Chapter 22: Mismatched (Caden's POV)

"Bye," she said, trying to push my arms off of her. 

We're currently in the girl's bathroom. It's the only empty place right now. The last period just ended and everyone's on their way home. 

But I'm trying to get a minute alone with her before I bid her goodbye. If I can figure out a way to come see her tonight, then great, otherwise I'm going to have to go one more night without seeing Venus Jade Princeton. Who has me wrapped around her finger and she doesn't even know it. 

"Let go," she chuckled. 

"So soon?" I asked, tightening my grip around her waist. 

"I have to head home. If I'm late they'll get suspicious. And my grandparents will be arriving soon too. So I should really get going," she nodded. 

I shook my head no. 

"Yes," she laughed, nodding again. 

"No," I sang, shaking my head. 

"Do you have my number?" She frowned in confusion. 

"To the phone in your room?" 

She nodded in response. 

"No, I don't." 

She pulled open her bag and took out a pen and a sticky note. She scribbled down the number and stuck the note onto my shirt. "There, call me before you leave your palace. I'll-" 

"Get ready?" I smirked. 

She laughed sarcastically, "I'll mentally prepare myself." She patted my cheek. "Bye." She turned to leave and I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. She sighed, raising her brows at me. I leaned down and kissed her but I kept it short. I can't hold her back, she'll be late. "Bye," she said before pecking my lips. 

I blinked in surprise and she laughed before walking out. I leaned against the wall, tracing my bottom lip with my thumb. Then I snapped out of it. 

Why does she always leave me dreaming in a girls' bathroom? 

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I was sitting in bed and had been for a while, trying to decide if I should just take the risk and go see her even with her grandparents.

 We'll lock her door, if someone interrupts, I'll hide somewhere. It can't be that bad. I should have a lie though. For backup at least. 

What goddamn backup? Nothing can excuse Venus and me meeting each other. Absolutely nothing. I have to take the risk, it's worth it. 

I grabbed my phone and then dialed the number she stuck to me earlier. 

"Hello," she sang. 

"Hello," I cleared my throat. 

"Hey," she said. 

"Who is it?" I heard someone asked in the background. It sounded like a woman so it must have been her grandmother. 

"It's Remy," she lied. "What's up?" she asked. 

"Can I drop by at midnight? Will you be free by then?" I asked. 

"Yeah, that's perfect," she chuckled. 

"Okay, see you then. Bye." 

"Bye." I put the phone down and then grabbed my laptop, deciding to watch Netflix until then. 

The episodes of Suits that I was watching ended exactly at midnight, so I closed my laptop and tiptoed downstairs and left the palace, sneaking out as I do now. I made my way to her house and climbed up to her window, knocking on it softly. 

She pulled back the curtains and opened the window. "Hello," she said, stepping back. 

"Hello," I grinned, climbing through the window. As I climbed over her desk, realizing that her pajamas tonight were an oversized t-shirt and pajama shorts that were barely visible. I stumbled forward, my hands going to her waist so she wouldn't fall because of me. 

She grabbed onto my shoulders and steadied me as well, letting out a small laugh. "What happened to you?" 

"Nothing," I said absentmindedly, staring at her. 

"You can't be here any longer than an hour. That's our time limit while my grandparents are visiting. No more than an hour together at night," she explained while sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at me as she crossed her legs, one over the other. 

"An hour is enough," I shrugged, taking a step forward. I crouched down to her level, my hands on the bed and when I leaned in to kiss her, she pulled back just a little, smiling at me. She let out a soft chuckle and I rolled my eyes. "It's not funny to dodge my kisses and not give them to me," I huffed. 

"It's pretty amusing to me," she shrugged. 

I leaned closer and she pulled back, holding herself up on her elbows. I pushed her arm out from under her and she fell back on her bed with a sigh as she looked up at me expectantly. 

"Tell me," she cleared her throat. "Where are you hoping to get tonight? How much more process are you planning to make?" 

"A little more than we made in the library. It shouldn't be that hard considering we already know you'll be under me," I smirked. 

"Haha," she said sarcastically. "Not funny." 

"I'm not joking," I whispered, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her lips. "And anyway, you already are under me. I think it's meant to be." 

She rolled her eyes and tried pushing me off but I pinned her hands down on either side of her head and locked my fingers with hers. Exactly how I had done in the library. And if I caught that right, her breath hitched. But it happened quickly and I focused on her lips so I don't know. 

"Is your door locked?" I asked, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her jaw. 

"Yes," she answered, her body stiffening under me. 

"And if someone knocks, where can I hide?" I whispered while trailing kisses down her neck, to her collarbone. When I kissed the hollow spot right beside her collarbone, her hold on my hands tightened, squeezing lightly. 

"In the closet," she mumbled absentmindedly. 

I stopped and lifted my face to hers, looking her in the eyes. They were darker than usual, I'm sure mine were too. We both have blue eyes but completely different. Hers are a little greyish, mine are an extremely vibrant shade of blue. And those were probably dark ocean blue right now. 

"If I let you go, will you try pushing me off? Unless you're uncomfortable?" I asked, my eyes scanning her face. 

She shook her head softly. 

My lips fell on hers as I let go of her hands and allowed mine to trail down her body. From the top of her ribcage to her waist, to the hem of her shirt. I lifted it only a little and let one hand rest on her skin. And it sent a jolt through me but I managed to keep my hands on her steady. Her arms went around my neck, pulling me closer and further into the kiss while I hitched her shirt up a little more until it sat right below her breastbone, her entire torso exposed. 

Either she's too into the kiss to realize or she really doesn't care. 

When I left her lips to kiss her neck, I noticed the hem and underwire of her bra. She's wearing black lace. 

Is she always wearing such sexy lingerie? 

I pulled her shirt back down, realizing I was getting a little too distracted. We're moving fast but we're not there yet. 

When we heard footsteps outside, we froze and I pulled away from her. I didn't get away from her, I just lay there, hovering over her as I propped myself up on my elbows. "Who is that?" I whispered. 

"It might be my grandma. She could be going to get something from downstairs, wait," she replied. "Turn the lamp off." 

I shifted and flipped the switch, her entire room going dark. I climbed off of her when she sat up. Then she went and unlocked the door. 

"What are you doing?" I hissed. 

"Shh!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bathroom, locking the door. "Now if anyone does come in, they'll just think I'm the bathroom," she said while pulling herself up on the counter. "Now you can't get caught." 

"And if someone decides to wait in your room until you open the door?" I arched a brow at her, putting my hands on the counter beside her thighs. 

"Then you can just stay in here until I send them back," she answered confidently, grabbing a fistful of my shirt and pulling me closer. "Got it?" 

I smiled, my eyes falling to her lips. But I didn't kiss her. She can do it for once. 

She rolled her eyes and leaned forward, pulling my lips down to hers. I grabbed her waist, my hand settling on her skin rather than her shirt. Then we heard her bedroom door open. She pulled away, staring at me. 

"Vee, honey?" 

"Yes, grandma?" she called out, working her jaw in frustration. 

"Where are the cookies?" her grandmother asked. 

I bit back a laugh and looked down. And then I saw the lace waistband of her underwear peeking up from the waistband of her shorts. 

It was red. Not black. 

"Um, the third cabinet I think." 

I looked up at her as her grandma said thanks and then left. 

"What?" 

"You do have red on the bottom kind of days," I smirked. 

"Huh?" 

"It is mismatched sometimes, isn't it?" 

"What's mismatched sometimes, Caden?" she huffed. 

I put my hand there and snapped the waistband of her underwear. 

She winced, glaring up at me. 

"Your underwear." 

"Why are you thinking about my underwear?" 

"Because I can see it. And because I can," I shrugged. 

"What kind of answer is that?" she scoffed. 

"Shh." I grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into another kiss.

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Chapter 22

next chapter: golf

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