number? I'd like to see you again."
Jessica laughed and shook her head, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I don't give my number out to strangers. Maybe I'll see you around campus sometime."
Once again, she turned and began to jog away. "Wait!" Nick called insistently, and once again she turned back. "Where's the best place to find you on campus?"
"Sometimes I go to the library to study in the evenings. You might catch me there." She flashed him a flirty smile and turned away. "I've got to run. See ya!"
With that, she was gone, and he grinned as he watched her shapely ass disappear around a curve in the path. It was only when she was gone from sight that he remembered his exam.
"Shit!"
He raced to his class, arriving five minutes after the exam had started. Luckily, his preparation paid off, and he aced the test. He handed his exam in and left the building, making his way back to his dorm.
His thoughts were firmly centered on Jessica. Nick was surprised that he was so anxious to see her again. With women, it was usually out of sight out of mind. He enjoyed their company while he was with them, but he had never met a girl who held his interest for long. He had never really pursued a woman. Women usually pursued him.
Later that evening after eating his dinner, Nick grabbed his textbooks and headed for the library. Jessica hadn't said where she studied, and it was a big building. He searched the various floors, growing more and more impatient when he didn't see her. Finally deciding that she hadn't arrived yet, he settled in at a table and tried to study, 'tried' being the operative word. He got absolutely nothing accomplished. He couldn't concentrate because he was too busy watching for Jessica to arrive.
When two hours of futile waiting had passed, Nick gave up and returned to his dorm. He was surprised by his level of frustration. It wasn't as if they had a date. She hadn't promised to be at the library at a certain time, but he had assumed that she would make an appearance. She obviously wasn't as anxious to see him as he was to see her, and that stung his ego.
Against his better judgment, he returned to the library for the next two evenings, and each time, he was disappointed. By the fourth night, he had given up on her, and he was finally able to concentrate on his project for Marketing class. He was deeply engrossed in preparing a market analysis when he felt a prickling sense of being watched. He glanced up and saw her.
Jessica was standing just inside the doorway, and when their eyes met, she smiled. As she made her way to his table, he greedily took in her appearance. She was dressed in slim fitting jeans that hugged her hips and thighs, a soft blue sweater that molded her high breasts, and her hair was loose around her shoulders. It fell in soft waves around her face and shone with red highlights. She was even more beautiful than he remembered.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked with a raised brow.
Nick returned her smile and indicated the chair beside him. "Be my guest."
She eyed the chair but opted to take a seat across from him. "I need some room to spread out," she said in answer to his disappointed look.
Nick leaned back in his chair and watched her retrieve a laptop and a thick stack of papers from her backpack. She turned on the computer and arranged her notes into several piles while she waited for the machine to boot up. Noticing Nick's interest, Jessica curved her mouth into a questioning smile.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said with a shrug. "I was just wondering where you've been for the past several days."
Her face lit with pleased surprise as her smile turned up with a teasing slant. "Have you been looking for me?"
