King of Campus

by Jennifer Sucevic

  My mind is literally spinning. I was so sure he was trying to let me down easy.

  The man on the other end chuckles. “Yes, you have. The judges were all very impressed. You’re a very talented young woman.”

  “I-I can’t believe this.” The hot sting of tears pricks the back of my eyes as I hold the phone to my ear.

  The only thing that could possibly make this moment any better is if my mom was here to celebrate this achievement with me. She loved dance so much. It was because of her, that I even started taking ballet classes in the first place.

  “Thank you Mr. Moliter. Thank you so much!” I still can’t believe this is really happening to me.

  “You’re welcome, Ivy. Now, when can you be here in Cincinnati?”

  Taking a deep breath, everything swirls around in my brain. I can barely think straight.

  Shaking my head to clear it, I ask, “When do I need to be there?”

  “The sooner, the better. I’m not going to lie, the first couple months are going to be grueling. You’ll have to learn all new choreography. It’ll be long hours spent in the studio.” He sounds like he’s shuffling through some papers before he finally says, “I see you’re attending college right now.” There’s a slight pause. “Is this going to be a problem for you?”

  Even though he can’t see me, I shake my head. “No. I just need to speak with my professors and the school to see if there’s any way for me to still get credit for the classes I’m currently enrolled in.”

  There’s more shuffling at his end before he says, “The most I can give you is three weeks to tie up any loose ends. There are a number of girls who share apartments and I can give you a few names to contact so you can get a place lined up.”

  Oh my god… I’ll have to find a place to live and I have three weeks to do it.

  “Okay, that would be great.”

  “Wonderful, Ivy. I’m going to give you my number, once you’ve settled everything at your end, let me know when you’ll be arriving in Cincinnati. I’m also going to send you some paperwork to look over. Okay?”

  “Yes, that sounds good.” I scribble down the names and numbers of the girls.

  “And, Ivy?”

  “Yes?”

  I can hear the smile in his voice as he finally says, “Welcome to the Cincinnati Ballet.”

  “Thank you.” I can’t help but squeeze my eyes tightly shut as I kick my legs in the air from where I’m sitting on the couch. “Thank you, so much!”

  We say our goodbyes and I sit there for I-don’t-know-how-long just staring at the phone in my still shaking hand. My whole body is literally vibrating with excitement.

  I’m going to dance with the Cincinnati Ballet!

  My first impulse is to run over to Roan’s apartment and tell him the good news.

  Just as I’m about to sprint next door, a few doubts start to niggle their way into my brain. I mean, how are we going to make our relationship work with me in Cincinnati and him here at Barnett?

  Mr. Moliter said the first couple months would be difficult. Which isn’t a surprise. I’m going to have all new choreography to learn. An entire show worth. The hours will be long. Exhausting. It’s doubtful I’ll have any spare time to even visit Roan. And with football, school, and getting ready for the draft, neither will he.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I try calming my racing thoughts. Even though I’m absolutely thrilled to receive such a coveted offer, there’s a downside that is just beginning to slam into me. I don’t really want to leave Roan behind. I’m afraid I’ll lose him if I do. It’s not like we’ve been together for very long. Hell, it’s only been a little over a month. Everything between us is still relatively new.

  I’ll also have to leave school. I have absolutely no idea if I’ll be able to salvage any of my credits for fall semester which has already been paid for with scholarships and financial aid. Even though I’ve earned A’s in my courses, there’s still all of November and part of December to get through before the semester is over. I have no idea if I can complete the class work from Cincinnati. It’s entirely possible the school might not allow me to do that.

  And then there’s Lexie. After nearly a year and a half of separation, it’s been so nice rooming with her again. What kind of friend will I be if I bale on her when I just got back? I also signed a yearlong contract with her for the apartment. Can I really just take off and leave her high and dry? I hate that Lexie will have to scramble around for a new roommate.

  With all of these thoughts churning in my head, I slowly lower myself back down to the couch. Was I seriously giddy just a moment ago about leaving? How did getting an opportunity to dance for the Cincinnati Ballet turn out to be a bad thing? It’s almost mind boggling.

  Not knowing what else to do, I head over to Roan’s so I can share the news with him and we can talk about how we’ll make our relationship work. My step falters as I open the door that leads to the hallway between our apartments.

  What if he thinks it’s just easier to end things between us?

  I mean, that’s a real possibility. And I can’t exactly blame him if that’s what he decides to do. I was seeing Finn for six months and he probably started cheating on me as soon as my plane hit cruising altitude. I don’t really think Roan would do that but… he may not be interested in having a long distance girlfriend who is never around.

  Even though there’s only about forty feet separating our apartments, by the time I reach Roan’s door, I’m a nervous wreck. An opportunity that felt like a gift from god just ten short minutes ago now feels like a mixed bag. If I leave-

  Oh my god… I’m not even one hundred percent certain I’m going to do this anymore.

  The negatives just keep piling up and I can’t seem to look past them.

  But if I don’t seize this opportunity now, it may never come around again. Can I really live with that? Feeling confused, I rap my fist on the door and wait. I can’t stop from bouncing restlessly on the balls of my feet in the thinly carpeted hallway. When the door finally swings open, it’s Sam.

  Now that I’m with Roan, Sam is a lot friendlier than he was when we first met. I’m not sure what that whole thing was about and I’ve never bothered to find out either. My attention has always been focused on Roan. “Hey, Ivy. You looking for Roan?”

  I’m barely able to pull my lips up into a smile. “Yep, is he here?” I just want to find Roan and talk this out with him. Right now I need his reassurance that everything is going to work out.

  “He’s in his room studying. You can go on back.”

  Sam holds the door open for me. A moment later, I’m heading down the short hallway to Roan’s bedroom. Even though the guy’s apartment has three bedrooms, not two like ours, the layout is pretty much the same.

  Knocking lightly on the door, I push it open before popping my head in.

  A big smile moves across his face when he sees me. My heart melts just a bit at the sight of him. Am I really going to be able to just leave him behind?

  “Hey, babe. I was hoping you’d stop over.”

  With a hurried step, I move towards the queen sized bed where he’s sprawled, reading some heavy tomb of a text book. Instantly he lays it aside before holding out a hand to me.

  “You busy?” I just want to unload everything careening around in my head right now.

  He shakes his head. “Nah. Just trying to get ahead. I’m going to miss Friday for the game this weekend, so I want to make sure I get everything done beforehand.”

  Roan has turned out to be one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever known. If he’s not working out or at practice, he’s studying. I wish everyone at Barnett realized just how hard he works to be the star athlete and student he is. On the outside, his success looks almost effortless. I’m sure most people just assume he’s blessed with good looks and athletic ability. But it’s so much more than that. It’s drive and competitiveness and the need to be the best at what he does that has him constantly pushing himself to be bett
er. Luck has nothing to do with it. He works his ass off for his success.

  “Ivy?” His turquoise eyes search mine as all these thoughts run through my head. “Everything okay?”

  Staring at him silently, I feel a burst of love explode within my chest for him. The feeling slams through me, practically stealing my breath away. Shaking my head, I try clearing my thoughts because somehow, when I wasn’t even looking, I fell in love with Roan King.

  I never meant for it to happen. But somehow, he completely won me over. For whatever reason, Roan allowed me to glimpse the real man beneath all the stereotypical hype.

  And I don’t want to let that go.

  I don’t want to lose him.

  Panic seizes me, choking me from the inside out.

  If I leave for Cincinnati, everything will change between us. Maybe he won’t cheat on me like Finn did, but I can’t imagine our relationship, as new as it is, surviving so much distance. I have no car. No way of visiting him on a regular basis. And I have no money either. As prestigious as being a dancer for the Cincinnati Ballet is, it doesn’t pay much.

  Panic continues to crash its way through me. Maybe… maybe this isn’t the right time for me to take this leap. Maybe I need to finish out this year or even earn my degree first before I start auditioning. I can continue with my dance classes. I can continue honing my craft and when I’m more ready to pick up my life and move to some unknown part of the country where I don’t know a soul, I’ll be better prepared to do it.

  Roan sits up from his reclining position on the bed before reaching out and grabbing hold of my hand. Tugging me hard, I tumble onto his lap. Not a moment later, his big strong arms wrap around me, holding me close to the solid wall of his chest. God it feels so good to be nestled there.

  His voice brims with concern. “Ivy, tell me what’s wrong.”

  Searching his beautiful turquoise hued eyes, I bite down on my lip feeling torn. Should I even bother telling him about this opportunity? I’m not even sure I want to accept the spot anymore. I don’t think I’m as ready for this as I originally thought I was.

  Three months ago, I would have jumped at an opportunity like this without so much as a second thought. And now… Now I’m all tangled up inside. So much so, that I’m actually considering declining the position.

  I spent fifteen months in Paris, creating a life for myself only to uproot it and move back to Barnett where I’ve just spent the last two months settling back in, making new friends, working hard in my classes, and finding… love.

  And now I’m just going to throw it all away?

  Roan’s fingers slowly caress the line of my jaw before sinking into my hair. “What’s going on, Ivy? It seems like something’s bothering you. Just tell me what it is. I promise, we’ll figure it out together.” I can hear the concern bleeding through his words.

  Taking a deep gulp of breath, I open my mouth to tell him about the offer when something else entirely comes pouring out, taking us both by surprise.

  “I love you, Roan.”

  Oh-so-slowly, one side of his mouth curves up before he lowers his lips to mine. As soon as we touch, my mouth opens under the gentle pressure of his. Just as his tongue starts mingling with mine, he pulls back. I’m still able to feel his warm breath feathering across my lips as our eyes lock and hold.

  “I love you, too.” He grins so hard that he’s practically beaming. “You beat me to it. I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while now.”

  I can’t help but smile in return. “Me, too.”

  In the blink of an eye, he shoves all the books off his bed so they crash onto the floor before lying down with me settled on top of him. Sitting astride him, his big hands hold my waist as he stares up at me with love shining from within those gorgeous depths of his.

  His words leave my heart tripping. “I know we haven’t been together all that long but you mean more to me than anyone else ever has. I hope you realize that.”

  Lowering myself down, I gently stroke his lips with my own as I whisper against them, “I feel the same way.”

  “You going to spend the night?” He raises a brow. “Queen sized bed.”

  With the Cincinnati Ballet totally forgotten, I smile down at him. “Yep.” At the moment, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here with Roan.

  “Good. Cause I love holding you in my arms at night.”

  And I love being there.

  Sitting up, I yank off my shirt before tossing it onto the floor. Then I unsnap my bra, throwing that as well. Roan’s eyes fall to my breasts right before his large calloused palms come up to cup them. For someone with such huge hands, he’s incredibly gentle with my body. I may not have a lot going on up there but he seems to love what I do have. The way he looks at me makes me feel beautiful. And I absolutely love having his hands on me. I love the way he plays with me. No one has ever made love to me the way he does. There’s a fierce tenderness in the way he takes me.

  The groan that falls from his lips is long, low, and full of need. Because I’m still straddling his torso, I feel the hard length of him nestled beneath me. Heat ignites within me as I slowly rub myself against him.

  “Damn, Ivy…” I love the horse sounding way my name slides from his lips when he gets turned on. It’s so freaking sexy. All low and gravelly.

  But then again, everything about Roan is just plain sexy.

  And he’s all mine, I remind myself.

  Sliding my hands under his shirt, I tug the soft cotton material as I go until it’s all bunched up around that massive chest of his. Unable to resist, I stroke my fingers over his flat male nipples, loving the way they pucker under the gentle pressure. Roan growls as I lean down, softly sucking one brown nipple into my mouth. His entire body goes rigid beneath me. His big hands slide leisurely down my body until he’s able to palm one firm ass cheek in each hand. He squeezes them before pulling my body forward and backwards so that I’m riding his rock hard erection between my legs.

  Arghhhhh.

  I can’t help but moan as he continues the movement. My core pulses with hot achy need as I rub myself against him. He does this a few more times before his hands leave my body. With me still sitting on top of him, he sits up just a bit before tugging the shirt over his head and tossing it onto the floor.

  “I want you out of these,” he says as his fingers delve inside my leggings, pushing both my panties and the black stretchy material down my hips. Still straddling him, I stand before shimmying my way out of both garments until I’m totally bared to him. His t-shirt is now gone and the athletic shorts he has on are tented in front.

  I raise an eyebrow. “You gonna get rid of those?”

  Grinning, he slides both the shorts and boxers down his lean hips and muscular legs, before kicking them off. My eyes arrow to the nest of dark curls as his cock springs free.

  And what an impressive boner it is.

  Just as I’m lowering myself down on top of it, Roan places both hands on my hips, effectively halting my descent. “Oh no, you don’t.” Pulling me forward, he slides down the bed until my spread pussy hovers above his mouth.

  My breath catches in my throat as I stare down at him from my kneeling position on the bed.

  It is so unbelievably sexy to see him between my parted legs. His eyes burn brightly as they hold mine. Even though I’m inches above his mouth, I feel his warm breath feathering over the most intimate part of me. His large hands slip from my waist down to my spread thighs. His eyes, which had been holding mine only moments ago, slowly drop until he’s staring at my spread flesh. Ever so gently, his fingers stroke my inner thighs, skimming in slow massaging circles that continuously move closer and closer to my now aching core.

  Need intensifies within me until I feel like I’m going to simply combust. All I want is to spread myself wider. I want to feel the gentle stroke of his velvety tongue gliding over me. What I’ve learned in the weeks we’ve been together is that Roan knows exactly how to please a woman.

&nb
sp; His touch is ridiculously addictive.

  I’m all but throbbing for him to finally caress me.

  “You have the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen.” His voice is low and husky as his warm breath continues to stroke over my lower lips making me ache. “So pink,” he breathes right before his tongue slides slowly over me. A low groan spills from my lips as he nibbles at my aroused flesh. “And smooth…” His tongue is back, slipping inside me before licking my silky folds. Moisture floods my core as he continues to lap at me with wickedly lavish strokes.

  Because I want to feel his tongue glide over every single part of me, I spread my legs even further as I lower myself just a bit more until I’m all but pressed up against his mouth. Throwing my head back, a moan tears from my lips as he gently sucks the pulsing little nerve endings of my clit into his warm mouth. His hands slide from my thighs back to my ass, cupping each cheek before squeezing them as his lips and tongue continue working my flesh.

  What he’s doing feels nothing short of blissful. I could seriously come right now.

  His low pitched words whisper against my throbbing flesh. “You taste so good, baby. I could eat you up all night long.”

  There’s no way in hell I would last all night long.

  Hell, I don’t know if I’m going to last five more minutes.

  It’s sweet torture the way he plays with me. In just a couple of weeks, he’s learned all the ways I love being touched and petted and licked.

  But I’m a quick study as well. I’ve learned all the little tricks that turn him on, too. Like my bare pussy. He loves it. Loves nuzzling the soft smooth flesh. Loves running his blunt fingers over me until I’m slippery with need. Or how flexible I am. I almost smile thinking about the first time I laid on my back and spread my legs completely wide. I thought he was going to come in his jeans right then and there. There are a few other gymnastic stunts I’ve learned over the years that leave him frothing at the mouth…