Chapter 44: My Eyes Are Up Here

“Marcus, you still have the same number, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll call you sometime. I hope you’re not too busy.”

“Anytime. Just let me know if you need anything.”

Marcus wasn’t sure what she meant by that, but it sent a jolt of excitement through him. He was already looking forward to it.

“Great, Marcus. See you.”

Anya gave him a happy wave and turned back toward campus. Chloe, walking beside her, was clearly not having it, shooting him a death glare that promised violence if he dared get too close.

He watched them until they disappeared into the crowd. When he turned back, he saw Lucas clenching his fists, staring him down with pure rage. If Lucas hadn’t already had his ass handed to him by Marcus over that Lily situation last year, he probably would have charged him right then and there.

But Marcus was the bigger man. He couldn’t be bothered with Lucas. He completely ignored him and started walking home.

Ring-Ring… “Big bro, phone…”

Just as he was nearing home, his phone suddenly rang. A jolt of excitement went through Marcus. Could it be? Anya had just said she would call him, and he hadn’t expected it so soon. Filled with anticipation, he quickly pulled out his phone.

He checked the number on the screen. It wasn’t Anya’s, but it was still a beautiful woman calling. Without a second thought, he answered the video call.

“Hey, Marcus. Miss me?”

The woman on the phone started with a low, playful tone that sent a thrill straight through him.

“Well, look at you. A man could get the wrong idea with a greeting like that.”

He took her in. Her face was radiant, with a glow that seemed to come from within. Her eyes, bright and knowing, held a confidence that was downright magnetic. Her lips, slick with gloss, curved into a slight smile that promised more. She had the kind of body that didn’t need to try; all soft curves and smooth skin that looked like it had been poured into that crimson dress. She carried herself with a polished, mature grace that screamed high-maintenance but was utterly captivating. She was beautiful, plain and simple.

But his eyes didn’t linger on her face for long. The dress was cut low, putting her full, high breasts on proud display. It was a sight that made his breath catch. From the angle of the video, the deep shadow between them formed a valley that seemed to go on forever.

Her entire figure was a masterclass in sexy maturity; every curve in the right place, sculpted and impossible to ignore. The smooth skin of her shoulders and arms was completely bare, making his fingers itch to find the zipper hidden somewhere and discover the secrets it held.

“My eyes are up here, you know.” A smirk played on her glossed lips. “So? Did you or didn’t you?”

“Are you kidding? Of course I did. Any guy who says he doesn’t miss you is either lying to you or to himself.”

Her teasing snapped him out of it. He’d been straight-up staring. ’Get it together, man. Since when do you get this distracted?’

“Smooth. Real smooth. Is that your best line?” A faint blush colored her cheeks, but it only made her look more inviting, like she was in on the joke.

“Just telling it like it is.”

“If you missed me so much, how come my phone’s been so quiet? Why did I have to be the one to call you?” A flicker of genuine disappointment crossed her face.

“…” She had him there, and he had no good answer.

The woman on the screen was Talia, one of Crestwood University’s Campus Queens, and she was absolute dynamite.

The Campus Queens were the four most sought-after women at the prestigious liberal arts school, each flawless in her own way, the kind of women every guy on campus dreamed about.

Serena was the girl-next-door; delicate, quiet, the kind you instantly wanted to protect. She had been Marcus’s girlfriend, until life pulled them apart after graduation.

Lily was pure warmth. She had a smile that could calm a storm, the living definition of wife material. She’d always had a thing for Marcus and was now his in every way that mattered.

Anya was grace and mystery personified; brilliant, composed, and from a family so wealthy and private she might as well have been royalty. The fact that he had any kind of casual relationship with her put him in a club of one.

And then there was Talia. She was all fire and magnetism, a killer face paired with a body that wouldn’t quit. She knew how to work a room and was famous far beyond the campus gates. She was the woman every man pictured as his forbidden fantasy. Marcus and Talia had been tight since their Student Union days, a friendship that had made him a target for envy more than once.

“Earth to Marcus. You’re doing it again.”

Talia’s playful scolding brought him back. She blushed, assuming; correctly, that he was once again captivated by her.

He knew the deal. Most guys were too intimidated to look Talia in the eye, let alone stare so openly. He was pretty much the only one who got away with it.

Her words snapped him out of it, but his eyes drifted right back. ’God, she’s something else.’

“Marcus? Do you really mean that? That you missed me?”

Talia’s heart did a little flip. He’d ignored her scolding and was still looking at her with that hungry, new intensity. It excited her, and she could hear a slight tremble in her own voice.

’You have no idea,’ she thought to herself. She’d never given any other man the time of day, but this one… he was the exception. He was the only one who ever talked to her like a real person, the only one she’d ever let look at her like this. She’d have let him get away with a lot more, but his heart had always belonged to Serena. For four years, he never saw her as anything more than a friend.

That kind of look from him would’ve never happened before, but today… today he was appreciating her, really looking. A wave of pure, giddy pride washed over her. For the first time, she felt like the temptress she was accused of being, and she was finally getting through to him.

She decided to let him look. Wasn’t this what she’d always wanted? To be truly seen by him? She secretly savored the gaze of the only man brave enough to do it, especially when it was fixed on the part of her she was most proud of. Still, being the object of that much focused attention made her shy. Her heart hammered in her chest, and without her even realizing it, the movement made her breasts shift slightly, making the whole display even more enticing.

“Yeah. I missed you.”

—-

Author’s Note:

I want to be honest with you about the MC. He isn’t meant to be perfect, likable at all times, or easy to agree with. He has flaws, real one and some of his choices may frustrate you or even push you away. That discomfort is intentional.

Growth doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from mistakes, loss, and painful lessons learned the hard way. The MC will pay for his flaws, often more than once, and every step forward will cost him something. What you’re reading now is not the finished version of him, but the beginning of a long, difficult journey toward becoming better.

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