“I doubt the professor would like you snoring during class,” she laughed, amused at the idea. Happy that I’d lifted her spirits, I kissed her neck and closed my eyes, savoring the feel of her, the smell of her, the very presence of her. I’d had no idea just how satisfying being in love could be. Nothing could top this feeling; I was 100 percent sure of that.

When it was time, Kiera gathered all her stuff and grudgingly trudged to my car. I rolled my eyes at the look of defeat on her face, then relaxed back into one of my favorite pastimes—driving Kiera to school. Kiera looked lost in her thoughts as we traveled the familiar path to the university. A smile crept over my lips as I remembered all the times I’d done this with her. Back in the beginning of our…friendship, it had been almost innocent. And then, like us, it had grown to be so much more. It was a way for me to show Kiera that I was here for her. That I had her back—forever.

The prestigious buildings of the university came into view, but Kiera didn’t seem to notice that we were almost at our destination. In fact, she was so lost in her mind that she didn’t react until I turned off the car. Blinking out of her stupor, she looked around the parking lot in surprise. I almost asked her what she’d been thinking about, but instead, I smiled and said, “Ready?”

Kiera sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, an erotic move that instantly made me think of sex. “Yeah…I’m good. Let’s go.”

Smiling at her answer, I cracked open my door. I tried to hurry around to her side before she got out of the car, but I didn’t make it; she stepped out right as I got there. Brushing it off, I reached out for her hand. Her warm fingers wrapped around mine, and pure peace washed through me. I’d missed this.

As we walked through the familiar campus, my arm around Kiera’s waist, my thumb tucked in the waistband of her jeans, several sets of feminine eyes shifted to stare at me. Ignoring the attention I was attracting from the clumps of girls scattered around the lawn, I focused on Kiera. She was the only one whose attention I really wanted. Her nervous eyes took in the girls watching us, and she subconsciously pushed into my side. Most of the girls weren’t looking at her though. I think Kiera liked the fact that I generally funneled the attention away from her. Part of me was happy that I made her more comfortable by stealing her spotlight. Another part of me hated her being in my shadow. She should be shining brightly with me.