Chapter 3: Marked in Plain Sight

I didn’t dare move.

I barely slept all night, only dozing off in the morning.

When I woke up, it was already noon.

Colton’s face was stormy, and he had a cut at the corner of his mouth.

“Come eat.”

I quickly washed up and went over. I didn’t dare make him angrier.

It was only in the afternoon that I found out who he’d fought with.

Lucas was sitting at his desk, face bruised, glaring at me like he wanted me dead.

He probably thought I’d told Colton.

If I really had, I wouldn’t be so nervous trailing after Colton now. The cold air coming off him was a constant reminder of how upset he was.

So after I showered that night, I was torn.

If I ignored him and climbed into my own bed, would he beat me up like he did Lucas?

But if I kept sleeping in his bed, what was the point of what I’d said before?

I dried my hair, standing in front of the bed.

Colton was lazily spinning his phone, but his eyes were locked on me like a wolf watching its prey.

When Colton doesn’t smile, the corners of his eyes droop, and with his sharp features, he looks really intimidating.

It was only eight o’clock, but all the roommates had gone to bed.

I could feel them sneaking glances our way.

As soon as I put my hand on the railing, Colton’s gaze turned sharp and dangerous.

I quietly pulled my hand back, turned around, and walked to Colton’s bed.

Colton relaxed his expression.

As soon as I lay down next to him, he pressed up against me and hugged me tight.

He nuzzled my ear and neck.

It was both ticklish and tingly.

I turned my head away.

He suddenly bit my ear, clearly annoyed. “Don’t hide from me!”

I silently turned back.

Satisfied, he started licking the earlobe he’d just bitten.

He licked me so much I felt like I was being electrocuted, trembling nonstop, but I didn’t dare turn away again.

Finally, when he’d had enough,

I finally relaxed a little.

He leaned close to my ear, his voice hoarse. “It’s a good thing you didn’t sleep up top, otherwise…”

His hand slid slowly over my waist, rubbing it.

He didn’t finish his sentence, but I could hear the threat in his tone, and I shivered all over.

He slowly withdrew his hand and tucked me in.

I didn’t dare ask what would’ve happened if I had.

Because I had a feeling the consequences would be more than I could handle.

Three days later, Colton seemed to have forgotten what happened and went back to normal.

But it still felt a little different.

He was always touchy-feely with me, but if I got scared and started trembling, he’d stop.

These days, I’ve run into Lucas a few times.

Whenever he saw me, he’d immediately lower his head and hurry past.

I guess Colton must have warned him to stay away from me.

I was holding a bottle of water, opened the cap, and took a sip.

Once, I’d grabbed two bottles of water.

During halftime when Colton was playing basketball, he came over for water.

When he picked up the bottle I’d already drunk from, I quietly took it back and handed him an unopened one.

He took the unopened one, face dark, but made me take a sip before he’d drink from it.