“That’s funny. Both teams are cats.”

“So?”

“No torture required, Dawson. I’d love to wear your jersey.”

“Excellent. That means we can move on to the fun.”

Dawson drives a short distance, parks, opens my door, and leads me, still blindfolded, somewhere.

He leads me through a door, down a long hall, and, I think, into an elevator.

We ride to what has to be an upper floor. That or it’s a really slow elevator.

The elevator dings and I can tell some people get on.

Dawson says to whoever, “I’m surprising her.”

I hear a woman laugh and say, “That’s so cute.”

We ride a little farther up, get off the elevator, walk a short distance, and then I hear the unmistakable beep of a keycard and a door opening.

Are we at a hotel?

Dawson guides me through the door, makes me take a few more steps, and then kisses me.

I don’t know what he has planned, but you can bet it’s going to be damn sexy.

“Do I have to stay blindfolded?”

“Hmmm, that might not be a bad idea.”

He kisses me deeper and cups my ass.

“Are we alone?”

“We’re very alone. I’m gonna take off your blindfold, but you have to promise to be a good prisoner and do what I say.”

“I didn’t know I was a prisoner.”

“My prisoner of love.”

“Love?”

“You know what? I changed my mind. I think the blindfold needs to stay on a little longer.”

He runs his hands down my sides, unbuttons my jeans, and pulls them off me.

I reach toward him to feel if he still has his clothes on.

He grabs my hand and laughs. “Oh, no, no, Keatie. Don’t think you can use sex to try and get out of this.”

“So this isn’t about sex?”

“Nope. This is all about romance.”

“Dawson, I don’t get it. I’m not the one. You told me I’m not the one.”

“No one can see the future, Keatie. And anyone who claims they can is just blowing smoke up your ass.”

He undoes my bra, slips it off of me, and kisses me.

And being undressed and kissed while blindfolded is pretty freaking hot.

“So you blindfolding me and stripping me naked is all about romance?”

“Yes, it is.” He slides my panties off slowly, then he takes my hand and leads me to a room with a cold hard floor.

“Dawson, I wanna see.”

He responds with a kiss, runs his hands gently up my back, and then pulls off the blindfold.

I’m standing in a gorgeous creamy marble bathroom. There’s a big tub raised on a pedestal in the center of the room, surrounded by columns. The tub is filled with water and rose petals and there are unlit candles all over the vanity.

“I couldn’t build you a bath tub, so I decided to rent you one.”

I’m in shock. Shocked that he would do this.

“It smells amazing in here.”

“It’s the roses.” He points to a bouquet of red roses.

“They're gorgeous.”

“Get in the tub,” he says. So, of course, I do.

He walks over to the counter and lights the candles. Then he watches me lean back in the tub.

“Aren’t you getting in?”

He grins. “Nope. This is so you can relax.”

“This is amazing, Dawes, really.”

I take in the warmth of the water and the rose scent and feel myself instantly relax.

“What are you gonna do?”

“Just watch some football.”

“You’re really not getting in with me?”

He grins. “Nope. You said you like to relax alone.”

You’re not playing fair.

5:30pm

I lie in the tub for well over an hour. The water gets cold, so I drain a little out and add some more hot water.

Dawson peeks his head around the corner of the door. “How are we doing?”

“Dawes, oh my gosh. This is amazing. Seriously. I can’t believe you did this for me. Do you ever take baths?”

He laughs. “I don’t think I’ve taken a bath since I was little. How long do your baths usually last?”

“At least an hour, if I can, but I might have to go longer on this one. You really aren’t joining me?”

“Maybe later. I brought bubble bath. Do you want some?”

“Yes!!”

He disappears from the doorway then comes back with a bottle of bubbles. He heads back to watch football, while I drain most of the water out, add about a fourth of the bottle and fill the tub back up.

The bubbles are about six inches deep. It’s awesome.

I close my eyes and relax some more.

And maybe possibly fell asleep. I wake up chilly with no bubbles.

I decide to get out of the tub—since my fingers resemble prunes—wrap myself in a fluffy white towel, and walk into the bedroom. Dawson is sprawled out across a big bed watching TV.

“Finally had enough?”

“I think I fell asleep. I’m very relaxed.”

“And I’m very starved. Let’s order dinner.”

Shit. Dinner. Tutoring.

“What time is it?”

“A little after seven.”

“Shit. What did I do with my phone?”

He holds it up. “It’s here.”

I look around the bedroom, look out the door, and see a living room, dining area, and bar. “Dawson, this is a suite.”

“It had the best bathtub I could find.”

“I was supposed to tutor Aiden.”

“Yeah. I saw. He’s maybe texted you a few hundred times.”

He slides off the bed, walks up to me, kisses me, and then takes off his shirt.

Damn. He is so freaking sexy.

“You’re not playing fair,” I tell him.

“All’s fair in love and war.” He gives me a sexy-ass smile. One I can feel down to my toes.

Okay, halfway to my toes.

“Why don’t you order food and I’ll deal with my phone.”

5:09: Aiden: Waiting in the library.

5:16: Aiden: Where are you?

5:27: Aiden: I thought we were doing tutoring after your meeting.

5:34: Aiden: Peyton said you weren’t at the meeting. You okay? Are you sick or something?

6:04: Aiden: Please text me back . . .

I text Annie.

Me: I think you’re supposed to be back by now. My French homework is done if you want to borrow it. I was supposed to tutor Aiden tonight, but I’m off campus and won’t be back until tomorrow morning. So if he needs help, maybe you can help him?

Annie: I will. Are you okay?

Me: I’m fine. Just off campus. How did the party go!?

Annie: Really well. And guess what?

Me: What?

Annie: There’s this big porch swing at my house. We were sitting in it. Talking. Swinging. He kissed me and then . . . HE SAID IT!!! He cupped my face in his hand, and looked at me SO ADORABLY, and told me he loves me. That’s why he said no last night.

Me: OMG! Annie!!! I’m so happy for you!

Annie: I’m happy for me too.

I fire off a quick text to Katie, so she knows I won’t be home tonight. Then I text Aiden.

Me: I’m fine. Just went off campus. Annie said she can help you with French. Just text her, she has my workbook.

I hit send then quickly turn my phone off. I know he’s going to ask me why I went off campus and I don’t want to answer that question.

Because I don’t know the answer.

I never expected Dawson to do something like this. I look back inside the bathroom at the tub surrounded by candlelight and roses and wonder if it really is just about sex. Because right now, it doesn’t feel like it.

Dawson comes back in the bedroom.

I let my towel drop to the floor and say, “So you and me in a hotel room for the next twelve hours. You planning to let me just sit in the bathtub and turn into a prune?”

“I’d rather turn you on.” He touches my leg, so I lean in a little closer. “Hey, you’re getting me all wet!” he says.

I give him my most seductive look and coo, “It’s only fair. You get me wet.”

My comment hangs there for a minute. He stares at me, desire filling up his eyes, and then he pulls me down on the bed with him.

I’m unbuttoning his jeans when there’s a knock on the door.

“That must be room service. Why don’t you put on a robe and I’ll get the door.”

I decide not to get a robe.

I hear everything getting set up on the dining room table and then the door closing again.

Dawson calls out, “Dinner is served.”

I walk out into the dining room buck-naked.

Dawson is standing at the dining table, pulling silver lids off our plates.

I sit down.

Put a napkin across my lap.

Grab a roll. Take a teeny bite. Smile at him.

He’s frozen, staring at me.

I raise my eyebrows at him and shrug my shoulders. “Guess I finally feel comfortable enough to eat naked. Maybe you should be naked too.”

He holds my gaze while he strips off his pants.

I take another bite of my roll. Smirk at him. Wait for him to attack me.

But instead, he sits down.

For a second, I feel disappointed.

But he stands back up quickly, scoops me up out of the chair, drops me on the couch, and pounces on top of me.

The second our lips meet it’s frantic.

I kiss him deeply, like I’m starved for him. It’s only been about 48 hours since our Greek day romp in his room, but it feels like weeks. I kiss him. Kiss his chest, his neck, but then back to his lips. I can’t seem to kiss him deeply enough.

When I can’t take it anymore, I arch myself toward what I really want.

Then I’m overcome with feelings. Feelings of lust, of passion, of desire, of how could it get better than this, of don’t stop, of just do it a little harder, of that was amazing.

“You’re amazing,” I breathe out.

“We’re amazing together, Keatie. Don’t forget that.”

Monday, October 24th

Seriously insatiable.

7:07am

I manage to roll into the Social Committee meeting, Red Bull in hand, at 7:07, which is a feat of unparalleled proportions, as Dawson is seriously insatiable. And while I’m feeling quite relaxed, it’s safe to assume I didn’t get much sleep, for the aforementioned reason. Peyton and Whitney drone on about the Greek weekend’s success, what worked and what didn’t, while I do my best to stay awake and not to look at Aiden.

Because I kinda feel guilty.

They announce that, based on a Facebook poll, our next themed weekend will be French and how excited they all are. Peyton, Brad, Whitney, and Aiden were obviously busy last night.

Brad, who is sitting next to me, goes into details about their plans. I’m half listening, half sleeping with my eyes open.

“So I’m excited about the French theme, but we should have a catchy name for the weekend,” he drones on. “A slogan, if you will. Let’s brainstorm.”

I hear voices calling out ideas.

I see London, I see France.

That one makes me chuckle.

A Night in Paris.

A Weekend in Paris.

I imagine my trip to Paris. My pink dress fluttering around me like spun sugar.

Cougars and Croissants.

Berets and Beignets.

Viva la France.

Bonjour, Eastbrooke.

L’Amour.

I hear Peyton speak up. “Not to be critical, but I don’t like any of them. While Greek weekend was more about fun and games, I want the French weekend to have a completely different feel. I want it to evoke romance.”

I’m barely awake. Sort of stuck between reality and a Parisian daydream. I wistfully think of what Aiden told me that one day. It sounded so incredibly romantic.

“Top of the Eiffel Tower, sunset,” I whisper softly.

“What did you say?” Brad asks, knocking his elbow into mine.

“Huh? Uh, what?”

“What did you just say about the Eiffel Tower?”

“Um, I don’t think I said anything.”

“Yes, you did. Something about sunset.”

Peyton grins at me. “That’s it! Top of the Eiffel Tower. Sunset.”

Whitney nods enthusiastically. “I love it. It sounds so romantic.”

I gulp, realizing what I’ve just done. I don’t dare look at Aiden, but somehow, I can’t stop myself from glancing his way.

He does that thing. Where he stares at me, looks into my soul, grabs it, and doesn’t let go. Then he blinks slowly and his mouth starts that slow buildup to a smile. The little smirk, the smile, and then the full-wattage grin.

Shit.

I’ve got to get more sleep!

Brad hands out passes, adjourning the meeting. They talked all through history class and English is about to start, so I rush out of the room and head to class.

As usual, I sit next to Dallas during English.

“Do you wanna chill tonight?”

“Can we tomorrow night? I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. I’m really tired.”

“Yeah, where were you?”

“Relaxing.”

“Bullshit.”

“Why do you think it’s bullshit?”

“Cuz if you wanted to relax, you’d call me.”

“True. This was a surprise, though. I didn’t plan it.”

“Who did?”

“You can’t tell anyone, not even Riley. Dawson kidnapped me, blindfolded me . . .”

“Kink-ay.”

“No, like, he blindfolded me so I would be surprised about where we were going. Remember yesterday when I mentioned how much I miss baths? Dawson got this huge hotel suite with an amazing tub, so I took three super long baths. I think my fingertips might still be prune-ish.” I hold up my fingers to show him.