This is from Warren's POV

I also want to say: "Yay, this is Betad"

Thank you so much, dudeitsstar for beta'ing this!

So, here we go

"jóusàhn!"

No.

I didn't.

Not again!

"Tai?"

"Morning, baby."

Diu! I mean, FUCK! "Hey..."

Gotta stop sleeping with the boss' daughter, jackass! Fuck, my bladder's killing me.

"Where're you going, baby?"

"Leak."

"Oh. How did you sleep?"

Not a morning person. "Fine. Listen, I gotta go. Do you... want me to drop you somewhere?"

"I was thinking I could stay here and-"

Why would anyone wanna stay in this pigpen? Beats me. Where are my clothes? "Have you seen my pants?"

"I think they're in the kitchen."

Sure they are."Thanks. I'll be back at 3. You sure you'll be fine here by yourself?"

"Yeah. I'll prepare something nice for when you're back."

Damn if she doesn't sound like a girlfriend. But she's a very nice girl. And I'm... "Sorry I have to leave like this-" I'm an asshole for letting things go this far.

"It's fine. Go."

"Call me if you need anything."

"Anything?" She smiles flirtingly. She's got this nice, fresh smile, like those you see on toothpaste commercials. How she can do that this early in the morning is a mystery to me. "Today's your day off, right?"

"Yeah." I know where she's going with this and I gotta get ahead of her. You don't become an item with the boss' daughter. You don't have sex with her, either, but that's already done, and redone, more than a couple of times... I have to salvage what's left to be salvaged. "But I got study group." I bend forward to kiss her cheek, ready to flee but she puts her arms around my neck, brings her lips to mine and I immediately remember why I keep coming back for this. Her tongue is warm and experienced and... something's different today. Different lip gloss maybe. "I gotta go. See you later, Tai."

I grab my jacket and head to the door. She doesn't smell like honeysuckle.

Thank god. I tell myself as my engine roars alive. I never liked honeysuckle anyway. Or flowers in general. And this particular sunflower is becoming too much trouble.

I can't say I'm not a little intrigued. I mean, what the hell was she thinking? Coming to me of all people to get Stronghold riled up. That day at the cafeteria she seemed to know what she was doing.

Judging by our pole session yesterday, she doesn't have a clue.

She can get carried away easily... If today's wardrobe choice serves as an indicator... Way too much yellow.

It makes the furious blush of her cheeks as I smile at her stand out even more.

I saw her first thing as I parked, kinda impossible not to notice the only person on earth, or up in the sky, dressed top to bottom in some bright bumblebee shade. She's like a living caution sign. Good thing I had a mind to stop us yesterday before going too far. She's not ready for that kind of thing. It wasn't even part of her plan.

Still, I agreed to help her and while we're at it I can make it fun.

I lean on my bike while I study her. She smiles back at me oblivious that just now she's getting her best friend-slash-crush's undivided attention.

From where I'm standing I can see pretty much everything. Stronghold's by the stairs getting chatted up by his girl but he's clearly not paying the least bit of attention to her as his eyes keep travelling between Layla and me. I can't say I'm not enjoying it.

Layla's with her friends, closer to the entrance, also getting chatted up by her shapeshifter friend. What's her name? Lavender... Mauve... Magenta. Judgy little thing. She keeps elbowing her and throwing me glares.

I see Layla scowl at something the girl says and then she trots the distance to me, holding her flouncy little skirt down but not fast enough that I get a glimpse of her upper thighs and- are those lace panties?

I curse my traitorous memory for giving me flashes of yesterday's afternoon. Those same legs wrapped around me- The first.

I take a deep breath. She said it would've been her first time. That never fails to stop my dirty mind from wandering.

"Hi, Warren!" She giggles nervously.

"Come here." I don't bother to resist the impulse of pulling her closer her to me. I nuzzle her chin a couple of times and kiss her slowly, taking my time. Her arms travel to the back of my neck and she brings me closer, deepening the kiss. I groan. My other hand lands on her leg and I start running my fingers up her thigh and- Yup, lace panties. She moans deep in her throat and I just want to pick her up, wrap her legs around my waist and feel that lace with my crotch.

Almost never fails. She's pressed herself so tight against me I can feel her breasts against my chest and I want to do so much more than kissing...

Enough for the show. I let go of her lips.

"Hi..." I tell her while I check on Stronghold's shocked face. They have a show of their own over there. With his girl and the cheerleader- 's' all around, yelling at him. It makes me chuckle until I feel Layla go stiff in my arms.

She turns around, following my gaze and her smile drops. I know that look. It's the same look she carried yesterday in the hallway.

"What's wrong?"

"Listen, Warren. About yesterday-"

Ah, yesterday. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that."

"You're sorry?"

"Yeah. I got caught up in the moment. It won't happen again."

"Oh." She seems... Disappointed? I can't bear that look on her face. It's even worse than her 'deep in thought' look. She turns to leave and I put my hand on her shoulder. I wish I could something about it.

"I have something for you." I fumble through the multiple pockets of my jacket until I feel the little chain under my fingers. I pull at it, careful that it doesn't snap, but I can't get it out. "Sorry, it's stuck." I remember the seam of this particular pocket is unstitched so the little locket must have fallen inside. My fingers are way too big for the tiny slit. Her fingers though... "Look, it must be stuck inside somewhere." I take her hand and guide it to my pocket. "Can you get it for me?"

I look up to see her little Superhero's face. I can only imagine what this must look like from there. Suddenly, I feel her other hand, coming under my shirt and I look at her questioningly. She's just smiling, working her fingers between the lining and the leather of my jacket while her other fingers graze up my rib-cage. Damn that fidgety hand of hers. I can't catch a break.

"Got it!" She takes it out and examines the little glass pendant. She brushes her thumb over the crystal that covers the little red beans. "What are they?"

"Circassian seeds."

"It's beautiful."

"Turn around." She does and I clasp the chain around her neck. I rest my chin on her shoulder and I feel her shiver when I speak again. "There was a girl that was alone in the world. She lived in a time and a place that people didn't use money, they paid with goods. All she had was a piece of land that she sowed every winter and harvested in the spring." I circle her body with my arms and take her hands in mine grazing her delicate fingers with my thumb. "All she had were her hands. But the winter had been long. Longer that she'd ever known. Soon the villagers would come to collect three thirds of her yeald as form of taxes. And not one seed had sprouted yet. She knew the deal: either she found something to pay with or she'd be taken captive. Enslaved." I press myself closer to her, holding her by her waist. "What would you do?"

"I..." She has her head resting on my shoulder. I kiss her cheek and her eyes flutter closed. "Uhmm... I'd..."

"Think about it." The bells remind her that we have to get inside. She takes my hand as we walk.

Note: I want to apologize for how long it's taken me to come back to this story.

I'll try to post at a steady flow from now on to make up for it.

I hope you like and tell me what you think :)