Lily woke late the next morning, curled in the protective circle of his arms. The memories of the night washed over her; wild and relentless, he'd driven her over the edge again and again until she was utterly spent.
It was the Human Rock technique. After their intense union, he could feel it had shattered a barrier; he'd broken through the fifth level of what the manual called the Innate stage and had stepped firmly into the first level of the Champion stage.
He carefully took Lily's wrist, checking her pulse. She was exhausted, yes, unable to match his unnatural stamina. But according to the manual's complex descriptions, the Solar Essence he released in his climax was the purest nourishment for her, just as her Lunar Essence was a potent fuel for his own growth. Her body wasn't just unharmed; her vessels; the energy pathways the manual detailed, seemed stronger, and a faint, warm current of Inner Energy had even begun to circulate within her.
The confirmation was a profound relief. This wasn't some parasitic, one-sided drain. It was a true partnership, a synergy that strengthened them both. He would never do anything to hurt Lily, and now he knew, without a doubt, that his strange practice was a part of that promise.
"Marcus, what time is it?"
Lily stirred against him, her body soft and warm where it pressed against his. The sheets were tangled around them.
"It's after nine."
He let his hand drift along the smooth skin of her back, answering absently as he breathed in her scent.
"Nine? Why didn't you wake me up? Amber and I are supposed to register at the university today!"
She jerked away from his embrace, scrambling out of bed in a panic.
'Damn. I should've said seven.' He'd just squandered a perfect morning.
"Morning, you two! Finally decided to join the land of the living. Hurry up and get ready, I made breakfast." Amber greeted them from the living room with a bright smile. But her dark eyes were full of mischief, and she shot Marcus a knowing look.
Seeing that look, Lily flushed, the memories of the previous night clearly flooding back. She shot a sharp glare at Marcus and practically fled to the bathroom.
"Wow, you made all this?"
With his usual unflappable cool, Marcus ignored Amber's teasing and headed straight for the kitchen table.
"I did! So? What's the verdict, Marcus?" Amber instantly dropped the teasing, her focus now entirely on her culinary creation.
"It looks incredible. Seriously, the presentation and the smell are on point."
He leaned in. It actually smelled way better than he'd expected. Maybe he'd been underestimating his sister.
"Really?"
Amber's face lit up. He was usually her harshest critic.
"Here, try it. Tell me what you think."
She quickly speared a bite with her fork and held it out to him, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Mmm, that's really good, Amber. You're getting legit."
"Seriously? It's good?"
"It's delicious."
"Marcus!"
Thrilled by the praise, she threw her arms around his neck, beaming with a pure, childlike joy that made her delicate features glow.
After breakfast, Marcus went with Lily and Amber to the university. With the new semester starting at Crestwood U, the campus was a zoo; a swarming mass of students and parents.
He was fully prepared to brave the crowds with them, but they ran into a few of Lily's roommates. Suddenly too shy to have her boyfriend in tow, Lily ditched him. She and Amber took off with their friends toward the registration office.
'So much for that.' Left alone with nothing to do, Marcus figured he might as well just head home.
As he walked out of the main gates, a familiar figure in the distance caught his eye. His heart did a sudden, hard slam against his ribs.
'No way. It can't be her. What would she be doing here?'
He found himself walking toward her, pulled by an instinct to get a clearer look.
It was her. It was Anya.
Why was Anya here? The reason didn't matter in that moment; a sudden, wild happiness surged through him, a feeling he couldn't explain.
The impulse was immediate: to rush over, to say hello, to just talk to her, to look at her for a few more seconds.
He took two quick steps forward, then stopped dead. A wave of self-consciousness hit him like a wall, making him hesitate.
Insecurity. He was actually feeling insecure. Anya was the only woman who could make him feel this way, like she was completely and utterly out of his league.
He just watched her. She was just as beautiful as she'd been four years ago, just as poised and effortlessly graceful. Her figure was stunning. She had that captivating, almost unreal beauty that made her stand out in any crowd, no matter how big.
It was the same as it had always been: wherever Anya was, she was the center of gravity. Men couldn't help but stare, fantasizing about getting close to her, desperate for a moment of her attention.
This sudden lack of nerve finally rooted him to the spot. He couldn't make himself go any closer.
Marcus took a deep breath, trying to steady his pounding heart. Using the fact that she hadn't seen him, he just watched, a quiet, sweet feeling blooming in his chest.
But the feeling didn't last. A sharp, sudden pang hit him because Anya was smiling, talking to a guy.
Marcus knew him. Lucas. He, Lily, and Anya had all been in the same year. Lucas had once had a thing for Lily.
Lily had never given him the time of day. Lucas, in turn, had blamed Marcus for getting in the way, and they'd had a few run-ins because of it.
As much as Marcus disliked the guy, he had to admit Lucas was successful. He'd joined student government as a freshman and was vice-president by sophomore year. He was in a different league than a regular student like Marcus. With his polished look and his family's connections, Lucas was a big deal on campus, popular with a lot of the girls.
Lucas had stayed on for grad school and was still here at Crestwood, getting his master's in law. He was riding high.
But Marcus's discomfort wasn't really about Lucas. Lily had never taken him seriously. Their past clashes were just that; in the past. Lucas had eventually given up when he realized he never had a shot.
No, this was about Anya. Watching the easy, familiar way they talked, he felt a possessive knot tighten in his stomach.
Anya and Lucas were chatting happily. Lucas, the law-and-literature grad student, was talking animatedly, and Anya was smiling as she listened.
'Marcus, why are you jealous? Who the hell are you to her? What right do you have?' The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water: he had no claim to her. Anya had no connection to him whatsoever. None.
A heavy wave of disappointment washed over him. He lowered his head, about to turn and walk away, to avoid her and the awkwardness of being seen.
"Marcus? Is that you?"
A voice called out from behind him. A voice he could never forget. Anya had spotted him and was calling his name.