Dandelion
Sun-kissed arms belonging to a broad shouldered, six foot, golden haired Adonis held me trapped, crushed one might assume. His biceps were bulging, his breathing was slow. He’s the tame reminder of a well groomed lion—thirty five, impossible to glance away from.
I’m a twenty five year old; caught between desire, attraction and a strong yearning of what I dreamed of as a child. My emerald eyes stare directly up at the man who groans, becoming annoyed while my cheeks redden. I should have found a way to pry my petite, short frame from his arms an hour ago. I couldn’t sleep, being a creep.
“Max?” The gruff, raspy voice of Graham Baker broke my treacherous thoughts of something that had already transpired. His electric blue eyes were open, shooting me a questioning glimpse.
“Graham?” I hoarsely force from my lips as the man loosens his grip on my olive complected body. A frown splits my full, dark pink lips. My dark brown, chocolate curls fall into my face once I’m able to tug myself into a sitting position. “Why are you in my bed?”
A smirk becomes the pink lips of the man whose eyes dance over my body. “You can’t be fully awake, Dandelion. You’re in my bed.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I shake my head of messy curls. I don’t like how eagerly he calls me that—it’s nothing new for the older brother of Connor Baker; my best guy friend who is the same age as me. “I wouldn’t sleep with you.”
Graham sports a devious grin, reaching over, nearly pressing into me—eyes searching mine. The smirk growing on his face. “Are you absolutely sure?”
The previous night had become steamier, finding me entangled in the arms of the man teasing me. My face grows about as fully blossomed as a tomato. “I...I have no clue.”
“It’s okay to have crossed that line. You and I have always shared some kind of chemistry that should be acted on. I’m sure it was nothing more.” Graham beams, lightly tapping my thigh.
Desire flourishes in me once more. I didn’t just have chemistry with Graham. I trust him. Part of the reason why whatever happened the night prior was twisted in denial. “I still wouldn’t...”
Graham Baker is a handsome man, skin glowing in the broad strokes of golden daylight as he proves his point. His lips barely brush mine as weakness grips me at the brief contact. “You would. I can’t blame you. We both crossed a very well consented line.”
Everything he was saying felt final in a wrong way. I’m heading to Silver Banshee, New York with Connor Baker in order to do a tour led by August Price; a twenty four year old nerdy loser...according to the Con-man. “Why are you talking like whatever happened was a one time fling?”
“Oh, Max, we both know what happens when young women head off to college. You’re a late bloomer to attend... it’s a choice or not—given how you were raised. We won’t see each other once you meet someone college appropriate.” Graham reassures me while tugging on a grey tee shirt upon removing himself from the bed.
Furrowing my dark eyebrows of chocolate brown, I tilt my head. When I awoke in the middle of the night I dressed as quickly as possible. Did I have time to shower off the loss of what I did with Graham? My mind is striving to piece together his word salad. “Didn’t you want to become a Professor at Blue Creek Academy?”
“I am happy you recalled that detail, Dandelion, truly. Sleeping with the possible student of another college also wouldn’t look good. I understand the rules. Do you?” Graham asks, stopping at the door of his bedroom.
Having stayed over in the powder blue story house of the Baker brothers wasn’t too bad, especially when I stayed due to Connor wanting to get a head start on college. Pisces were the devil’s special fruit that I seemed to have a secret soft spot for. I cast my eyes around the golden, black and cream colored luxurious bedroom—medium sized for a giant such as Graham Baker; a man who always knew his worth, always insistent on treating people as the humans they are. “I understand the rules!”
“You broke all the rules last night.” Graham snorted in response, crackling at an intimate moment between us before vanishing from his bedroom.
I need to whip it into gear, saddened as I remove myself from the queen sized bed. I head off to shower and swap into a fresh set of clothing because Connor was hunched over, drooling over his desk; laptop open with a dead screen—sleep confirmed. I didn’t want to wake him until I was clean, ready for the day and distracted from the horrid act from the previous night. Light blue denim jeans with a rip in the left knee, accompanied by a pastel yellow tank top and golden converse sneakers is the outfit I chose to pick for the day. My curls cover my shoulders, believing it’ll be okay as I tug on a yellow and black flannel jacket to keep warm; a gift from my best friend.
Connor is snoring when I return to his mess clad bedroom as blue and black decorate every inch of it. “I-I’m so sorry, Max. I love you. Yep, it’s Trudy.”
Resting my hands on my waistline did me no good when Connor is confessing his love to Trudy Van Halen in his sleep. I kept warning him about her. I sneak over, lightly nudging his shoulder causing him to snort, jolting upwards. “Connor, why were you dreaming of telling Trudy you loved her while apologizing to me?”
Connor shares the same sun-kissed features as Graham. He’s my age but a few days older with short, golden curls. His eyes are a deep blue, less fiery and more emotional. He’s tall, probably five foot eleven and the nerdy kind of charismatic guy. “I will marry her someday.”
“Does she know you exist?” I raise an eyebrow at the blue jean clad Baker man.
Connor groans, more babyfaced than me. He furrows his golden eyebrows, shaking his head at me, frowning at the dead laptop. He’s quick to plug it in. “What time do we have to be at Silver State University for your tour guide?”
“My tour guide? Aren’t you joining me?” I’m highly confused.
“Joining you? The Con-man has to pick up Trudy and come directly back to Blue Creek, Georgia. Didn’t we discuss this the night prior? I need his help with Blue Creek Manor.” Graham is standing in the open doorway of Connor’s bedroom with a cup of tea clasped in between his palms.
I don’t bother to spare the man a glance. My eyes are solely focused on Connor. “You promised you were joining me for my first year—”
“He’s a grown arse man with responsibilities, Maxine.” Graham informs me, quick to interrupt like I won’t change the mind of Connor. His voice is strained, different from moments ago when we were warm together.
Why did men always change up so fast? I scoff. “I’m a grown woman with responsibilities, Lion King. Your name isn’t Connor so I didn’t ask you.”
Graham is stoic upon receiving the scowl and the absurd nickname I threw at him. He slurps on his tea, nonchalantly shrugging. “Connor, we can discuss our arrangement once you return from dropping Maxine off at Silver State University. Her grandfather is from New York on her mum’s side, right? As for you, Maxine...erm, good luck.”
I don’t like his farewell to me. It’s beyond off. My thoughts become jumbled when my emerald eyes clash with the deep blue of Connor who was somehow standing directly in front of me. “Connor?”
“I do apologize about Graham, Max. Though, it probably doesn’t helped that you fucked him...all night long.” Connor briefly grips my shoulders, scouring his bedroom for what he would need. He mindlessly packs a bag, carelessly shoving a backup laptop in it with a charging chord. He scratches the back of his ear, catching the scowl I’m shooting at him.
“How did you know...?” I question, gaining a snort from my friend.
“Not only are the walls thin, Max, but you were so loud that I needed to surf my laptop for sanity. Thank you for the nightmares you let me dance with. That’s always fun.” Connor gently mused, cracking jokes at me.
“I’m ready whenever you’re ready, Connor. I’m supposed to be on campus before lunchtime or as your cousin, August Price said, “I’ll allow a ghost to give the tour instead.”” I huff out what I got sent through a text message.
Connor shoots me a thumbs up, grabbing his backpack of stuff. “I’m ready to drive you crazy, Max. Crazier than when Graham listened to you about your family bloodline. He’s odd but no odder than Gus.”
I grew up with Graham and Connor Baker in my life. I knew what the cousin of the Baker brothers was like nor did his chaotic beliefs waver over the years. I pinch the bridge of my forehead following my best friend from his bedroom. “Okay, Ravenclaw, will a ghost come give me a tour guide?”
“Don’t you and Sia believe in ghosts?” Connor asks as we wind up at his blue, 1987 clad mustang. He swiftly climbs into the driver’s side of the vehicle that had been passed down to him by Graham. “It’s better to be a Ravenclaw than a Hufflepuff, you sweet Dandelion child!”
I extend an arm to the rolled down window of the passenger side of his vehicle, feeling the engine of his vehicle come to life. I don’t want to be nasty to the golden haired blonde. “Hufflepuffs are wondrous foodies with loyalty and a chill attitude, you watery fruit loop.”
Connor shoots me a side-eye. “You are bad at name calling or mockery as we call it. Why not a soggy fruit loop?”
“Connor, I grew up with you. I know where you live. I know who you love and I know what your family business is. Need I say more?” I inquire, half serious, half teasing when Connor groans, beginning the lengthy, short drive to our destination.
“I know where you and Sia live...” Connor trails off, forgetting since I always avoided my house. He couldn’t fathom the reason. Nor did he once ask me because it’s not like I’d openly tell him.
I don’t have more to say as silence ensues between us.
