Uncharted Territory (The Compass Series Book 3) Read Free

taut, shapely mouth over to mine. But he’s not getting unqualified glee, even though I’m thrilled he’s here. Am I so fucking desperate for the smallest drop of affection or interest that I get giddy over someone walking a few yards down a hallway? I roll my eyes to let him know his antics haven’t entirely won me over, but wave him in.
    I close the door behind him and sit on my bed while he stands in front of me, leaving enough space between us that I don’t feel like he’s looming. He’s careful with his body, uses it as a tool, unlike most of the guys here. If they’re aware at all, they use their physicality as a weapon.
    “What do you want?”
    “I want to apologize. I didn’t mean to snap when you stopped by earlier. I made you feel bad, and I didn’t mean to.”
    “It’s fine.”
    He steps forward, takes my chin between his fingers, and angles my face until I’m forced to look at him. “It’s not and I’m sorry.”
    Part of me is tempted to pull away, but I like the way he’s touching me. I want to accept his apology, but I’m not sure I would if he weren’t making me. “It’s okay. You probably don’t want to introduce one of your stupid little frosh to your friends, I get it.”
    “Brandy’s… Yeah, I guess you could call him my friend. But I’m not embarrassed by you, India. Not even close. I think you’re the bee’s knees, and he would, too.”
    His ridiculous old-fashioned compliment makes my chest tight with a smothered laugh.
    “The bee’s knees, huh?”
    “Yup.” He drops a kiss on my forehead and lets go of my chin to sit next to me on the bed, tucking me under his arm. “I’ll introduce you to Brandy sometime. If you want. But I can guarantee the guy’s going to try to get in your pants. Bit of a horndog, that one.”
    I wrinkle my nose. Maybe Rey was right to shoo me off.
    “Who is he, anyway?”
    “It’s a long story, and I came here to see you, not talk about him. So did you stop by to say hi or was there a specific reason?”
    I can’t help the shake of my head, a denial that it had been important. Maybe if I tell myself that enough times, it’ll stop feeling that way. “It was stupid.”
    “Your feelings aren’t stupid, little one. Not a one and not ever. What’s up?”
    A spark of danger sizzles in my head. What if he blows me off, too? How hurt am I going to be? Is it worth the risk? I prepare myself for the inevitable smackdown, or maybe just a brush-off, while I reach into my bag to drag out that precious piece of paper. I hand it over and wedge myself into a corner of my bed, between the wall and the wooden frame of the headboard, seeking support from inanimate objects that won’t let me down.
    A faint smile lights up his face, and something inside me glows. His dark eyes skate over the rest of the page and get wider.
    “You got an A.”
    “Yeah.”
    “On Yusok’s first quiz?”
    “Yeah. Did you have him?”
    “I did. And you know what I got on this?” Rey doesn’t give me time to guess, just barrels on. “I got a D. Like everyone else in the class who didn’t get an F. No one gets an A on this, India. No one.”
    He looks at me with that probing gaze that makes me kind of uncomfortable. It’s like he’s trying to figure me out, and I’m not used to that. Not used to anyone thinking there might be more to me than what I show. To be fair, I work damn hard to make people believe there’s not. If the intellectual intimidation doesn’t keep them away, the snarky dismissal does.
    “Thanks,” I mutter, snatching the paper back before I let myself swim in his approval and admiration.
    “Do you have time to celebrate?”
    “Um…” I want to say yes, but I’ve wasted my afternoon on stupid tears. If I want to finish this paper well and by the deadline—and I want to do both of those things, if only to see that look on Rey’s face again—I don’t have time.
    “And by celebrate, I mean pack up your books and come to my room so we can