"Yeah, I know what that's like," I whispered, watching as my fingertips brushed past his mouth, completely breathless at his confession.

"I thought about our last meetin' nonstop while I was away." Rome's voice was almost inaudible, as if admitting to committing a cardinal sin. He seemed nervous, not an emotion I'd seen from him before. I guess actually liking a girl was a whole new world to the king of meaningless sex.

"Yeah. Me too. It's been... different to have my head filled with a certain Bama hottie and not Dante, Descartes, or Kant."

He nudged me with his knee, amusement brightening his dead eyes. "You think I'm a hottie?"

I blushed and nudged him back. "You're all right."

Peeking at me from under his long lashes, he cracked a smile. "Where were you goin' at this time of mornin' when you saw this hottie gettin' a beatdown?"

"Rome-"

"Answer the damn question, Shakespeare."

I shook my head. Hard Romeo began to rouse from his sleep. "The library. I have notes I need to write up for Professor Ross. She has an office there where I can work undisturbed. I saw... what happened with you and your daddy and thought you needed me more than the exciting world of academia does right now."

With a pat on my leg, he pulled me to stand, our hands still clasped tight. "Let's go."

"Where to?"

"The library. I'm gonna help you. We can't let the world of academia down now, can we?"

"Romeo... are you sure you don't want to go home or do something else? We could talk more if you'd like. Whatever you need."

Losing his jovial tone, he stressed, "No. We're gonna go to the library and I'm gonna help you with your paper." He wasn't to be trifled with. He wasn't far from snapping and I could see it, untapped aggression waiting impatiently at the surface for its chance to pounce. He needed the distraction and I thought it best to take him with me to save some poor fellow student from meeting the end of Romeo's fist when he finally slipped over the edge.

"You're going to help me with philosophy?"

A moody pout formed on his lips. "Hey, just 'cause I'm a jock don't mean I'm stupid." He wrapped his arms around my shoulders from behind. "For your information, I'm acin' that class. I may be able to show you a thing or two."

Stepping away, he put a finger to his cheek, conveying he was deep in thought. "For example, Immanuel Kant was a real piss-ant who was very rarely stable."

A huge grin spread on my face and I blurted out a loud laugh, singing, "Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar who could think you under the table."

He paced in before me in a lecturer-like fashion. "Aristotle, Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle, and Hobbes was fond of his dram." He bowed playfully for me to go next.

"And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart. I drink, therefore I am.'"

I covered my giggle with my hand, feeling light and flirtatious, and Rome, with a stunning smile, held up his hand for a high-five. I slapped it with gusto.

"So you're a Monty Python fan?" I asked excitedly.

"Well, you can't study philosophy and not be familiar with 'Bruces' Philosophers Song.'"

"I agree, but I never pegged you for a British comedy nut."

He snorted. "It's Python." As simple as that. "So let's go. I surprised you once with my philosophy knowledge. I'm pretty sure I can do it again."

I waved dismissively. "Whatever, you're twenty-one. I'm still only twenty and I'm already on my master's. I doubt there's anything you can show me, superstar. It's my area of expertise."

In a flash, Rome had jostled me into his chest and caught my earlobe between his teeth. "Maybe not in philosophy, but I can sure as hell show you other things, Mol-in my area of expertise."

"And what's that?" I asked breathlessly.

He pressed lingering lips on the furiously beating pulse on my throat. "Much more... pleasurable things than work."

I froze and he moved before me, jerking me back into stride. "Come on, megabrain, let's go research and get your dirty mind outta the gutter."

Romeo stayed with me at the library for hours, helping me type up notes and research counterarguments for the paper. To give him his dues, he was extremely knowledgeable on the subject. He seemed different when we parted, somehow lighter, and I was too. His company settled me and although he could be abrupt and occasionally a bit scary, I found I liked it. But unfortunately, that meant I was right back to thinking about him constantly.

I had to go to the library again the day after, and I headed straight to the office door and turned the lock, only to find Romeo with his legs propped up on the desk, arms behind his head, with a smirk on his face. "It's about time, Shakespeare. I've already written a goddamned thesis waitin' on you."

"What are you doing here?" I asked with a radiant smile, happy that his lip looked less swollen and his knuckles were bandaged over.

Swinging his legs off the desk, he stood before me. "I'm here to assist the assistant. Put me to work. I'm eager to please."

I placed my books on the table and put my hands on my hips. "You want to tell me how you got in here, in a locked room?"

Rome shrugged playfully. "I have a secret admirer in the librarian. She opened it for me after a little sweet talk."

"Ms. Rose? She's, like, ninety!"

"Cougar on the prowl, more like," he quipped with a mock shiver.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Mm-hmm! And why, Romeo, do you want to help me write notes again?"

He lost his playful smile, the same flash of vulnerability that I saw spread across his face yesterday dulled his beautiful features, and he crossed his arms defensively. "You don't want me here? I'll go if I'm gettin' in your way. I don't wanna be where I'm not wanted."

I moved before him and took his scowling face in my hands. "Hey, I didn't say that. I'm just taken aback by the fact that you want to be here with me. It's... nice to be with you, in any capacity."

He tilted his head and pressed a kiss to my palm. "I like being around you too, Mol. I feel good when I am. Plus, I owe you for what you did for me yesterday."

"You don't owe me anything."

His finger stroked down my cheek and I almost dropped to the floor. "I'm stayin' with you."

"What about your classes?"

"I'm stayin' with you. I'm kinda becomin' addicted."

I swallowed. "Addicted?"

"That's right. To you and how you make me feel."

I blushed and fiddled with the strap on my bag. "Right, well... err... let's get you to work, then."

He saluted and sat opposite me with a huge, self-congratulatory grin.

A drawn-out, dramatic sigh came from behind me, causing me to jump.

"We need a break," Romeo ordered as he came through the door, holding two large coffees, a disapproving look on his face.

As I hadn't even noticed him leave, I would have to agree that a break was probably in order. I slouched back in my chair and rubbed my tired eyes. "How long have we been in here?"

Dropping down on his chair, he pushed my coffee and a brown bag holding a cream cheese bagel across the desk. "About six hours."

My eyes widened. "Oh. Crap."

"Yep, crap."

I took a sip from my coffee, closed my eyes, and groaned loudly in pleasure as the familiar kick of energising caffeine flowed like opium through my veins. A chair scraped on the vinyl floor and I heard Romeo jump up, cursing. I opened my eyes to see him shaking coffee from his wet grey T-shirt.

"You okay?"

He nodded curtly. "Just... don't make those kinda noises around me, Mol."

I squirmed as I noted his smouldering expression as he watched my chest rise and fall in reaction to his words. He sat back down and we ate in strained, crackling silence.

Romeo stretched. "You must be nearly done now. I've never seen anyone work so hard at anythin'. I have no doubts you'll make one hell of a professor."

I shrugged. "I love studying. It keeps me occupied."

Titling his head in question, he asked, "From what?"

"From thinking about other things."

"Like?"

I repeatedly clicked the top of my pen. "Bad things... upsetting things... things from my past."

His hand encased mine. "So studyin' does for you what you do for me?"

I gulped, not knowing how to respond to such a statement.

"It's true. You're doin' somethin' to me, Mol."

"I... What? You...?" I refocused on the table and listened as he chuckled at my fluster. I then ripped off some of my bagel and threw it at his chest. He picked it off his shirt and popped it in his mouth, waggling his brows. I couldn't contain my giggle.

"So how are you feeling today?" I asked when the heavy atmosphere dissipated.

"Better. This pretty gal helped me get through some personal shit."

"What gal? What does she look like?" I teased.

He pretended to think. "Brunette, hot accent, fuckin' sexy as hell librarian with glasses thing going on."

My stomach flipped. "Right. But seriously, are you okay?"

Dropping his smile, he said quietly, "Gettin' there. One day at a time."

I left him to his thoughts and sipped at my cappuccino, reading back over my notes. I quickly became distracted as Rome lifted slowly off his chair and walked towards me, eyelids hooded and lips slightly parted. I gripped the arms of my chair when he placed a hand on the bookcase behind me and the other on the desk, trapping me and slowly leaned in. I closed my eyes as his mouth stopped before mine.

"Romeo, what-"

His tongue darted out and he slowly licked the corner of my lip.

I stilled.

"You had foam on your lip." His voice was husky and strained.

I deflated. "Oh, I-"

Diving back in, he locked my head in his hands and crashed his lips against mine. I surrendered and groaned when he fisted my hair, tipping me back to get even deeper, thoroughly massaging my mouth.

After several seconds, he eventually he withdrew.

"And then?" I murmured, staring into his wild eyes and rubbing the moisture from my lips.

Pressing his forehead to mine, he hushed out, "Well, then, I just wanted to kiss you."

He dropped to his knees so we were eye level and his hands traced circles on my thighs. "Come to my game this weekend."

"I have to study," I answered automatically.

His look of disappointment cut me. "It's just for a few hours, Mol."

"I know, but I get paid to assist the professor and I pride myself on getting everything done on time. I need my pay check to survive, Rome. Living in the sorority house is expensive. I'll be here on Saturday when the game is on."

Signing loudly, he dropped his shoulders. "Okay, I don't fuckin' like it, but I understand."

I cupped his rough, tanned cheek. "Please don't be disappointed. Sports are just not my thing. I have absolutely no clue about American football, or quarterbacks, remember?"

Leaning into my touch, he said, "I hear you, Mol. No one's ever there supportin' me anyhow. Nothin' new."

"Romeo-"

He got to his feet, scratching his head. "I have a practice I gotta get to."

I reached out and brushed my hand through his tense fingers. "I'll be here a few more hours yet. I'll catch you later though, yeah?" I felt terrible that I'd let him down. I'd been doing so well since yesterday, making him happier. We'd gone right back to square one.

Rome bent down, searching my eyes, then abruptly turned and left the room, leaving me frozen on my seat.

For the next two hours, I stared at the knots in the oak table and wondered over and over again what the heck was happening between Romeo "Bullet" Prince and me?