Hearing Anya, Marcus knew he couldn't bolt. Truth was, the desire to run was a lie; he wanted to talk to her, to just see her up close.
His heart, which had just settled, kicked back into a frantic rhythm. He turned, nervous, to see Anya smiling and waving at him.
"Marcus, it is you! I thought I recognized you from behind. Where are you off to?"
Confirming it was him, she started walking toward him.
"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. If it isn't the legendary Casanova himself, Marcus Storm."
A cold, sharp, and utterly mocking voice cut through the air from behind Anya. It belonged to Chloe, a woman with a killer figure and a face that was just as beautiful as it was icy.
Chloe was just as Marcus remembered her. Her tall, slender figure was perfectly proportioned, her long legs full of vitality. While her bust might not have been the largest, her hips were the widest, or her waist the smallest, her overall curve was breathtakingly beautiful. Beyond mere beauty, it was provocative and fiery, creating a visual impact that made a man want to explore the allure beneath.
Chloe was dressed in her usual style: her dark hair pulled back into a high ponytail, revealing her stunning face. Her fiery curves and long, graceful posture were more than just seductive; they radiated health and sunshine, making her look fresh and vibrant; the very picture of a healthy, youthful woman.
To be honest, Marcus had never understood why a woman with such striking looks, a fiery figure, and a unique charm had never been ranked among Crestwood University's "It Girls." Maybe the competition in their year was just that insane, and Chloe had gotten lost in the shuffle. He was sure that if they'd had a "Top Ten" list, Chloe would have been a lock.
Chloe was always with Anya. Seeing Anya, Marcus had momentarily forgotten about Chloe. Chloe was Anya's… well, her companion, for lack of a better word. Her family had sent her to Crestwood with Anya, part protector, part classmate. They were inseparable.
In a different time, Chloe might have been called a lady's maid. These days, their bond was tighter than most sisters.
Anya was old money. The kind of wealth that came from a family so vast and steeped in tradition that they still did things like provide a companion for their daughter. It was why someone like Chloe was always at her side.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in. Slumming it, Marcus? Or just looking for your next victim?"
Aside from not understanding why Chloe wasn't one of the It Girls, Marcus was also baffled by her intense hostility. She always looked at him like he was something she'd stepped in, and she never missed a chance to take a shot. He'd wracked his brain, but he couldn't for the life of him remember ever doing anything to her. It was a mystery.
"Marcus. Speak of the devil. Where's your better half? Where's Serena?"
Lucas had followed Anya and Chloe over, and his opening line was immediately a jab, leaving Marcus speechless. It was clear Lucas still had a major chip on his shoulder.
Marcus couldn't read Lucas's exact feelings, but the look he was getting was pure, undiluted hate.
Back when Lucas was chasing Lily, she only had eyes for Marcus. She didn't give anyone else the time of day. Lucas spent two miserable years trying, only to be completely shut out.
Eventually, he'd given up and moved on, spending another two years getting over her.
Today, running into Anya felt like a new beginning. He'd said hello, they'd started chatting about the old days, and just as he was working up the nerve to ask her to lunch, Marcus had to appear. And of course, Anya was lighting up with a smile for him, the kind that suggested a real history.
Lucas had gotten over Lily. He'd even gotten over his grudge against Marcus. Or so he thought. Now, it looked like Marcus was about to screw things up for him all over again. That old, competitive anger flared right back to life.
He knew Marcus was with Lily, but his gut screamed that Marcus would be his problem again, the biggest obstacle between him and Anya.
In Lucas's eyes, Marcus was just a player. He'd somehow managed to get two of Crestwood's Queens, Serena and Lily, to fall for him. And then he'd dumped Serena. Serena. The sweetest, most fragile of them all. Any guy lucky enough to have her should have spent his life making sure she was happy, not tossing her aside.
'The guy's human garbage,' Lucas told himself.
He swore right then he wouldn't let Anya fall for this guy's act. He wouldn't let Marcus's slimy game work on her. He made a silent vow to protect the woman who was already starting to captivate him.
"Oh, you know. Just killing time," Marcus said, brushing off the sarcasm from Chloe and Lucas as if he hadn't even heard it. He kept his eyes and his answer on Anya. "What are you doing here?"
"Guess."
Anya didn't answer, instead throwing the question back at him with a playful challenge in her eyes. A hint of mischief sparkled in them, and Marcus felt his pulse kick up a notch.
He looked at her. Her face was elegantly beautiful, like it had been perfectly sculpted; almond-shaped eyes, arched brows, a straight nose, and full lips. She was stunning, flawless. Her pale, smooth skin was captivating. Her dark hair fell casually over her shoulders, framing a slender, well-proportioned figure.
But what really got him were her intoxicating eyes, the slight redness of her lips, the elegant line of her neck, and the confident swell of her chest. Combined with her slender waist, she gave off a tempting, wholly feminine allure that was completely captivating. He felt a powerful urge to just… take her all in.
He remembered a more naive girl, but that innocence had been refined away, replaced by a mature, seductive charm.
If the Anya from his memories was a bud waiting to bloom, the woman in front of him was in full, vibrant flower, and he was completely mesmerized.
If her past innocence had made him feel protective, her present allure filled him with a raw, consuming want.
'Is she here for me?'
That was the answer he was desperately hoping for. Looking at her, no man could resist, no man could stay unmoved. His heart hammered with the possibility.
"Is your class having a reunion or something? Is that why you're back?"
But he knew better. He knew he'd blown his chance with Anya a long time ago. It was the biggest regret of his life, the source of all his insecurity. He shoved the real hope down deep and went with something safer.
"Nope, try again."